BOY TURNED SOLDIER

MY FATHER MARVIN JOINED THE ARMY 2 WEEKS BEFORE HIS DRAFT CARD CAM IN 1967.HE WAS DOING HIS DUTY TO HIS COUNTRY AN FELLOW MAN.HE WAS 18YRS OLD AND JUST AN SHY HAPPY GO LUCKY COUNTRY BOY FROM NC.HE WAS PART OF THE SERCUITY AGENCY WITHIN THE ARMY AND WAS ATTACHED TO THE 1001ST AIRBORNE. HE SHORTLY LEFT FOR VIETNAM IN 67AND STATED 13 MONTHS IN HELL AS HE PUT I TILL 68'.DURING THIS TIME HE EARNED AN BRONZE STAR.IN WHICH HE HAS NEVER TOLD ME HOW HE GOT.HE JUST SAYS I WAS TO YOUNG AND DUMB TO BE SCARED. THOUGH HE SHOWS NO SIGN OF EVER GOING TO WAR NOW.I PERSOBALY CAN FEEL THAT HIS SOUL WAS DAMAGED PERMANTLY DOING HIS DUTY FOR HIS COUNTRY.HE WASN'T ONE OF THE MANY THAT PAID THE ULITMATE PRICE WITH THEIR LIFE BUT IT WAS ENOUGH I WOULD SAY.I CAN EVEN REMEMBER AS AN A YOUNG GIRL MY GRANDMOTHER GAVE ME THESE VIETNAMESSE DOLLS THAT MY FATHER HAD SENT HOME TO HER AS AS GIFT.THEY WERE IN PERFECT CONDITON TO BE 25 YEARS OLD THEN. I LOVED THEM BUT IT MAKE ME THINK THAT SOME HOW MY GRANDMOTHER WAS JUST HOLDING ON TO THEM FOR ME.THAT SOME HOW UNCONICOUSLY MY FATHER KNEW THAT HE HAD AN REASON TO LIVE AN GIRL HE WOULD MARRY AND AND A DAUGHTER THAT HE DIDN'T KNOW THEN HE WOULD ADVENTUALY HAVE.i JUST WANT TO SAY THANK GOD HE CAME HOME A AND HOW PROUD I AM OF HIM FOR SERVING HIS COUNTRY TO BRAVELY WHILE MANY RAN. I'M PROUD TO CALL HIM DAD.THE ONE THAT HAS STUCK BY ME THROUGH THINK AND THIN...I LOVE YOU DAD!