Collateral Damages

They put to death
a mentally disturbed Vietnam veteran
On death row for 18 years,
the 60-year-old grandfather,
was executed by lethal injection.
He was convicted of killing
a 78-year-old woman.
Attorneys argued
that he had a Vietnam War flashback
and was in a drug- and alcohol-induced haze
when he killed.
The Governor rejected an appeal for clemency
He received the Purple Heart medal
while on death row.
He spent his birthday,
counting down the hours
to his 12:01 a.m. execution
and asked that the $50
allotted for his last meal
go to homeless veterans.