Original Story

[whenbuffysmiles]

It was inspired by Veteran's Day. A news story of a young man from our town who died in Fallujah, a story on the homeless vets and this morning listening to 'One Tin Soldier' by Joni Mitchell.

Since this is an original, I don't really have any warnings. If I had to rate it, I'd say PG-13.

Comments

[vel_vette]

This is your finest work and it touched a nerve with me. Hopes, dreams, plans for the future take a backseat to circumstances beyond our control.

Very eloquently written without whitewashing the harsh reality of the fallout of war with noble idealisms or pretty scenarios that ignore shattered minds and lives of those who fought it. All victims - Johnny, his parents, his girl and finally his daughter.

I also pray for those fighting for our rights and liberties and who deserve better. Thanks for enlightening us with this story.

Loved it! Thanks for sharing.

[whenbuffysmiles]

Thank you for reading this.

I really didn't give a thought to Veteran's Day until I sat down to watch the news last night. There was the piece on a 22 year old from Jville that died in the raid. He did have a small daughter. I was crying by then. After that was a piece on homeless veterans. I think they said more than 58,000 are homeless, more than the number who died in Vietnam.

It was an image that is haunting me.

[denny_dc]

Good stuff, girl. Your Johnny's a tragic survivor - but he's surviving. Really thank you for sharing this...lovely.

[whenbuffysmiles]

Thank you for reading. I wasn't sure of the reception, but you're always there, giving me the encouragement when I really need it.

[sevedra]

this is really really good.
it rings so true.
my dad was in vietnam and he has been reall ylucky in that he has had a steady job and a home all this time, but there are so many bad things too. he came back different and the marriage he made with my mom before he left could hold up to the changes, he has had repeated drug addictions (i think none right now though) and is an alcoholic. i talked to my step-mother on nov 14 (they live in a different state now) when it was my daughter's bday and she was bragging that my dad had stopped drinking liquor and was only drinking beer now. like drinking a 12 pack a day was something to brag about, but she says it is a much calmer drunken state than with the hard stuff.
that war ruined a lot of people. some of whom still have homes, but all of them seem broken to me.

[whenbuffysmiles]

They do seem broken. It's sad really. And it's already starting again with the ones coming home from Iraq. War destroys more than it ever helps. Most of them can never really cope again. How do you go from killing and seeing people's lives destroyed to living a 'normal' life? I don't think it's possible.

Thank you for reading. I do appreciate it.

**hugs**