Dark Remembrance

Speak aloud the names of our fighting men
let them not be forgotten, call their names
to bring our country peace, to rest again
do not leave them, cease all these petty games.

Called to duty, pride in country so strong
sent to foreign soil, heard from nevermore
did they look for them, would not take too long
families waiting, hearts laid on the floor.

Shadows now float over a cold tombstone
empty now, except for this black spirit
in the face of darkness, our ideals flown
remembrance...this is all we inherit.

Do you not know the sound of their voices
where their last heart beat....they had no choices.

Rita Carrington Bryant
Copyright July 1998

Henry Serex-POW/MIA

US POWs captured & interned in WWII By Nazis...96,614 By Japan...33,021 US POWs died while interned By Nazis...1,121 (1.1 %) By Japan...12,526 (37%) US civilians captured & interned in WWII By Nazis...4,749 By Japan...13,996 US civilians died while interned By Nazis...168 (3.5 %) By Japan...1,536 (11%) Source: The Center for Civilian Internee Right, Inc.

On World War II: "An undetermined number of American POWs liberated by Soviet forces during World War II from Nazi Germany POW camps, were NOT repatriated to the United States or otherwise accounted for by Soviet Authorities." Dr. Paul M. Cole, POW-MIA Issues, Vol. 1, 2 & 3 National Defense Research Institute, Rand, 1994 "Information from the Soviet archives indicates that Soviet authorities deliberately misled US officials concerning the fate of American POWs." Rand, 1994

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