Men of Mike, Men of Mike, once so brave!
Before they knew what struck them down,
They were laid to rest in a grave,
When I saw the bloody, battered boots,
I could hardly help but cry
For those breave, courageous men
Seemed much too young to die
Sorry Men
For Hate
Men of Mike, Men of Mike, once so bold!
Each in his own way
Had a heart of gold
War has no real paths of glory,
As these marked men were to know
It is only brass coffins, chunks of flesh,
And much too often, an ambitious foe
Sorry Men
For War
Men of Mike, Men of Mike, once so true!
It looks like there will always be war and hate
And men that will have to suffer like you
You’ve been society’s victims
As you grasped your last breath with pain
I hope men will learn to live by your deaths,
For then you will not have died in vain
Sorry Men
For Man’s Lack of Love and Understanding
Of Himself/Others
Artist Statement
This poem was written in summer 1965 after a patrol from Mike Company was ambushed outside of Da Nag, Viet Nam, killing 13 and wounding 31 Marines and Corpsman.
The poet served as a US Marine Corps Infantryman in Mike Company 3rd Battalion 9th Marines.
Competing Interests
The author has no competing interests to declare.
