“EMPTY BOOTS”

There they stand
All muddy, covered with grime.
They once were polished;
Like the man.
The bloodstains all blackened
With time.

Proudly they marched
In every parade.
They slogged in the mire
Of war’s long charade.
Now they are empty.
The owner is gone
To that heavenly place
Where brave soldiers belong.

By Esther B. (Campbell) Gates

In Loving Remembrance of this poem was written in memory of a remarkable man, Sky Soldier Tyrone Green (Vietnam “tunnel rat”, lifetime humanitarian). He was President of Chapter IV of the Society of the 173d Airborne Brigade.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard