Disabled Vets

I felt unclean,
Having volunteered to give a job interview training class
to 11 attendees, wounded in Iraq. All marines.
Ed, lost a leg to sniper fire.
Larry, Nick and Buddy suffered hearing, sight and voice damage respectively
In cross-fires while on patrol.
Marcia had lost her hip to an IED,
Chuck and Tim suffered brain damage in a similar event.
Mike lost a hand in a motor pool accident,
And Leroy an arm to “friendly fire”.
Two guys did not want to discuss the issue.
Not one of these marines was over nineteen when disabled.

All volunteered for combat.
Each thought they had defended our shores,
Would die, if necessary, for the soldier on his right or her left.
Most will never surrender their belief that the war was necessary,
Despite their resentment of all things Iraqi.

Yes, I had marched and protested against their war.
I resented these marines, who would justify our country's insanity.
Yes, these were the volunteers sent to “kick butt”,
To free the Iraqi’s, and bring Democracy.
They became part of an occupying army, that has killed tens of thousands.
These kids had gone to “do good”... or beat the other team,
And paid dearly for it.

Softening as the day wore on. I reached out and offered my help.
Theirs lives were very far from easy and they wanted what most Americans want.
May they find a good job, and with it, happiness.