David Connolly

David Connolly was born, raised and still lives in South Boston with his wife, Lisa. He is the father of two grown daughters, Christine and Jennifer, son Jake, and the grandfather of Samantha Anne, Michael, and Aideen.  David served honorably in Vietnam with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. He takes pride in having been—and continuing to be—a Vietnam Veteran Against the War. His poetry appears in the film Voices in Wartime.

 

“One Black Mark”

At 14, I delivered groceries to the neighborhood;
it was a real job, in the retail clerk's union
and I did a good job for them and my neighbors,
proud of being a union man.

At 16, I was hired as a regular in the store,
throwing stock, a member of the same union,
got a letter of commendation for crashing
through the front door with the escaping thief I tackled.

At 18, the phone company hired me
to climb poles and string wire for Ma Bell,
my neighbors and the IBEW.  
My brothers on the job voted me their union steward.

At 48, I left the company to retirement
to look back on a life spent as a working man,
mostly in the city of my birth,
and found just one black mark.

See, when I was 19 and 20, I had a non-union job,
the only one I ever had,
in the Infantry of the US Army,
and my job, killing Vietnamese, I did well.

But the medals and the badges they gave me
didn't make what I did right
and without a union card in my pocket,
I should have known better.

 

 

Questions for Reflection: “One Black Mark”
 
Connolly’s poem introduces us to the world of being a “union man.” Before discussing the poem you might want to find out about unions in the United States, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), and the significance of being a union steward.
 
1.     Comment on David Connolly’s work ethic.
2.     What are some of Connolly’s work experiences of which he is most proud?
3.     In his mind, for whom did Connolly work during his years with the phone company?
4.     Looking over his life, what one thing resonates as being wrong in Connolly’s estimation?
5.     How do you think Connolly would compare the metals he received in Vietnam with his union card?
6.     By writing this poem, what can you say about Connolly’s feelings about fighting in Vietnam?