Guardians of the Free World
wanted a place in history
so they sent us into rice paddies,
canteen half full of warm water,
heads full of lies.
Some who made it back brought
lice, rotting feet, herpes,
a hunger for highs, half a soul.
When our time came
to find a place in history,
they hid that chapter in archives
so no one would know.
Now that the guard has changed
we stand in their place
with what we were given,
we stand in their place
giving them back the scourges
they bequeathed in arrogance,
preserving in nightmares
their grim estate.