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