Sound of War

[Awakened Giant]

Here's something that I wrote about my time in Iraq. I hope you all enjoy it. I'm not the best writer in the world, but I try. :-)


“ The Sounds Of War”
Justin L. Rich


The zip of a bullet passing by your head,
The hiss of the ricocheted rounds all around your body,
The sounds of your own constant firing rifle,
The impact of an incoming mortar,
These are the sounds of war.
The yelling of several different commands,
The rattling of your gear as you run for cover,
The voice coming from the radio,
The people as they scream out Infidel, Infidel,
These are the sounds of war.
The cry for a medic,
The swearing of grown men,
The chilling names of one mans children as he dies,
The begging for morphine, and calling of a med-evac,
These are the sounds of war.
The sound of bells as the round lands too close to you,
The boots of a charging infantry and the cries of war it brings,
The sound of a man being bayoneted ,
The eeriness of close combat,
These are the sounds of war.
The victory cries of a weary infantry,
The sound of your friends last breath,
The roar of the helicopters coming to get the injured and dead,
The orders to detain the enemy,
These are the sounds of war.
The growl of the hummers engine,
The quietness as we return to the fob,
The snickering, and silent cries of the men,
The patting on the back from the NCO and the assurance all is well,
These are the sounds of war.
The chaplain’s prayer over the loud speaker,
The slow and everlasting playing of taps ,
The hard hits of the soldiers’ boots on the ground as they walk by to say good by,
The devastated cry from a soldier who can no longer take it,
These are the sounds of war…


To many these sounds would be both scary and devastating. But to me, and any other soldier, and marine alike, these sounds are both sounds of sadness, and comfort. Though the times may get rough, and things may seem weary, these are the sounds that kept me alive. These are the sounds that reminded me that I was not dead, and that many men were counting on me to help them stay alive so we could all see our families once again. These are the sounds that reminded me that we were still fighting, and that I was not alone. So I hope that these words may be a comfort to anyone who may read it. God bless America, and God bless my fellow service men and women. I love you all.

[Daniel]

This is by far the best poetic passage (pertaining to a personal experience) I have read in my life.

That should certainly be published.

Now as far as your message that you have conveyed, I totally agree... I do not know what it is like to have experienced these sounds of war; nonetheless, it should never be necessary for anyone to know what it is like to have experienced these sounds of war.

[vem]

Agreed Excellent Thank you