The Unforgiving

We charged burning hills
dodging lead pills, 
aimed at the hearts of  man,
We didn't give it much thought
through the battles we fought
about dying in a foreign land

We crawled through the paddies
like Cajun crawdaddies
soaked deep clear to the bone,
We didn't give it much thought
through the battles we fought
that we might never make it back home

We ran from the choppers
while the enemy tried to stop us
seeking shelter behind a blade of grass,
We didn't give it much thought
through the battles we fought
that our next breath may be the last

We survived the mortars
and all the hasty orders
we obeyed no matter what the cost,
We didn't give it much thought
through the battles we fought
while tears flowed for the buddies we lost

We were silenced by our code
and burdened by our load
the Vietnam war was taboo,
We didn't give it much thought
through the battles we fought
That our country would turn on us too

We returned to the world
our flag was unfurled
as before our eyes it was burned,
We didn't give it much thought
through the battles we fought
that we'd die at home as we returned

Boon 3/3/2001