by Diana Nickell, wife of Vietnam combat veteran, Dennis Nickell
Promises made
Promises kept
I came to see you today…
Tears were not what I found
As I looked around
Surprised
At the feelings inside
Gratitude,
That I fought the fears
The thieves and demons
And lived my life to the fullest.
The mirror of your sacrifices
Souls etched on the wall
Brought hope, and peace.
Survived I did,
No victim here
I chose not to pull the trigger.
Regrets?
Wish I had known sooner
What a beautiful life was planned for me
Thanks all,
I will not dishonor you
By quitting
Or choosing to be a victim!
The Screams at night
Only last for a moment
And there are many more in each day
Walking away
I smile at my best friend and wife
I can honestly say
It’s a Wonderful Life
_____________________
For 43 years, Dennis and Diana Nickell, shared their lives, passion, and hearts. Dennis, a Vietnam Combat Veteran who dealt daily with the aftermath of his 14 months in-country, spent his later years reaching out to Veterans, their loved ones, and tried to help share why you should never give up. Sept, 12th, 2021 Dennis joined his brothers in arms in heaven, who never had the chance to have the life he fought for daily, and his wife Diana still carries on the mission of educating, enlightening, and encouraging those who have paid such a heavy price for freedom.
Dedicated to ALL, first responders, and heroes, Diana has found peace in the wealth of her family and her faith. YouTube series Surviving Vietnam can be accessed freely at
https://www.survivevietnam.com/
All rights are reserved, for created content shared about their amazing journey, including original poetry by Diana. Feel free to contact Diana at dnickell1955@gmail.com with any questions or concerns.
As the Voice of the Veteran Community, The Havok Journal seeks to publish a variety of perspectives on a number of sensitive subjects. Unless specifically noted otherwise, nothing we publish is an official point of view of The Havok Journal or any part of the U.S. government.
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