Note: in 1932, the Bonus Marchers came to Washington DC to petition Congress to pay out a World War One veteran's bonus not yet due. Congress used the Army to disperse them.

* Bayonet Drill *

Son of a bottle a day Father
and Church once a day Mother
At eighteen Joe joined the depression dark days
Army in 'thirty.. and sent money home.

In 'thirty-two the marchers came to Washington.
The Army and MacArthur threw them back.

As a boy, my Dad Joe would ask me
if I knew what the bayonet drill was..
He would get a distant look in his eye..

Advance..!
THRUST..!
Recover..!
BUTT STROKE..!
SLASH DOWN..!

I heard this many times in my youth.
Only once did I hear him say
"The ones in front..
they couldn't get out the way
they.. couldn't get out the way.."

This made me think, of someone I had known who is a survivor of the Vietnamese War. Suffering from PTSD after the war, he never forget how his best friend was shot and died right in front of him. His PTSD drove away his friends and people who love him.
The Evil of war.

Thanks for sharing Sher_Tenn

Hi Eva,
I have a friend form ho Chi minh. I told her my dad was in the War in the 69 -72. She said in school, they call it the American war! I guess I shouldn't be surprised, just intresting!