WAR, WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR . . . ?

by Peter S. Griffin

How many times, have I heard it before?
WAR, WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR…?
Don’t these people understand?,
Freedoms the life blood of our land….

“Old Glory” stands for many things,
Most important, letting freedom ring…!
Freedom of speech is a wonderful thing,
But if wrongly applied, our soldiers die…!

Don’t these people understand?
When evil strikes, we must take a stand….
Evil empires still persist,
If they conquer, many horrors will exist….

To subdue a race, to destroy a flag,
To conquer a people, to make them beg….
To take their possessions and their lands,
To ravage the work, of their creative hands….

To crush a peaceful people and their dreams,
To rape, to pillage, to make them scream….
To enslave and murder, innocent human beings,
To torture the children, unspeakable things….

Because such horrors do exist,
Many brave people still enlist….
To serve their country and mankind,
To preserve freedom and peace of mind….

WAR, WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR…?
When common sense and talking fail….
When diplomats are thrown in jail,
When the strong, abuse the frail….

When wrong overpowers right,
When dictators abuse their might….
When evil stalks both day and night,
Thank God for warriors, unafraid to fight…!

Sometimes war is a necessary thing,
To restore dignity to all human beings….
To protect our precious human rights,
To help the oppressed, in their plight…!

So I say, to all who wonder,
How else, can we stop the plunder…?
When evil fails to listen,
Only bravery, will prevent submission…!

The worse thing, you can do,
To tell a soldier, he’s a fool…!
He fought the war, so you’d be free,
Your ignorance, may bring you to your knees…!

Now you know, what war is good for,
It protects your freedoms and your rights…!
You’re the fool, to curse, this saving might,
The brave people, who protect your life…!!!!

Peter S. Griffin
Co. A, 2/502nd Infantry
101st Airborne Division
Viet Nam, 1965-66