101 Vietnam Veterans
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I am A Soldier

I AM A SOLDIER, BOUND FOR A FARAWAY LAND
FOR MY COUNTRY NEEDED TO MAKE A STAND
JUST DID MY TRAINING, LIKE A GOOD SOLDIER SHOULD
I NEVER WONDERED WHY, JUST KNEW THAT I COULD
ON MY WAY TO THAT PLACE, I TURNED TO SAY GOODBYE
THAT’S THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW MY MOTHER CRY
THAT WAS SO SAD, TEARS RUNNING DOWN HER FACE
THAT’S WHEN I REALIZED THAT VIETNAM WAS NOT JUST A PLACE


I NEVER ASKED FOR FORTUNE, I NEVER ASKED FOR FAME
BUT WHEN I CAME HOME FROM THAT VIETNAM
I KNEW I WOULD NEVER, NO NEVER BE THE SAME,
IT HAPPENED ONE FINE DAY ALONG THE TRAIL
DEEP IN MY GUT, I KNEW I MUST NOT FAIL
AS I HEARD THE HAUNTING SOUND OF THE WOUNDED WAIL
INCOMING, THE CRACKLING OF RIFLES, CHECK THE FLANK
THREE MEN DOWN, WHO CARES ABOUT RANK


I WAS ONLY NINETEEN, WHEN I LEARNED ABOUT FEAR
BACK IN “THE WORLD” I WAS TO YOUNG TO BUY BEER
I GREW UP FAST AT THAT TENDER AGE
THIRTY SOME YEARS LATER, MY EMOTIONS STILL RAGE
FOR THE GRACE OF GOD, MY NAME IS NOT ON THE “WALL”
TO SEE THE “WALL” TOUCH THE “WALL” MANY PEOPLE CAME
BUT FOR ME I KNEW I WOULD NEVER, NO NEVER BE THE SAME


YES I GREW UP FAST AT THAT TENDER AGE
BUT WHY THIRTY SOME YEARS LATER, DO I STILL FEEL THE RAGE
I SIT AT NIGHT, ALONE WITH NO ANSWER WHY
I SIT AT NIGHT ALONE AND CRY
I AM A SOLDIER TO THIS VERY DAY,
BUT AS A CIVILIAN THE MEMORIES WILL STAY
THERE IS NO WAY I CAN TURN THE PAGE
SOME THIRTY YEARS LATER MY EMOTIONS STILL RAGE


David Williamson 
C Company 2/327th Infantry
101st Airborne Division
Republic of South Vietnam 1969-71


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  • About Us
    • Board of Governors >
      • Elected and Appointed Officials
      • Past Presidents
      • Want to Run for Office?
      • Voting Ballot
    • Constitution and Bylaws
    • Memberships
    • Founding Fathers
    • Brief History
    • Eulogy to a Paratrooper
    • Thua Thien Province Base Camps/Firebases
    • General Order #1
    • The Challenge Coin
    • Army Donation 2010
    • YOUR WAR STORIES
    • John Gertsch
    • BATTLE OF PHOUC YEN
    • November 28, 1971
    • Our First Patrol
    • Award to a hero
    • Mountain Tales
    • Duty in the Sky
    • Ambush
    • These Colors Didn't run
    • POPCORN!
    • BATTLE OF AP DONG LAM
    • Monkey Man!
    • "MadMonk" >
      • Letter Home
    • My Bestest Buddy
    • The Chat
    • The Day it Snowed
    • Just Last Night
    • C-Ration Cook Book
    • The Truth of it all
    • Almost got Blown up
    • A SHAU VALLEY
    • 40 Years Ago This Week!
    • Comradery
    • Operation Lamar Plain
    • The Iconic Huey
    • THE DEATH OF LIEUTENANT PERSHING
    • FNG's Prelude to Our First Patrol
    • Sgt Flaherty Unsent Letters 1
    • Sgt Flaherty Unsent Letters 2
    • Sgt Flaherty Unsent Letters 3
    • A Personal Memoir
    • Poems and Tributes >
      • I am the Flag
      • The Airborne Creed
      • Paratroopers Theme Song
      • Why please
      • Reciprocity
      • Burnin' the shit
      • Aquarius
      • LZ Jane
      • I am a Soldier
      • It's been some time
      • Dedication by Dwight Lane
      • Taps
      • The Old Unit
      • AMERICAN SOLDIERMAN
      • REMEMBRANCE DAY
      • A Grateful Nation
      • Airborne History
      • LESLIE TOWNES HOPE
      • Pow / Mia
      • The Wall
      • The Wall
      • Escape
      • Killed in Action
      • Another Year
      • Women of Valor >
        • Sitting in the Dark >
          • Dear Larry
      • A Tribute to Veterans
  • Policy Letters
  • History
    • Airborne History
    • Going Back to Fort Benning
    • Branch Anniversary Dates
    • Order of Battle 65-72
    • Unit History 67-72
    • Unit Awards
    • Battle Campaigns 65-72
    • How to Fold the Flag
    • Memorial Dedication
    • 101 Dedication
    • Proper Flag Display
    • Distinctive Unit Insignia
    • Video Tribute
    • VIET CONG TERROR DOCTRINE
    • Unit Citation Pamphlet
    • Pocket guide to Vietnam
    • Awards
  • Historical Photo Gallery
  • Useful and Important Veterans Links
  • Contact Us
  • Memorial Dedication
  • A Veteran
  • Vietnam Service Medal
  • Fallen Eagles
  • Special Notice Items
  • UPCOMING REUNION 2025
  • Past Reunions
    • Reunion 2024
    • Reunion 2023
    • REUNION 2022
    • 2019 Reunion
    • 2018 Reunion
    • 2017 Reunion
    • 2016 Reunion
    • 2015 Reunion
    • 2014 Reunion
    • 2013 Reunion
    • 2012 Reunion
    • 2011 Reunion
    • 2010 Reunion
    • 2009 Reunion
    • 2008 Reunion
    • 2007 Reunion
    • 2006 Reunion
    • 2005 Reunion
    • 2004 Reunion
    • 2003 Reunion
    • 2002 Reunion
  • NEWSLETTERS
    • Januray 2025
    • Spring2024
    • January 2024
    • SEPTEMBER 2023
    • June 2023
    • APRIL 2023
    • Summer 2022
    • 2021 NEWSLETTERS
    • 2020 Newsletter
    • SPRING 2022
    • 2019 Newsletters
    • 2018 Newsletters
    • 2017 Newsletters
    • 2016 Newsletters
  • Update Honorary Air Assault Badge
  • Chaplains Corner