Shreds Poem by James L. A. Huetson

The Shreds of the bodies of our young are spread
Willy nilly over the landscape of the world.
In Korea at Inchon or Imjin River,
Or Bloody Ridge and Chosin Resevoir.
Maybe at Heartbreak Ridge then alternately
The battle at Kapyong or possibly Osan.
Forty percent of American POWs died
In Korean prison camps from Changson
To Pyoktong to Wiwon and Sambakkol.
And all for what purpose?
It isn’t over yet!

The Shreds of the bodies of our young are spread
Willy nilly over the landscape of the world.
In Viet Nam at Dak To and Hamburger Hill,
Maybe at Ia Drang or Lang Vei where the
Green Berets were over run by NVA tanks.
Then there was Khe Sanh and Hue
Just to mention a few.
The prison camp Hoa Lo was
Nicknamed Hanoi Hilton.
Then there was Pho Ly Nam De
Also known as the Country Club.
Eleven percent died in custody
But this does not include MIAs.
And all for what purpose?
We’re business partners with them now.

The Shreds of the bodies of our young are spread
Willy nilly over the landscape of the world.
It’s been a tortuous journey from
The Mission Accomplished farce
To these never ending daily battles.
As of today the official DOD count is
Troops Killed in Iraq: 4417,
Troops Killed in Afghanistan: 1371,
Wounded in Action: 41357
And all for what purpose?
To protect Israel and big oil profits.