What was the inspiration for “Some Boys Grow Up To Be Soldiers”?

The character in this song is nobody in particular. We all know him. He’s somebody’s uncle, friend, neighbor, father, son. He’s far from perfect, but when he served he was willing to lay down his life. It didn’t come to that, but he lost some essential part of himself along the way. I think of this as an anti-war song. Not a song about the men and women who die in wars, but about the survivors who return to find home is no longer their home. Of course “he’ll never admit what it cost” and so there is nothing to do but soldier on.

January/February Lyric Contest Winner Brian Estes Details "Some Boys Grow Up To Be Soldiers" « American Songwriter