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Those Darned Kids!
This is an excerpt from the September 2010 issue of the 2/503d News Letter
Those Darn Kids
I thought this might be interesting for our newsletter. I
walked into my daughter's room the other day and
hanging on her wall was a narrative poem that relates to
all of us as brothers in arms. That night at dinner I asked
her where she got it and I found out that she had written
it herself. I was blown away that at 16 years old my
daughter could come up with something so amazing.
This goes to show you that you never really know how
your children feel and understand things. Airborne All
the Way,
Jim Starrett
C/2/503d
SOLDIER TALK
By Chantal Starrett
We grew up with it, it was normal for us, even
something we smiled at every once in a while.
You know what I mean, Soldier Talk.
It happens often when walking out of a gas
station or grocery store. One man is putting
away his items and shifts the Ranger hat on
his head. My father sees this and walks up.
"When did you serve?"
And so the talk begins.
I sit in the car and watch them. Each one
spinning tales of where they went, what they
saw, what they learned. I watch them laugh at
things that most men would shake
remembering. I watch them stand a little bit
taller, raise their head a slight bit higher.
They feel whole again, as if they aren't alone
in their own pasts. They feel a part of
something bigger than themselves, something
to be proud of. They bare the right to identify
themselves with a band of heroes that
distinguishes them among many.
It isn't only talking though. They honk their
horns when they see each other’s bumper
stickers, the dog tags hanging from the
mirror, the badge covered cap, they nod at one
another in the VA. It is all Soldier Talk.
But what do I have? I have no band of legends
to be associated with, no badge of honor to
adorn my wall, no dog tags from a mirror, no
badge covered cap, no memberships to the VA,
no one honks their horn when I drive past for I
have no service sticker.
Who do I nod to when I walk past? What
strong service of courageous beings am I a
part of?
What makes me stand taller and hold my head
higher? What makes me proud of whom I
have been?
I sigh and sit back in the seat as I wait for him
to finish.
"Well, thank you for serving."
And then it ends.
The other soldier smiles and nods to me before
getting in his car.
And all I can do is nod back, for I have no
Soldier Talk.
“Soldier Talk” Copyright © Chantal Starrett 2010
Those Darn Kids
I thought this might be interesting for our newsletter. I
walked into my daughter's room the other day and
hanging on her wall was a narrative poem that relates to
all of us as brothers in arms. That night at dinner I asked
her where she got it and I found out that she had written
it herself. I was blown away that at 16 years old my
daughter could come up with something so amazing.
This goes to show you that you never really know how
your children feel and understand things. Airborne All
the Way,
Jim Starrett
C/2/503d
SOLDIER TALK
By Chantal Starrett
We grew up with it, it was normal for us, even
something we smiled at every once in a while.
You know what I mean, Soldier Talk.
It happens often when walking out of a gas
station or grocery store. One man is putting
away his items and shifts the Ranger hat on
his head. My father sees this and walks up.
"When did you serve?"
And so the talk begins.
I sit in the car and watch them. Each one
spinning tales of where they went, what they
saw, what they learned. I watch them laugh at
things that most men would shake
remembering. I watch them stand a little bit
taller, raise their head a slight bit higher.
They feel whole again, as if they aren't alone
in their own pasts. They feel a part of
something bigger than themselves, something
to be proud of. They bare the right to identify
themselves with a band of heroes that
distinguishes them among many.
It isn't only talking though. They honk their
horns when they see each other’s bumper
stickers, the dog tags hanging from the
mirror, the badge covered cap, they nod at one
another in the VA. It is all Soldier Talk.
But what do I have? I have no band of legends
to be associated with, no badge of honor to
adorn my wall, no dog tags from a mirror, no
badge covered cap, no memberships to the VA,
no one honks their horn when I drive past for I
have no service sticker.
Who do I nod to when I walk past? What
strong service of courageous beings am I a
part of?
