I left Akron Ohio a very naïve,

nineteen year old.

In a military plane for the first time.

Not knowing my fate,

of a soldier’s life.

You see I signed up to defend freedom.

Huddling in, on this frigate,

in a country far from Ohio.

My new-found friends are silent,

knowing this could be their

last day on earth.

I hear my mom words.

“Be safe my son,

we will miss you,

and I will be thinking about

you at the June picnic”.

Gunshots and missiles,

over my head,

some of comrades,

are dead.

I heard my army commander’s,

last words, “Go get em  boys,

be brave, now fi.”

He dies along side of me,

not able to fully say fight.

Trudging through bloody

waters, men screaming for,

their lives.

Smoke and death filled the air.

Returning to Akron a broken man.

Married my sweetheart and raised a family.

My children and grandchildren,

ask me about my Purple Heart.

They do not understand that,

some sorrows are too great,

to speak about.

Returning back to France’s shores,

on this sixth day of June.

Saluting with my family,

all of the lives lost,

staring at those white crosses,

like good soldiers all in a row.

I can still smell the smoke,

and hear the screams of my fellow servicemen.

Their blood penetrated within the sands of freedom. 

© Mary Anne Abdo

Eighty years ago today solider’s fought valiantly and saved the world, they came from many countries.

They came from many cities and towns as teenagers coming home as men.