The Pack

by Liz-Katherine Medina

There she goes
Out again
Sun so bright
Glistening sweat
She wears a scarf around her head
To disguise her bun
A giveaway
She holds her weapon close
Always at the ready
She inhales that dry air
The stench of waste fills her nose
But she does not stir
Standing straight
She carries her own weight
She takes a break
Sits on dirt
Drops her pack
She lets sleep return
That second feels like a minute
That minute feels like an hour
Eyes just closed
A moment of rest
It’s time to go
She grabs her pack
And the walk begins
You see,
That pack, is no ordinary pack
She carries food, clothes, medicine, socks
But she also carries
The tears her husband shed when he saw her go
The priceless hugs from her daughter that did not want to let go
The weight of her parents concern waiting on her return
She carries it high between her shoulder blades
She carries it with pride
For her it is just a small sacrifice
So that the dirt her daughter stands on
Will never be stained with the blood of war
So don’t you judge this woman
this mother
this wife
Don’t you judge this woman with a pack
Don’t you judge the tears she cannot mask
For years after her war is over
She will always carry on her pack.

Liz-Katherine Medina was born in Lima, Peru and immigrated to the United States when she was two years old. She is a Marine Corps veteran who deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and is currently a drilling reservist with Det-2 Supply. She helps bring awareness to PTSD by using it as her platform in pageant competitions, and in her current position of Miss Capitol Hill she uses fitness and poetry as an outlet for her PTSD. She lives in Woodbridge, VA with her two daughters, ages four and six.

A Soldier’s Story

by Lucille Reyna

Far from home and all alone,
in this different world, unknown.
Not quite sure of what to do
or how I found this mood of gloom.
Could it be…?
From the extreme cold to blistering heat,
and don’t forget my stinky feet. But,
I’m so hungry, what’s to eat? Ugh!
What is this canned, mystery meat? Oh,
the animals are mangy, the bugs are bad, I
can’t remember the last good shower I had.

Each day that passes, I hope is the last,
when I will have to hear a rocket’s blast.
My buddies stand ready to join the fight,
the Sarn’t tells us, “No sleep tonight.”
We’ve trained for this and ready we are,
with all the courage that comes from afar.

God Bless the U.S. forces and all the brave souls,
who’d give their life for liberty’s bell tolls.
The Stars & Stripes, Red, White & Blue.
I do it for me, I do it for you.
So, say a prayer when you go to sleep,
that all the valiant soldiers the Lord will keep.

Here I am in this strange new place,
asking for God’s saving grace,
remembering to be cool, be smart,
and always to listen to my head and heart.

Alas, my spirits are lifted now, the light
is shown, the right path I’ve found.
It’s all for Freedom and Independence too,
I fight for all; I’d die for you,
‘cause I’m a Soldier the whole way through.

It’s over now; we’re safe and sound,
fear not from nothin’ all around.
A Soldier’s Story is full of love,
and the angels that guard ‘em,
Both on earth and above.

SSgt Lucille Reyna is currently serving in the Air Force Reserves in the 434th OG at Grissom ARB as a command support specialist pending reclass assignment as a paralegal. She has prior service in the Army as a military police officer, and she deployed to Iraq in 2003 for a year and then again as a contractor in 2006 for strategic debriefing. Lucy has a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice and a second Master’s degree in International law, Human Rights. She and her family were featured in the July/August issue of Woman’s Day Magazine.

Robbed

by Gigi Tharpe

Innocence ripped away like one peeling off an unwanted mask.
Uncertainty of what steps lead to this hidden crime scene.
Night sweats, portions of nightmares, crying followed by sleepless nights.
A scream daily, hoping to take someone to task.
Frozen in time gripped with fear, it seems so surreal.
Inside I felt like dying, I built a strong wall.
Victimized, broken, battered, frustrated and tired of military lies, anger lingers.
Abused to the point of pregnancy, entangled I cried to God.
Robbed of my military career, robbed of my newlywed marriage,
Robbed of acceptance among my family back home,
Robbed of seeing my child as me and not the abusive supervisor,
Robbed of nearly everything over the years of time,
Thirty-four years later, still awaiting justice from the VA system,
Robbed of peace!

Gigi Tharpe served in the USAF as a AGE mechanic. She is a mother of and grandma of 10. Rape robbed her in 1980, but today she currently works at a Women and Children’s Shelter helping others. Gigi has continued to fight for justice for all MST survivors as well as for herself.

Matthew Replies at 17:20

by Maggs Vibo

She dives headfirst into mustard seeds.
Heaps of matted hues piled up high
Steadfast imagery, but she says to me,
“I wholeheartedly dream I die.”

She climbs ladders and knows not the matter,
Or the potential for danger below.
A fateful spring appears
She knows not to fear
Diving into tears
Screams out…“Why?”

“Translate what it means,”
She asks pleadingly.
I speak parables
She will know,
“You leapt headfirst into mustard seeds—
Swept up faithful love piled sky high.”

Maggs Vibo served in the Army from 2000-2004 as a Brigade Supply Sergeant. She considers providing toilet paper to buddies, burning waste, and pulling security her most important missions at Tallil Air Base in Iraq. In 2011, she earned a Graduate Certificate in Online Teaching and MA in Liberal Studies. Maggs Vibo has first person images featured at the philosophy website for Douglas Harding @Headlessway.org. Her other pieces on Harding’s method of self-inquiry, are collaborations with French writer, José Le Roy. As the granddaughter of a Native American, Vibo believes storytelling through art continues the oral traditions of her Sac and Fox Nation ancestors. She currently teaches science and cultural history as a docent at Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum in Hawaii.

Battle Command

By Victoria Hudson

During execution of an operation, submit changes to previous instructions as fragmentary orders.
As a grade officer with capabilities, select interpreters of potential.
Choose those individuals who possess the best mix of qualities.
Select fluency.
Choose security.
Choose who know loyalty.
Ensure each individual knows he must repeat his own thoughts or opinions.

Source: “Battle Command: Select Interpreters.” Officer Foundation Standards II Civil Affairs (38) Company Grade Officer’s Manual. Vol. STP 41-38II-OFS. Washington: Headquarters, Department of the Army, 1995. 2-345. Print.

Vicki Hudson earned her Master of Fine Arts Degree from Saint Mary’s College of California in 2008. Her poetry and essays have been published in a variety of online and print literary journals, and anthologies. Each month on her website, she highlights an emerging author, artist, or interesting person (and is always looking for someone to interview). Annually, she sponsors a registration scholarship to attend the San Francisco Writers Conference via the Victoria A. Hudson Emerging Writer Prize. She is an urban farmer, voracious reader and photographer. She coaches women’s and youth rugby and is a mom and wife.