I don’t like the burn pits
Nor do I like what it has done to me 
But I have strength in the lord
He is my shield most definitely


It first started as IBS
Irritable bowl syndrome they say
My stomach constantly turn up
The shits- everyday

Then the skin rashes appeared
Chronic the Va liked to say
Gulf war syndrome in a nutshell
I hope I make it to my next birthday 


 the  abnormal liver enzymes
Showed up unannounced 
Diagnosed with anemia
Service connected issues way too many to count 

Enlarged heart
Heart disease at such a young age 
Didn’t even know about it
I’ll be dead before the Va will pay

My lungs were also shot 
I’m sorry to have to say
Shortness of breath
Lung disease moved in and was here to stay 

Even my kidneys was affected
Didn’t know it until after I died
When my wife read about it 
She broke down  and cried 


Multi system organ failure
Dying young at 43 
Freedom isn’t free 
nor is liberty …..,


WB KSG