Memorial Day Suicide

How long before this
Vietnam veteran’s name
oes on the crying wall,
along with his fallen buddies,
heroes all who answered the call.

I saw him once in awhile.
We “Hi’ed” one another.
Different generations.
Not much in common.
Didn’t show outward signs
of needing help.
His injuries, a snake-bit mind,
a frozen soul, crippled
in ways unseen.

He answered the call.
Fought in the war that should
never have been fought.
Battled demons he couldn’t
exorcise.

In the shadow of a belated,
thankful nation, he pulled
the trigger one last time.

– Gerald A. McBreen, Pacific poet laureate