Vietnam – Outlaws, Outrages and Outright Lies

Golden Gate

On calm blue waters we sailed along, Left My Heart was our favorite song. With Subic, the Rock, and the jungle behind, We hoped that somehow that lost year we’d find. Two weeks at sea, seven time zones, The salt-water showers freezin’ our bones. Then up above a seagull did soar, Continue reading “Golden Gate”

Homecoming

The Ribbons on his chest The thousand-yard stare A DD-214 They told him DiDi Mau!* *Get the @#%$ out of here! An airplane, a ship, a bus, and a thumb Crossing 8 time zones The World. No men in black pajamas with AK’s No thuds walking closer No C-Rations with bad cheese Resuming hisContinue reading “Homecoming”

Mail Call

On a lonely hill Above an emerald green valley Indian Country Scan the sky Two Skyhawks roar in low Whistling death Napalm Screams Choppa Choppa Choppa The supply bird Pregnant Guppy Skyhawks, Rockets this time Keeps them hunkered down We rush to the LZ Chopper lands, Dust stings our faces A PFC steps out StarchedContinue reading “Mail Call”

Christmas Flap

Spent Christmas Eve in Olongapo town, pourin’ lots of San Magoo[1] down. The Princeton was tied up at Carrier Pier, we just might stay until it’s New Year. Heads were achin’ as Reveille played, at all the bars, too long we had stayed. Scuttlebutt said that Hope and his troupe, wouldContinue reading “Christmas Flap”

Chasing History (Draft) PT I

Chasing History Few of us make history. We all live through it though. It shocks us, shapes us, strengthens us and gives us direction. We survive the great events of our time, learn from them and move forward. Within the march of our personal histories, we see thousands of events, big and small. We experienceContinue reading “Chasing History (Draft) PT I”

Wild Bill

We never knew the cause of his pain, and some of us were quick to complain. His whole life was a pure hot mess, somethin’ to do with trauma and stress. Never had no job, lived all alone, didn’t have much to call his own. Sometimes he camped deep in the woods, Continue reading “Wild Bill”

Soldier, We Love You

(Jarheads Too) There were no bands. Nobody spat on me. We drove out the gate. Just Mulliner and me. I couldn’t cheer. He had to go back. Job, college, family. It didn’t much matter. I was alive. I was free. In Da Nang, the locals lined the road. As they did when I landed. Cheering,Continue reading “Soldier, We Love You”

“Doc”

We never used his name, we just called him “Doc”, He was my outfit’s Corpsman when I hit the Rock. Like the one’s before him, kept us all on track, From Iwo to Khe Sahn, they always had our back. Held Sick Call for the slackers, gave out APC’s*, Mecuricome got slapped on all theContinue reading ““Doc””

Humble Al’s Grenade

We called him “Humble” Al, I was proud to be his pal, No matter what went down, you could sure depend on Al. In Sixty-Five we sailed off to war while playin’ Crazy Eights, Not knowin’ where or when we’d ever see the states. His weapon was a solder gun, the .45 is just forContinue reading “Humble Al’s Grenade”