Philip D. McMillin

A YOUNG MAN OF JUST SEVENTEEN

He had used a fake I.D.
To join the army and be shipped overseas
He was a reckless and wonderful kid you see
This young man of just seventeen

When he joined our unit they assigned him with me
Always smiling he was and so full of glee
He never shirked his duties, never wavered or failed
This young man of just seventeen

It soon became apparent to me
He would never hold back at all
I could not be responsible for this troop’s fall
This young man of just seventeen

So I spoke to our mess sergeant
To have this young lad transferred from the field
It was all arranged by me
For this young man of just seventeen

He didn’t like it and voiced disapproval
But the decision had been made
He wasn’t at all happy with his removal
This young man of just seventeen

On October 22, 1970
On an ambushed supply run near Di Linh
He lost his vision and limbs
This young man of just seventeen

It was all arranged by me
For this young man of just seventeen