Cecil Angus Broome Jr (SSG/ARMY) Reposted
by Henry Burt Stevens
Saturday, April 30, 2005
Rated "G" by the Author.
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Today, April 30 2005, marks the 30th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam war, the day USA left Saigon. Cecil was a highschool class mate of mine at Orleans High School, Orleans, Vermont, USA. He didn't graduate with us as he was called up in his pre enlistment contract and sent Korea in the USA Army. On discharge, he reenlisted and died in combat in Vietnam. |
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Cecil Angus Broome Jr (SSG/ARMY)
Sep 05,1933 to May 26, 1966
by Henry B Stevens
04/22/2004
Cecil, we never learned
a goddammed thing.
Today's headlines are
about increasing troop strength
Only this time Iraq
instead of Vietnam.
But all the body bags
stink the same.
"May 26, 1966 hostile
ground casualty
gun small arms fire
Body was recovered"
"Panel 07E--Line 110",
but your homecoming
to Lancaster NH was
the biggest event in years.
Cecil, we're still led
by hyprocites.
Nixon promised
to end the war with honor.
In 1968 he spoke at
Grinell School, Derry NH
where I listened and
later voted for him.
He tricked us all,
no peace instead
napalm-cremating people alive
and destroying villages to save them.
Then the invasion of Cambodia
massive bombing
followed by withdrawal
leaving our allies to be massascred.
Now we have Iraq-nam
a high tech war.
No civilian casulaties are counted,
No body bags are met at Dover AFB
We're in this war for reasons
as ephemeral as Bay of Tonkin
But this time g-d is on our
side and W is his spokesman.
What we were told was there
isn't there and it looked like
oil might have been the ace
but no, 'tis a Christain endeavor.
Cecil, you are safe now
on that long black wall
while humanity waits
patiently for the hit you took.
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| Reviewed by Regis Auffray |
4/30/2005 |
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| A timely and reverent tribute, Henry. Thank you for sharing it. Love and peace. Regis |
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| Reviewed by Felix Perry |
4/30/2005 |
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Beautiful tribute to your friend and great commentary on today's mistakes.
Felix |
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| Reviewed by F William Broome |
4/30/2005 |
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| A fitting memorial to your dead friend. I lost a few in WWII, and who's to say what is justified and what is a waste? Leaders do the best that circumstances will allow. Yes, some are crooks and some are great leaders, and some are as confused with it all if it were you or I being asked to save a country from a fate of killing for power and money - yes even oil - or what the hell at the time. We're born into this world and we take our chances. No US President can guarantee the safety of any inidividual. I bleed for you friend, but I'm glad that I am alive. A Southern and Georgia Veteran, Bill Broome |
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| Reviewed by E T Waldron |
4/30/2005 |
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Henry, war is hell, and I often wonder what the world would have been like without it. the only thing is, I don't think just one person or a few people are to blame. It goes much deeper than that, and blaming presidents or just one or two people you happen not to like is much too simple....Excellent poem, and I'm truly sorry about your friend!
Eileen |
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| Reviewed by Alexandre Arnau |
4/30/2005 |
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a powerful indictment, as relevant for this generation as it was for my father's. much appreciated.
respects, -A. |
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