From: themilitarytoday@pacbell.net   
      
   Veterans/Memorial Day Poem, #69: INTO THE NAM   
      
   Into the Nam went the 9th Marines, on a beach at Da Nang they stormed ashore.   
   Getting used to C-Rats and cold canned beans, they were ready to die for the   
   honor of the Corps.   
      
   It was still '65 when some others landed, like "The Herd" and "The Big Red   
   One". Sent to Bien Hoa and An Khe, they banded, "Tropic Lightning", "Screaming   
   Eagles", each by the ton.   
      
   Back in The World there was less to fear, for nothing was as bad as a day in   
   The Nam. Trench Foot; Kraits; and ALICE pack gear, were first to un-nerve even   
   the calm.   
      
   On patrol in the bush was a bad time for all, with punji stakes, toe poppers,   
   and trip wires around. Grunts looked for "Charlie" with many a close call,   
   tough going near Cu Chi where tunnels abound.   
      
   Riding a Huey into a Hot LZ, 1st Cavalry did meat the NVA. M-60s and   
   "Bloopers" made noise near Plei Me, and the valley called Ia Drang was red   
   that day.   
      
   F-4 Phantoms flying low level strikes, began what was called the Rolling   
   Thunder. Ho Chi Minh trail resorted to bikes, which made the "Gooks" start to   
   wonder.   
      
   Dust Off missions usually saved the day, when the Viet Cong did their worst.   
   Medivac Choppers only a few klicks away, extracted the wounded who needed help   
   first.   
      
   Brown Water Navy patrolled the Mekong, especially the Rung Sat Special Zone.   
   Most hoped they wouldn't be too long, as the Swift Boat's engine continued to   
   drone.   
      
   Summer of '67 saw heavy fighting at Con Thien, in the north on the edge of the   
   DMZ. Green Berets and "Cidgees" had been over-run, and for miles NVA was all   
   the Marines could see.   
      
   By the time most had the thousand yard stare, thoughts of their DEROS date had   
   been stirred. Thirty days and a wake-up their only care, short-timers waited   
   for the Freedom Bird.   
      
   The taking of the hill numbered 875, was a job that was given to the 173rd.   
   November near Dak To - not many alive, but cries of wounded can still be heard.   
      
   The Five O'Clock Follies in the city of Saigon, could not explain the massive   
   build-up. Many a coffin being made by the Cong, would help to bring their   
   courage up.   
      
   Recon and Rangers could see it coming, the SEALs and SOGs saw it too. The NVA   
   and VC were up to something, then in '68 it all came true.   
      
   For 77 days around Khe Sanh, the Marines kept fighting so bitterly. The Tet   
   Offensive had barely begun, at Lang Vei was left only Willoughby.   
      
   Fighting for the Citadel in the city of Hue, how many really died - none can   
   tell. Suicide Squads hit Saigon during the day, and even the U.S. Embassy   
   almost fell.   
      
   By May '69 they were at Hill 937, up in the A Shau Valley highland. The 101st   
   fought hard 'till day 11, "Hamburger Hill" was then just abandoned.   
      
   More Cherry LTs and FNGs, were unsafe for others while In Country. Humpin'   
   through jungles, daring not to sneeze, 'till a sniper would zap 'em from the   
   trees.   
      
   In late '72 most things had gone sour, and Grunts just tried stayin' alive.   
   General Abrams you see, had lost all his power, and the South did what it   
   could to survive.   
      
   Nixon had decided that we would slowly pull out, our allies didn't need us   
   anymore. Winning the war was now in doubt, as politicians wanted us out of the   
   war.   
      
   The fall of Saigon was a great big mess, it had come in April of '75. Many   
   returning Vets were treated as less, most thought they were lucky just to be   
   alive.   
      
   People now know that the War is over, except for the night-fright here and   
   there. For the Vietnam Vet it's no roll in the clover, when you've been   
   through Hell and there're few who care.   
      
   Many good men have their name on "The Wall", who gave their lives far away in   
   The Nam. Remember the Vet who answered the call, when you see him - extend him   
   your palm.   
      
   Written from the heart by E. Jonathan Holmes   
      
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    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)