" Killed In Action "

[thedrifter]

found in the pocket of a fallen Marine
" KILLED IN ACTION "
7 June 1969
Ouang Tri Province
Republic of South Vietnam


Take a man and put him alone,
put him twelve thousand miles from home ....

Empty his heart of all but blood,
make him live in sweat and mud ....

This is the life I have to live,
this soul to the Devil I give ....

You have your parties and drink your beer,
while young men are dying over here ....

Paint your signs on the White House lawn,
" Let's all get out of Vietnam " ....

Use your signs and have your fun,
then you refuse to use a gun ....

There is nothing else for you to do,
then I'm supposed to die for you ....

There is one thing that you should know,
and that's where I think you should go ....

I'm already here and it's too late,
I've traded all my love for hate ....

I'll hate you till the day I die,
you made me hear my buddy cry ....

I saw his leg and blood shed,
then I heard them say "this ones dead"

It was a large price for him to pay,
to let YOU live another day ....

He had the guts to fight and die,
to keep the freedom YOU live by ....

By his dying your life he buys,
but who gives a damn if a Marine dies ....


Sempers,

Roger

[firstsgtmike]

There are some images in poetry that become classics;

"As silent as a painted ship, upon a painted ocean".

There are lines taken from speeches, or slogans that are destined to live forever.

I just read one that deserves to be up there with the best.

One of the magical things that make Marines different, is the brotherhood. Cowards gain courage, so as not to let their brothers down. The worst thing a Marine can do, is to turn his back to another Marine.

Scholars, Sociologists, Psychologists, PHDs and Masters Degrees have filled libraries attempting to understand it.

I read a line that could have saved them the trouble:

"I'll hate you till the day I die,
you made me hear my buddy cry ...."


Semper Fi