Franklin Price Poet Rhyme

Notes About The Poem

I hope my memories of Vietnam aid you in having some good memories also. Whether you were  in country, or not, if you lived in the 60's, you were effected by Vietnam. For those who are too young to have been there, I hope this will give you a view of times; from my perspective.

 

Vietnam Was Fifty Years Ago

Vietnam was Fifty Years Ago
By Franklin Price
8/30/2018

Vietnam was fifty years ago
Around the world across the sea
God went with me on tour
Now it's just a memory

The Air Force was my service branch
Ground navigation was my field
 Pilots guided on their missions
From the stations we would build

I spent the year of sixty-eight
Home base was Cam Ranh Bay
Went TDY the country wide
In many places I would stay

Phan Rang, Da Nang, and Ban Me Thuot
Saigon, Phu Cat, Pleiku
Quy Nhon, Can Tho and several more
Was much to see and do

Seems I lived a charmed life
For where ever I would be
At times could hear the battle rage
But it was never there for me

Lived through the Tet offensive
Was in Quy Nhon, a coastal place
Fighting heavy in the city
Never got onto the base

In Ban Me Thuot we grabbed our weapons
Went to the bunkers in the night 
The gunships drove the Cong away
We never had to fight

Phu Cat saw spooky blasting
Red tracers sky to ground
Was glad that he was on our side
Was such a fearful awesome sound

Being close to battle was enough
I hope I've made that very clear
I thank God for watching over me
For many died that very year

Came home unscathed or maybe not
'Nam vets were not too cool
Draft card burners spit on us
To enlist you were a fool

Did not talk about the place you'd been
Even though were duty bound
We only spoke of Vietnam
With other vets around

Times have changed in fifty years
Our dead honored by the wall
I'm thankful for the life I've had
Those inscribed there gave their all

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Rico Leffanta August 31, 2018 at 4:48 PM "Those were the days, my friend, we thought they'd never end" but did too soon for far too many who "like Ivory Soap in the tub slowly fade away". But 50-years is like yesterday for some of us …. Well scribed! Aloha! Rico Franklin Price September 3, 2018 at 8:52 AM your comments are appreciated. Those were the days.

Meru Groen August 31, 2018 at 9:21 AM Great Poem, the words flow so well, and the authenticity is solid. (My brother flew Huey's there, and wrote the book, 'Huey') again, I loved the poem, well done! Franklin Price September 3, 2018 at 8:53 AM Thanks for taking the time to comment and understanding it was real