What makes me stand taller and hold my head
higher? What makes me proud of whom I
have been?
I sigh and sit back in the seat as I wait for him
to finish.
"Well, thank you for serving."
And then it ends.
The other soldier smiles and nods to me before
getting in his car.
And all I can do is nod back, for I have no
Soldier Talk.
“Soldier Talk” Copyright © Chantal Starrett 2010
Views: 12
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Comment by Kanani Fong on October 16, 2010 at 2:13am -
REALLY GOOD. Insightful, and she's thinking deeply!
FYI, A lot of people don't have the presence or grace to say, "Thank you for your service." That is Soldier Talk, and when she thanks someone, your daughter should know that it carries a lot of meaning for the person receiving the thanks.
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Comment by Kanani Fong on October 16, 2010 at 2:14am
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P.S. Would you ask your daughter if I could post this on my blog, The Kitchen Dispatch? I will give her full credit, and if she wants, she can even send me a photo.
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Comment by Jim Bethea on October 16, 2010 at 8:58pm -
Hello Kanani,
A point of confusion - Chantal isn't my daughter, her father's is Jim Starrett, a war buddy of mine in the Vietnam war.
Chantel has consented to your request to post her poem on your website and will be looking forward to viewing it. Thank you for giving this talented kid a boost in her self- image.
I think they live in Alaska.
I can inform them that you will be posting it soon?
Thanks kind lady
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Comment by Kanani Fong on October 17, 2010 at 2:41am
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Jim, I'm honored to have Jim's daughter's poem on my blog. I'll post it on Monday. If she wants, she may reach me at easywriter101@gmail.com, if she wants to send me a photo or anything. It's such a good poem, and it will touch a lot of people.
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Comment by Jim Bethea on October 17, 2010 at 11:18pm
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Thanks for giving Chantal an oportunity to make contact you. I forwarded your note to them just now. I know the kids going to be thrilled.
I think you'll be interested in reading the 2/503 Newsletter. Here's where you can find all the issues. http://www.firebase319.org/2bat/news.php
Well, gott go. I'm going to post some more poetry.
Thanks for all that you do for other people,
Jimbo
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Comment by Kanani Fong on October 18, 2010 at 12:10am
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Ok Jim. Tell Jim Starrett and Chantal that it's set to auto-post on The Kitchen Dispatch tomorrow (Monday) at 6:00 AM PST. I've added links to to Firebase 319, and a reference to the Second Battalion Newsletter. Also gave a lot of kudos to Chantal.
And Jim...THANK YOU for posting here, and also for keeping in touch with your brothers (and sisters) in arms. It means a lot. May we never forget. What I do is pretty minor --just what I've always done which is to take care of others, and try to make people feel a little bit better. -K
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Comment by Becca Bryan on October 19, 2010 at 8:28am -
Beautiful! Loved it! Wish I could write this good!
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Comment by Tim Waters on October 19, 2010 at 1:10pm -
Jim - if you have contact with Chantal, please thank her for this wonderful poem. She perfectly captures the instant brotherhood you feel with someone else who has served. She also needs to understand that the "...strong service of courageous beings..." that she is part of is called the military family, and they have their own language distinct from other families. They are the ones left behind when we deploy and they're the ones keeping things going until we get back. I've often thought they have a harder job than us grunts and we can't thank them enough for what they do.
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Comment by Jim Bethea on October 19, 2010 at 4:44pm
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Tim - I certainly will forward your comment to Chantal. I want to contact her dad and make sure that she is aware of how much people appreciate it. You never know what a little ego boost might do for her future.
Kanani Fong did a real professional presentation of the poem on her website The Kitchen Dispatch.
Hey man! I see you're from East Wenatche. Thats just over the hill from us here in Elmer City/Grand Coulee. If there's anything I can do to help out your family let me know.
I hope all is well with you buddy. Thanks for standing in the breach.
Fraternally - Jim
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