July 22, 1968     VIETNAM     July 15, 1969

MOBILE RIVERINE FORCE

 TASK FORCE 117

                                 

River Assault Squadron 15

River Assault Division 152

(Boat) T-152-1

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers, For he today that sheds his blood with me, shall be my brother."  William Shakespeare, Henry V

 

There has never been anything before or after my Vietnam experience that will ever compare with the intensity of facing the enemy in frontline combat. I have attempted to recreate that type of adrenaline flow by doing some pretty crazy things. I've never come close to matching it. Vietnam has placed an indelible mark upon my soul and it is most difficult to erase. 

I hope that you gain something from my experiences as you surf through these pages. We are all here for a purpose. It's our task to find that purpose in our lifetime.

 

This Poem by Rudyard Kipling in 1892 fits we Vietnam Veterans well

~

TOMMY 

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,

The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."

The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,

I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:  

~

O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' Tommy go away";

But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins ," when the band begins to play,

The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,

O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins ," when the band begins to play. 

~

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,

They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;

They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,

But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!

~

For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' " Tommy wait outside";

But it's "Special train for Atkins " when the trooper's on the tide, 

The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,

O it's "Special train for Atkins " when the trooper's on the tide. 

~

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep

Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;

An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit

Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.

~

Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' " Tommy , 'ow's yer soul?"

But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,

The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,

O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

~

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,

But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;

An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints:

Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;

~

While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' " Tommy , fall be'ind,"

But it's "Please to walk in front, sir," when there's trouble in the wind,

There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,

O it's "Please to walk in front, sir," when there's trouble in the wind.

~

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:

We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.

Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face

The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.

~

For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"

But it's "Savior of 'is country," when the guns begin to shoot;

An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;

But Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool- you bet that Tommy sees!

~