I am reminded of my service and the unselfish sacrifices of all who found ways to survive. However, my survival came at a cost —a cost that brought me to my knees. They say that pain is an antidote to deliverance —a deliverance from fear and doubt. On this day of commemoration, I salute all my military comrades.
As I sat and composed this post, my past’s reckonings guided my pen because my war memories stay with me. Those unwanted thoughts have carved out an image of my strength, resiliency, and need to persevere. For me, for us, as veterans, to survive, we must ALL hold to what got us this far. We must remember the journey of war, and cast out some of the bad, and remember what we learned, because that focus lingers on as the definition of our truth. To have survived my time fighting in Vietnam, I honor those who died. To say that I am a living war veteran, Veterans Day is even more meaningful.
This Article was Last Updated On: November 3, 2025