A web site that shares the emotional and spiritual experiences of the Vietnam War through poetry, stories, and photos by combat veterans.

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TO THE DMZ AND BACK


    Over the ridgeline and into emerald valleys we go,
To little time to see the beauty below.
   Out of low level clouds we punch,
Down into valleys, speeding home for lunch.

   The crisp cool air, quenches the midday heat,
Sucking slowly on Charms hard candy, a treat.
   Wondering why such a hurry in speed,
I needed time, a TM to read.

   Below, a village appears, quaint little huts,
The VC is probably in there, This is nuts!
   No hostile fire received, but the beauty is tarnished by fear,
The villagers below look up, smiling faces, we where really near.

   I throw out the leavings of my C rats, to help them along,
Pilots tuning in the radio, For a new old song.
   Just dropped off some pacs, tiger striped dudes on patrol,
Mind wanders off to some re-routing of Hydro lines in the hellhole!

   The sky is overcast, no rain, gray skies with a touch of blue,
Nervous about landing on Vietnamese burial spires in the grass, 
bad thing to do!
   My eyes gaze at the foliage below,
Where we are going, I don't rightly know.

   Over a ridge and circling a red clay clearing,
Can't make out the pilots words, ears pop, weird feeling.
   Say Again! My instructions are clear,
Must throw out the mail packets and cases of beer.

   A barebacked grunt screams out hurry! Sniper out there!
I rush for the cargo, fear working, and bristling hair.
   After the grunts get the stuff,
The pilots manhandles the controls, sort of rough!

   My buckle isn't snapped, and I get tossed around,
I look quickly, Way down to the ground!
   A sheer drop off on 1/3rd of this LZ,
How much dangerous can this mission be?

   On the north west approach to Camp Eagle, shit hit the fan,
A lone VC was trying his luck with his SKS in hand.
   Missed us! But I did return some fire,
Didn't hit shit! Thank God it wasn't to dire!

   We landed in the revetment PSP,
I tied the blades, and searched for a hit to see!
   Not a scratch! A daily to complete and log books to fill out,
I guess this is Ash and Trash! What's it all about!
#
 Copyright 2002 Marvin Camp

 EMail: cobra070@earthlink.net

Member VHCMA and Heli-vets
Army, 101st Abn Div. Vietnam 70-71
 4/77th ARA, HHB and Cbtry
Camp Evans I corps, Doorgunner and Crewchief

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