Members of the 1st Platoon James O. Twist, Reyler Leon, Joe Morrissey, Andy Lehrer, Mike McGuinness, Dallas Haggard (kneeling) and Brandon Krebs pose with a flag in Afghanistan in 2012. (Courtesy of the Twist family) Photo Source: Washington Post
A never-ending war
In a place they barely understood
To earn their trust and protect them
Defeat the threat, was their call
But, fate changed their course
Their new untested leader
Was going to shock and awe
He ordered 1st Platoon, Shoot unarmed men
“Sir, we can’t do that”
But he replied, “Smoke em”
And a war crime was done
Duty called, they answered
Guardians of freedom
Living by a Creed
With courage and honor
Court-martial took three days
The platoon testified
That their lieutenant failed
It took three hours
Guilty of all crimes
Newsmen changed the story
A war hero was wrongly tried
One person heard this and changed his fate
The Platoon wept, wanting to know why
The President stole their honor
And a war criminal was set free
Duty called, they answered
Living the Creed
They told the truth
With courage and honor
An honor that was stolen
Copyright @ 2020 David Petri — All Rights Reserved
The poem is inspired by the true story of First Platoon and the Court Martial and subsequent pardoning of First Lieutenant Clint Lorance by President Trump. Their story can be found here.
I previously published this in the Medium Publication - Weeds & Wildflowers