In honor of Veterans Day, I share with you a poem bearing the title above written by my husband, David, a Viet Nam veteran:
“Can I ask you a question,
Where were you when I got home?
I looked for you everywhere
Wanting to see you – I felt so alone.
Oh, I’m not angry, I just want to know,
I don’t mean to pry, but I love you so.
You knew I was coming; it was well known.
Where were you when I got home?
What were you doing, what kept you away,
If I did something wrong, forgive me today.
I thought of you every minute that I was away.
I needed you here, what was your delay?
Peace, how I long for it now,
Let go of the past – I need to forget somehow.
What happened to you while I was away,
Home from Viet Nam – now such a different day.
It’s over now, there is no need to moan,
But, I have to know, America,
Where were you when I got home?”
Viet Nam veterans have a habit of acknowledging their fellow vets with a hearty “Welcome Home!” whenever they see each other because – in spite of the military in those days not being voluntary, but rather, a draft, they were snubbed when they got home from their time of service.
How about our many other veterans? Have we treated them the same way? There are many who literally put their lives on the line for us – in the past and today. That list also includes our first responders who run into a burning building to save a life, or they may chase down a dangerous criminal in order to protect the public.
When was the last time you or I acknowledged one of these brave souls? Yes, “where were you when I got home?”
“How can we thank God enough for you…” (1 Thessalonians 3:9)
“I thank my God every time I remember you…” (Philippians 1:3)
“Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up…” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
I never miss your Tuesday “words of wisdom “, especially today since your husband and I served in the AF together in SE Asia.
So touching, beautifully put, and so true. A big thanks to your husband for serving and for writing this poem. God bless him and all those who served, especially during times of war.
Truthfully I have no words, except to say sorry to those who went through this and thank you to those who serve(d) our country to afford us the freedom(s) we have. Thanks Mr. T for sharing a painful part of your past. Love you and Mrs. T.
❤️❤️❤️
Beautiful, thank you for sharing this heartfelt poem. To the Vets out there, your service mattered.
It always will.
Grateful for David serving and expressing his experience in coming home. Thank you for helping us see a veteran’s perspective. Certainly humbled when I take much for granted.
Thank you, Teri, for the reminder and posting your husband’s poignant poem and his service. I am so glad our country celebrates our veterans that gives us an opportunity to thank them and their families. We need to be reminded, as we are a people that forget. We even forget what God has done for us. So let’s rehearse these acts of goodness to keep them in the forefront of our minds and pass it down to the next generation. Even our vets need to be reminded.
A beautiful reminder, especially on Veterans Day. Thank you Dave and all who served America in those difficult days.
Amen 🙂
Well said, David! We try to acknowledge all military and first responders at every chance. I lost a first love over there….