See the old men, sitting round the table,
Remembering when we were young, when we were still able.
Drinking our Beers, or Coke's or Ginger Ale's.
Telling our stories - telling our tales.

Once we were Warriors
Once we were strong.
Our whole life was before us,
What went wrong?

We once had dreams.
We each had a plan.
When did each of us discover
That we were just a man?

Once we were Warriors.
We fought in the Vietnam War.
While people back home were chanting
"What ya' fightin' for?"

Some of us were wounded.
Some of us died,
But each of us felt it -
The loss of our nation's pride.

Ask us to tell our stories,
If you dare,
To share our memories -
But beware.

Not all the memories are fun
And not all the stories are good.
Because Vietnam was what we had
Instead of a happy childhood.

We trained hard.
We learned to kill
Some of us never got used to it,
And others liked the thrill.
 
 
 

Life was cheap,
I could end it with a push of a button.
That's why we forced themselves to say,
"Hey man, it don't mean nothin'"

Some of us flew through the air.
Some of us served on the seas.
Some of us fought in the jungle
Or in the paddies, in mud over our knees

Don't blame us if we are angry.
Try to understand if we are bitter.
It's because our "Leaders" used them up,
And then cast us aside like litter.

Once we were Warriors
In a land far away.
But that was a long time ago
And now is today.

It's your turn now,
You young Women and Men.
It's your turn now
To start to begin.

Your life is ahead of you,
Your future is so bright.
We pray that you never wake up
Screaming in the night.

So look hard and see,
(if you can)
That once I was a Warrior
And not always an old man.

DEDICATED TO ALL VIETNAM HELICOPTER CREWMEMBERS
I wrote this for a presentation I gave to our local high school history
class.  They were studying ancient history and were discussing the war in
Vietnam.  My daughter was in the class.  My son, who had graduated the
year before, came in as well.  I don't think I could have done it without
their help.  I could look at them and keep focused on today and not fall
into Vietnam.
Bobby McBride
Puyallup, WA
@1995.