DAYBREAK
Dawn broke unexpectedly through the cover of cloud -
just as the firing started... with explosions so loud!
Dug in the previous night, setting up a perimeter so late
knowing they were all around us... our hearts filled with hate!
What remained of that night passed quickly, with all alert
we've had constant contact... and knew we were in a world of hurt
But we were dug in well and all fighting holes on high ground
with plenty of frags, laws rockets, mortars and bukoo round
Our tenseness turned to anticipation the more they came!
their whistles and bugle blowing... we killed without shame
As the light grew stronger their faces took shape... even their eyes
and below us the masses of enemy... for help we looked to the skies
Fighting with fury - driven by rage, we kept up the slaughter... but listen
they were gaining ground on us now... but then we saw the wingtips glisten!
The first drop of HE's was close! The second were hitting further out
up from our holes we came to continue the fire... many of us did shout!
All feeling an overwhelming relief yet also somehow we'd been cheated
it was all the anger in us, that over the months had never been depleted
Some of the VC still on that hill made sounds, which sounded like 'mom'
then one of our planes came in low, away from us – and dropped napalm
For what seemed to be just a second we thought we heard screams
but except for some intermittent fire... just the sound of their broken dreams
* * * * * *
We never did get an accurate body count that day, or the next
but looking over all those dead, burnt and mutilated bodies, we let it rest
Their slaughtering of the surrounding villagers ended after that day
we felt that this time we had finally helped... but we weren't to stay
To relax, learn and enjoy the Vietnamese farmers' way of life...
again we were requested to chopper into yet another strife
And so it went for our entire tour... patrols, ambushes and Ops
choppers and firefights – they sure knew how to bust our chops
Never believing I'd survive all the landings in those wonderful birds
yet here sit I, writing in rhyme all of these visions... with words