"RUN COWARD RUN"
Deep within this Marine, the hatred I have for you has no cure,
you ran and let My Country down, and that's for sure ....
I lived in the jungle where day after day it was death, blood, sweat and tears,
but you really didn't care about me in Vietnam, for you had no fears ....
By day and night you'd protest, party, laugh and play,
while back in Vietnam, "Tom's been killed" I'd hear them say ....
As a Marine I stand Proud and Tall, from My Country, I'd never run,
even though I know Vietnam is not a game, nor is it fun ....
I made alot of friends in Vietnam .... Tom, Bill, Gunner and Joe,
but to visit them now, to Arlington National Cemetary I must go ....
One day I stood in silence overlooking the graves of all who died,
they had served their country with Honor, Dignity and Pride ....
I cried tears one rainy day in Vietnam until I couldn't see,
trying to comfort my dying friend, he said to me, "bye Al, remember me" ....
My close friend had died for his country with Pride, and without shame,
while you went to Canada thinking this was all a game ....
Never shall I consider forgiving you for running away,
to me, your a coward and a disgrace to My Country is all I can say ....
The hatred embedded within me toward cowards like you,
will never be forgotten within me, no matter what you say or do ....
America is My Country, and it's the freedom that I enjoy and love,
and I will serve My Country again if push comes to shove ....
To avoid the draft, you deserted My Country to do nothing but hide,
while American Patriots fight in Vietnam, and many have died ....
You treated me with great dis-respect and dis-honor when I came back,
you smoked your weed, called me filthy names, and manners you did lack ....
War is hell, and we realize that many good men will die,
It breaks my heart to see parents of KIA's break down and cry ....
You don't deserve the freedom that I fought to preserve, you ran to hide,
so stay in Canada cowards, and permanently there reside ....
This Marine shall NEVER forgive you for running, or forget it,
without shame or guilt, upon your grave I shall spit ....
Marine, author's name unknown
Dear B.,
I receive many, many e-mails from Vietnam Vets concerning many different things. I was informed by the Vet that sent me this poem that to the best of his knowledge it was found on a dead United States Marine in Quang Tri province.
Personally, I understand this dead Marine's strong feelings at the time he wrote this in 1969. Many of us actually enlisted into the Armed Services to serve our country during the Vietnam War vs. being drafted. I lost a brother and a uncle in the Vietnam War. They as I enlisted rather than be drafted. When men such as myself were in Vietnam fighting a very unpopular war we grew to have strong feelings for the individuals that were draft dodgers and/or war protesters. We as Vietnam Veterans found out when we came cack to the world(states) we were respected more by the people of Vietnam then our own countrymen.
When I came back home after three tours of duty in Vietnam I was basically an outcast to the majority of people I had known when I graduated from H.S. and enlisted into the USMC. I was the so-called baby killer, the pychotic Vietnam Vet who took pleasure from witnessing and causing death.
Dear B., I made no comment concerning your allegiance to your home country I posted a quote, period.
You make reference to what I am saying to you in a post but in reality you are speculating.
I have no contention with you. I have no hatred for you. I have great empathy for you, to be sure.
If you were in Vietnam, and had friends die in your arms you might be more understanding of the poem I posted by a deceased(KIA) Marine brother in arms who as myself were in a far and distant land attempting to serve our country with honor and valor.
Dear B., You appear to be highly defensive at other message posters other then me, too. I understand because the atheist position is a difficult postion to defend, indeed.
Once again, I am not so inclined to post messages as you think I should nor am I to be lured into a confrontation with you for individuals supporting the atheist belief system have one heck of a time attempting to state what they belief and why, it is much easier to stand as a martyr and tell of how one is being bullied.
There is nothing we have to debate about. You are resolute in your atheism belief system and I am resolute in my belief of Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.
GySgt
James