I think this poem pretty much speaks for itself.

I gave a dollar to a man today
And (to me) this is what he had to say.
I thank you for the food I’ll eat
And for walking by on this street.

Most people just stop to stare
Or glance at me without a care.
They’ll snicker or are quite snippy
Asking if I’m a long-haired hippy.

I never was the long-haired type
So I ask for a break from that hype.
I went to fight the Vietnam War
And it destroyed me to the core.

I tried to adjust after being back here
And told I should never shed a tear.
And to forget the horrors that I’ve seen
And go on living the American dream.

But life is hard when you’re not the hero
And to most my worth is zero.
I’ve had jobs but couldn’t fare
As haunting memories were always there.

So then my country let me down
And I began walking the town.
I depend on kindness for my daily bread
Trying to forget those horrors in my head.

But most either spit or walk on by
Hoping sooner or later I would die.
I fought for them to be kept free
But this is how they are treating me.

Perhaps if the war was on our ground
I might be a hero that’s safe and sound.
So this is what became of me
I thank you again and glad you’re free.