Boots On the Ground

Saddle up! Saddle up! It time to go.
     I heard the Sergeant’s call
I held by rifle against my chest,
      And vowed to give my all
It’s time the Sergeant said, move out 
     Let put your boots on the ground
For God, Corps and Country, 
     I took a solemn oath,  I’m duty bound
To the landing zone I gladly went
    Then the day slowly began to wane
I picked up my ammo and weapon, 
    Not a word did I complain
Suddenly, I heard high in the sky
      The gunships thundering roar, 
I watched with great anticipation
     Then felt my pulse begin to soar 
Six Huey Cobra gunships suddenly
     Bursting forth from the sky
It was my ride to to camp Khe Sanh 
     Where many marines live and die 
Towards the besieged compound 
     Without a word we went
Their engine roaring louder, 
     The gunships pilots refusing to relent
When I arrived on the battlefield, 
   I stepped out and pensively planted my feet
I looked around at my surroundings
   The pestilence of war their I meet
From inward fears beyond passion’s pledge
     In their hands they held my fate
And of this mortal enemy
     Their rockets would not abate
Then I heard the sergeant shouting
       I wished the rocket had gone awry
While in this dreary existence
     I turned to God and sought a reason why
I dove into my sand bag bunker, I didn’t’ hesitate
     I felt my heart beat strong in a bunker in Khe Sanh
And when the sun rises heralding a new day 
     I’ll strain all my senses, look and ponder long
I never meant to linger, only thirteen months I’ll stay
     For strong is the life of which I intend to save
As the North Vietnamese Army surrounds us
     Their intent obvious, to put me in a grave
Copyright © | Year Posted 2017

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