They Served Us Well

This poem honors two military ladies. My source is This Date in History.

How does one write about the lives
of heroes in our land?
Some gave up college, yet they thrived
as brother - sister bands.

The WASPs, I'm told, were called "civilians"
through the second Great War,
three decades later the "veteran" status
brought honor to them more.

A nurse in Vietnam was spared
the fights in open trench,
but ruthless battles there she dared
on gurneys and each bench.

The heat we've faced these recent days
is nothing to the life
a nurse would face through "rocket's" displays,
and "sleepless nights" of strife.

One Janis Nark "gave up her youth"
to serve those wounded men,
and now her motivation's truth
helps wounded lives to win.

How do these lives, who've seen so much
still press through all their days.
The training learned, it's mark and touch
shows through in all their ways.

Lines: 24
Branch: Army
Nationality: American

by Jay O’Toole
on June 28th, 2026