By Gary Redlinski
How many times must a veteran die before he finds peace? I died this year on Veterans Day.
I died in Vietnam, death was all around me, so many years ago.
A vet friend once asked me why I relive it every year. For him it maybe simple, but I live it every day. I lived and worked with death every day for two years. It was my job.
I died in Nam, I just didn’t know it. People and family said I was different when I came home. I fought my way back ’til I hit my wall.
I died again.
I fought my way back, again.
I hit my wall again, When I realized that suicide kid, with no head, flashed me back to Nam.
I died again.
There were thousands of remains (that’s all they were) that passed through my hands.
I don’t know where their spirits went, but I know their bodies went thru hell.
I died again.
I think of them daily, and I die each time.
My spirit is gone. my body’s still here.
I hope to arise by Memorial Day (which now sounds like a long time from now), in time to die again.
Gary T. Redlinski
US Army, Mortuary Affairs Specialist