| No honor, no dignity No self respect or pride. Not for us who lived and Not for those who died. |
You held the world before us We were following your rules. It wasn't us who started the war We were fighting one of your duels. |
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| It's not wrong to talk like this, We've got to get it said. Maybe we'll rest more easily After we are dead. |
So don't hate us for your principles And despise us all of our lives. The drums were beating, We needed the playing of the fife. |
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| America used to be so proud Its soldiers stood so tall. But then the money-grabbers came. And made us take the fall. |
It wasn't a war I heard it said, We were lending a helping hand, But 60,000 dead boys later We gave up that mighty stand. |
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| But coming home was something else. The people made it clear. You're wrong, an animal From us you'll get no cheer. |
The pain and suffering All that we know is true. But Agent Orange now sets the rules. The body count's not through. |
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| From other wars the men are proud. They hold their heads up high. From ours we hang our head And sometimes even cry. |
But there's one more thing that must be said, And we want it said out loud. "Had we been in your war, Dad, we would have made you proud." |
| After Nam Written and recited by S/Sgt. John J. Smith of St. Cloud, Minnesota. This poem was awarded the gold medal for poetry at the 1996 National Veterans Creative Arts Festival at Louisville, Kentucky. Smith has been diagnosed with cancer of the throat. Smith served as a medic with Det. #1, 38th and 35th USAF Dispensary, Phan Pang Air Base, Air Rescue and Recovery Squadron, 1968-69 |
