"On all sides of the issues
on both sides of the ocean,
veterans mistrust anyone in a position to lie;
Wives, girlfriends, government officials,
salesmen, lawyers, and the rich.
Veterans trust dogs,
children under twelve,
masturbation,
the chair facing the door
and any weapon in the dark."
-- From "In Victory or Defeat," a poem by Steve Mason, Vietnam combat veteran, former Army captain, former "poet laureate" of the Vietnam Veterans of America. Mason passed away in May of 2005. (His obituary from the L.A. Times is linked here.)
