A Daughter of Vietnam

I recently read an article about The Wall. It made me take a moment to consider how everyone else in the world views these men and women that served in arguably the most controversial war in American History.

What about the rest of the story? Do you know who else paid the price?

What about us, the invisible victim, the soldier that had no choice?

Do they stop and think about the children that were born to these men and women?

I know how hard it is to grow up with daddy having nightmares every single night.

Who is going to protect you from the monster under the bed, if he can't deal with the one in his head?

Who will protect you from the monsters that he introduced into your life, and the monster that he became?

How many unfulfilled promises will he make? How much pain can we be expected to take?

Who will teach my brother how to be a man that takes care of family, and when to take a stand?

Does the average American stop to think that the horrors of Vietnam has caused hundreds of fathers to drink too much, to abuse drugs, and eventually abuse their own children?

Can you imagine what mom went through trying to raise her children and deal with someone suffering from PTSD?

How many of daddy's war buddies will be allowed to hurt us?

When bullets become punches and inappropriate touches, who will help us? Will there be an army to save the day?

Is anyone aware that there are Americans who are now in their thirties and forties that are still paying the price for the Vietnam War?

Do you know what nightmares we have had to overcome before living a normal life?

Not only does daddy have to contend with what he did in the war, but now he has to deal with what he did to us, and the things that he continues to do.

The pain for a daughter of Vietnam never ends.

We carry the pain throughout our lives.

There is no help, and no way out.

This is what happens when the government controls it all.

I have nothing to be taken, nothing to give.

Can anyone imagine what awaits the children born to the men and women currently serving in Iraq?

What fate will befall them?

What atrocities will they be forced to endure, because of our war.