While on vacation in the summer of 2004, I viewed an exhibit chronicling and comparing World War I and the Korean Conflict at the McHenry County Historical Museum in Union, IL. The theme included veterans of the First World War whose sons later served in Korea. These two wars, nearly 40 years apart, had some things in common, mainly the futility of both.

Father was a sailor,

in a cracker jack suit.

Son was a flyer,

in sharp and crisp wild blue.


Father was a doughboy,

in the war to end all wars.

Son was in Germany,

but came home with men

from Asia, still haunted

by their time in the "police action".


Father sang "Over There"

to make the world safe for democracy.

Son saw there was no over there,

while fighting a frozen conflict

against Communism.


Father did time because

he would not kill another man.

Son endured his comrade's taunts

because he would not kill another man.


Father was in a Great World War,

Son was in a conflict, a police action.


Father flew a byplane

over no-man's land.

Son flew a jet

over the 38th Parallel.


Time and again,

when powerful men turn evil,

and fathers and sons must

leave their family and friends

to go and fight and sometimes die.

So others can be safe and free.


And back at home,

little brother dresses like a cowboy,

watches the Dodgers and

prays for big brother,

while sister sits

in the basement loving Lucy.