By Tod Christensen
It’s a faded photo album like many families had
With dust on the cover and pictures of the wife, two sons and the Dad
The pages are falling apart, but the story remains
Buried in the old pictures as they try to explain
The life of this family and one particular American boy
And the things that made him happy and brought him his joy
The father served his country for twenty years in the U.S. Marine Corp
The last ones in San Diego but the first four in the Second World War
Part of the greatest generation that we all admire and like
With a brand new Chrysler that on the back said “Vote for Ike”.
Compared to what they had been through, life felt like they didn’t have a care
And those two boys turned that big tough Marine into a big ol’ teddy bear
There was Junior the oldest of course
And little brother Billy who loved those California sports.
One would go to college but the other one knew
That he had to be like Dad and serve for the Red White and Blue
No man in that era would ever fault a son for such a decision
But it was different now with this war causing so much division
They thought if he enlisted, Billy might get to pick his location
And avoid Vietnam while still serving his nation
But Uncle Sam had a different idea and plan
And didn’t think twenty years in the Corps was enough of a sacrifice for a man
So they took this boy who just a few years ago was so full of pride
To be able to buy one of the first ten-speed bikes that anyone could ride
He went to Vietnam and was there for a few months as Private First Class
And of course, no family can predict the future or even just a forecast
But if you’re curious how the story ends and want to visit Billy just to see
You can find him on the Wall line 17 panel 52E
The Dad lived a long life after this with the rest of the family
And everyone moved on like everyone does but not always happily
Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery is where this story is done
That’s where the story ends for both this American Father and Son.
