In Memory Of Pete Soldado

Pete died in Viet Nam
fighting for the right of the Viet Namese
to immigrate to the USA.

He spent nine days
trapped in a trench
until re-enforcements arrived.

He listened
to rock and roll
and smoked dope.

He didn’t
kill any babies,
he just killed the enemy,

and the enemy
killed his buddies.
He wrote down their names

in letters home
that spoke of
the horrors of war.

Pete died in Viet Nam
while unloading ammunition
at an ammo dump.

We buried Pete
in a cemetery
three blocks from his home.

His Chicano name
is carved into the granite stone
on the northeast corner of the CourtHouse.

Pete died in Viet Nam
fighing for the right of the Viet Namese
to immigrate to the USA.