VIETNAM MUDSOLDIERS POETRY OF THE BATTLE

DEAR GOD MY BODY IS IN ALOT OF PAIN STANDING IN A PADDY FILLED WITH MONSOON RAIN. SHOULDERS CUT BY PACK STRAPS, SO HURT AND ACHE; HEY LORD MY BODY AND MIND NEEDS A BREAK! HOW MUCH OF THIS CRAP CAN A HUMAN TAKE; PLEASE LET ME REST AND SLEEP FOR GODS SAKE. THE ROCKETS AND MORTERS RACING OVERHEAD, RIFLE FIRE ALL AROUND IN A STEADY STREAM OF LEAD. WON'T BE LONG UNTIL I REST; WON'T CAUSE I'LL BE DEAD INTO THE REST OF AGES, NO MORE PAIN AND DREAD. THOU SHALT NOT KILL GOD HAS SAID I JUST SHOT A MAN THROUGH THE HEAD. THE CRY OF MEDIC, THE WOUNDED DO SCREAM AS THE BLOOD RUNS FROM THEIR BODY IN A STREAM. WASTE AND WAR MUST BE A DEVIL'S SCHEME PLEASE DEAR GOD LET ME WAKE FROM THIS DREAM. ON A CHOPPER BACK TO BASE CAMP MY NERVES ARE RACKED MY STOMACHES CRAMPED. THE WAR IS OVER FOR TWO OF MY FRIENDS THANK GOD IT WAS NOT ME, THAT IT'S THEM, BUT I WISH IT WAS ME. BY CHARLIE F. EPPERSON--MAY 17, 1982--1ST DIVISION, 2ND BATTALION, 16TH INFANTRY, CHARLIE COMPANY--NAM APRIL 11, 1966 ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~

"RANGERS"

by (Trash) Ron Haley

C 2/16 "Rangers" 65-66

WITHOUT THE TEXTBOOKS,

OR THE PARADE GROUND DRILLS,

WITHOUT ONE GOOD REASON TO ANSWER THE CALL,

BOYS BECAME MEN, MUD SOLDIERS OR ANGELS,

AND "RANGERS" ONE AND ALL.

BY WILL, BY SKILL, BY GUTS AND BY GOD,

IT IS RANGERS WE WILL BE CALLED!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Robert E. Johnson of C 2/16 was wounded during the battle of Xa Cam My. Several years later after returning to civilian life he wrote this poem which was inspired by his experience on that April day, many years ago, April 1966. When I was Real As the earth split between my feet And a deafening thunderclap ripped scream and breath from my hollow chest I leapt half hurled into the grayness And for one brief instant, I was real My entire life bookmarked With straight lined lightening popping like firecrackers Angry bees bursting in my head And in one instant, that micro-second with crimson colored mud stinging my flesh I was real. by Robert E. Johnson, 1st Div, 2nd Bn, 16th Inf, Charlie Company survivor