ARTICLES,
              POEMS, 
                          STORIES

VIETNAM
1959-1975

For us it was the six o’clock news
For them it was reality

We called for pizza
They called for corpsmen

We watched children play
They watched children die

We served dinner
They served their country

Our passion was success
Theirs was survival

We forgot
They can’t

THE HILL

Gunny said:
when you boys come back for R & R don’t bring crabs back to your shipmates.
That’s what he said
That’s what Gunny said

Gunny said:
when you boys finally get home eatin chow with your folks… please don’t say … pass the friggin salt
That’s what he said
That’s what Gunny said

Gunny said:
Why… one of your very own mommas during visitors day at Pendleton... said to me “Gunny where does my little Jimmy learn all that terrible language?”  And I told her right there:  “Beggin your pardon Ma’am but how the fuck should I know Ma’am
That’s what he said
That’s what Gunny said

The day before the People’s 136 Div. swept The Hill
Gunny said: smoking lamp is lit… Keep your heads down… 2 on a match…. All those gooks can do is kill you… can’t eat you it’s against the Geneva Convention
That’s what he said
That’s what Gunny said

It got quiet next morning when Sarge yells to me:  “Hey Doc… how’s Gunny doing?”  “Gunny?  Gunny’s still dead Sarge… you know … last night.”
“Oh yeah Doc I forgot. Gunny is still dead.”
That’s what he said

Finally, Sarge and me walked down off that stinkin Hill
After all those eyars
After all those tears
Gunny’s still…
I don’t have to say it if
I don’t want to