Doug Yelmen
U.S. Navy
River Rat
Self-Portrait #2: Welcome Home, by Doug Yelmen
Aluminum Wars
how can i say it to you?
what can i tell you
to make you understand
that i support you,
but not the war that is killing you.
i am still still fighting my war
from 1968.
my war has many chapters
including no home coming,
being called a baby killer,
scars from life in general,
but, mostly the PTSD.
that monster and the thief
has a special place in
my heart.
i also struggled until i got
a masters degree around
my 43rd birthday, so i could
work with you, my brothers-in-arms,
as a social worker counseling
you in the VA, until i could no longer
keep my symptoms down, and i
got an early retirement. Thanks to
some very special people, i don't have
to live on the streets.
so, please forgive me, but now
i must stand-up against this war.
if only to make a stand.
the screams i hear are men
and women after their war
or their rape.
did you know aluminum doesn't work
to stop the screams?
© 10/29/2004 Doug Yelmen
Doug is also the curator of this site: http://www.vietvet.org/artsofwar/arts.htm
which is called "The Arts of War & Peace Gallery."
It is part of the
"Vietnam Veterans Home Page."
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