50 Years Since Vietnam

You remember the mud blood and mosquitos And the Agent Orange brought back as a memento In your jungle greens at Vung Tau Nui Dat memories won’t fade even now Picked out of the lottery for National Service each one Taken by the Vung Tau ferry or Qantas your Vietnam service begun Each soldier on their tour in sacrifice for country In loyalty to Australia fighting for others to be free Regulars and National Service in pride you stand It’s been 50 years and Australia remembers each woman and man We are proud of these Australians one and all Who stood tall for us in an unpopular war at our beck and call. © Paul Warren Poetry