Lou J. Klaiber

BLOOD BROTHERS

We joined together
one by one,
the ‘Bad Boys’, from just about everywhere.

A small squad of ‘blood brothers’
… a platoon north of prejudice,
… a company formed together
and all … gone to Vietnam.

Where ‘Billy Yank and Johnny Reb’,
stood arm and arm together,
day after day, and side by side
with the ‘Bloods’, of Africa
… the courage of the men of Puerto Rico,
… the Nisei,
The young men of old tribes.

The Indians who hold
the memories within this land
… that somehow,
has blessed us all.

Who? Today!
… would dare to say
that we were not brothers?

Who, among the cowards who hid
in closets of privilege,
… who shouted within the emptiness of themselves,
against us,
could have done………… one,
… just one,
tour of duty
in that place we called
‘the Nam’…?