They not only fought the enemy, br but fought the elements as well. br They fought for their country br in lands far from home. br They fought rain, mud and the enemy br in trenches stained with blood br from those who had fallen there before. br They fought on and on br while the Generals watched br the slaughter from far away. br For their mistakes men died br by the score across the battlefield. br Their blood would stained the land br then and forever more. br Then came the gas br like a creeping mist across the battlefield br that silenced all in its wake. br It made no distinction to young or old, br just poisoned all it touched. br Their contorted bodies rotted where they fell. br They said this was a war to end all wars, but it wasn’t. br Almost twenty years later br men from different countries gathered to fight another war br and again in the trenches men fell. br The mechanics had changed; br machines became more prevalent across the battlefield, br still men died for small victories in the tide of war.