Serving on Many Fronts

In the earlier years I guarded what would not move,
starched fatigues and spit shined boots.
Polished every thing from mess kit to a garbage can,
painted under , over and around anything that didn't ran.
Shot a thousand rounds of bang bang blanks,
scored expert once shooting a plywood tank.
Then finally there came that call that changed it all
seems a small country had some college kids against the wall.
Man those tracers looked like fireflies lighting up the sky
didn't take long to realize,
those fire flies have a way of taking life.
Still had those who tried to rule,
about unfastened chin straps and muddy boots.
You can smell blood and its sticky to the touch
cannot get that in a classroom I'll tell you such.
Some say we are out for war, well that may seem,
a soldier trains for war but prays for peace.
Countries now I have seen,
walked down some rubbled streets,
tried feeding a crowd with rice,
got no gratitude,got shot twice.
Am I bitter? No to say the least
it was my duty and glad to have seen,
seen things that changed me from who I was
to me , here , serving behind my ruck.
My buddies and I are like Brothers,
no bond stronger, like no other.
Women in fatigues doing everything to their best,
get whistles from the team, more then in a fancy dress.
Yes we all serve and it ain't always glory,
yet we serve, here is our story.