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Vietnam War Orphan

Vietnam, a place I visited long ago
It seems like a bad dream to me now
Every memory I tried to forget, except
The little girl we were ordered not to save
Now this photo is my most precious find
A day that creeps from the depths of my mind
Maybe she, like me, survived a world gone mad!

Asian child sitting on the ground outside with a frightened look.

Vietnam War Orphan.


Wonder where she is after all these years
A small soul finding her way alone
Reaching to strangers on a backstreet of Cantho.

Only God knows her whereabouts now
Remembering her sad eyes is all I have left
Praying each day she is safe from harm
Hoping she escaped that terrible place
And dodged the demons that haunted those streets 
Now maybe she has rested her tired feet!

Biographical Details

Primary Location During Vietnam: Can Tho, Vietnam Vietnam location marker

Story Subject: Memorial

Young soldier sitting on a table outside.

SP5 Anthony Robert Nathe. Photo by John Settlemire.

Story Themes: Anthony Nathe, Anthony Robert Nathe, Art, Can Tho, Guilt, Memorial, Poetry, Read, Reflection, Sauk Rapids, Tony Nathe

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