A Native Son Poem by James L. A. Huetson

As a native son my heroes were
Soldiers, sailors, and marines
Of World War II who came by on their
Way to take back the Philippines.

When other bad guys took some land
South of the 38th in Korea,
I volunteered to serve as an airman.
I could not stand to see a
Tyrannical government violate an agreement
Made for the divided occupation
Of a land liberated by the heroes we had sent.

Instead of going to Korea and the Orient,
Orders were cut for my designated station,
And off to Germany I was sent.
A member of a different divided occupation.

There I became friends with former enemy,
Many were refugees from the eastern side.
Who fled from the sadistic hordes of the Red Army
To the City of Dresden, there to abide.
Air Marshall Arthur Harris, known for his bombing,
Authorized the Fire Bombing Of Dresden
Killing thousands of these like an inferno descending.

The war we fought in the Korean Theater, Oh My God,
Over 36,000 of ours died with more than 92,000 wounded.
They called the war won when we got back to the38th isn’t that odd?
But, at least the warriors were honored.

But Nam! Oh Nam! The pride of our youth
Forced to go to Hell by bloody handed politicians.
They fought, died, and hurt, while protestors so uncouth,
Protested the warriors while ignoring the Patrician
Leaders who lived in opulence and abundance
Even as making personal fortunes based on the destruction
Of the lives, honor, and innocence of military Grunts.

And now this war of prejudice and hate on both sides,
Instigated by the rich and powerful for the wealthy financiers,
Sucks the moral structure of all into oblivion and derides
The essence of honor that is instilled in each of our soldiers.

Unlike the worst of the worst of the wars of the past,
This war has the underlying objective of destroying
All of the freedoms that our heroes died to make last.
And every one of them, wherever they are, must be crying.
To see how we have wasted the energy, pain, and lives
That they gave for the freedom of today’s generations,
Leaving only our failure, indifference, and guilt to survive.