Johnny didn’t want to go to war
His Dad had been through it before
Told him it wasn’t really very nice
But freedom and peace always had a price
“How come me, and all us American Guys?”
Johnny asked his Dad with puzzled eyes.
Dad shook his head and sadly replied,
“Because we care and right is on our side.”

And Mom wrung her hands and tried not to cry.

“But, Dad, I don’t even know the people over there.”
“Son, they’re just like us but are treated unfair.
Their rulers on a whim kill them out of hand,
and vowed to kill us here too, in our own land.
We can go fight them now and end it for a time,
or do nothing but talk and pretend it’s all fine.
But sooner or later we know the day will come
when another deadly attack will happen here, my son.”

And Mom wrung her hands and tried not to cry.

Johnny nodded. “Okay, now I understand.
Don’t want those cowards killing us in our land.
Need to free those oppressed people over there too.
Like you said, it’s the right thing to do.”
Dad hugged his son and said, Well, now,
when you joined the Guard you made a vow.
To defend our nation and our way of life
even in strange foreign lands full of strife.
So be proud of what you’re about to do,
And we’ll both pray that God protects you.”

And Mom wrung her hands and tried not to cry.

Johnny went off, saying, good-bye, so long
And his troop marched off to a marching song.
Finally mustered with thousands of young men
Who also wondered if they’d get home again.
Preparing for battle they trained in Kuwait
The die was cast, the hour getting late.
In a letter to home, Johnny hastily wrote
in his tent by flashlight just a simple note.
“Don’t worry folks, I know I’ll be all right.
Wish me well and good luck, for tomorrow we fight.”
That’s all I have time to say, so I’ll just say good-bye.

And Mom wrung her hands and tried not to cry.