Then the Darkness Comes: A Veterans Truth Through Poetry (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781492708674)

From childhood, I dreamed of being a writer and a soldier; poetry has been a passion of mine since I first learned to read; being a soldier was a dream. I grew up listening to my dad's war stories and I was intrigued, it all sounded glorious and heroic. January 1975, a few months before my 18th birthday, I went to enlist in the military. For someone who has a phobia of deep water, oddly enough the Navy was my first choice; but, at the weight of 117 pounds I was rejected. The Army was my 2nd choice; again I was rejected due to bad hearing. On March 14th 1975, on my 18th birthday, I walked into a National Guard recruiter's office, and on March 19th 1975, I stepped off a bus in Fort Knox, Kentucky; to start basic training. After completing basic training and AIT, I returned to my home Guard unit in Cincinnati, Ohio; the 237th Cavalry. The next two-and -a half years, I had a six year enlistment, with the Ohio National Guards; the third year of service I was in Fort Hood, Texas for training; I was on detached service to the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment where I met a Colonel who apparently took a liking to me and pulled some strings and was able to get me transferred from the National Guard to the regular Army. The next nine years were exciting, adventurous, and scary. Vietnam ended while I was in basic training and though most of my time in the service was considered peace time, I did end up in a few of the "hot spots" during the 1980's. I spent time in Honduras, Beirut, and Lebanon. In late 1987, after my discharge, I re-enlisted in the Ohio National Guard again and served two more years. After what I considered a drastic change in the military; I finished my enlistment and took my final discharge in 1989. 'I do have some regrets for that decision.' I enjoyed my time in the service, it was intriguing and adventurous . . . through the good and bad I have no regrets for serving; as for glorious and heroic . . . there is no glory on a battle field and the heroes came back under a flag. As for the people of the United States of America, we were forgotten soldiers of the past. My name is John Colyer and this is my poetic story....