My father, his troop
left in the jungle - WWII
to build the Burma Trail.
I have vivid memories
of him waking from a dead sleep
startled, in a cold sweat
memories of the 5 years
in that jungle
tormenting his dreams
years later.
My eldest,
18 months, Camp Cooke, Iraq.
Riding shot-gun on convoys....
My hair turned white.
His response -
      "I was safer in Baghdad,
           than in Compton...."
Second son
       -5 years in the Navy.
All sacrificed for the safety
     of others.
None lived a life
free of discrimination
    ... hatred
     ....unfair and unjust
          ... identified as hyphenated....
laws designed to imprison...
Never accepted as
human or even
just plain
American.