101 Vietnam Veterans
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Killed In Action

Forget the civilian law.
YOUR first commandment is.
Thou shalt kill. And thou shalt live.
To kill with extreme prejudice.
Identify and destroy.

What’s wrong becomes right.
What’s evil becomes necessary.
Perfectly acceptable to cut someone’s throat.
To shoot them or blow them up.
Nothing more than a killing machine.

Lightning fast.
Without feeling.
Without conscience.
Without thinking.
Pure mindless, reflex.

Vigilant, for the out of place smell.
The smallest noise or movement.
Sleeping with one eye open.
Or don’t sleep at all.
Forever silent.

Lay down in the mud, soaking wet.
Cold in the rain, blood sucking leaches.
Jungle rot eats your flesh.
Burning up with fever.
Suck it up and drive on.

Can I turn it off?
Can I put it behind me?
Can I change who I am?
No, I can’t.

I put on my mask.
And civilian clothing.
Obeying your stupid laws.
Playing the stupid game.
Pretending to be what I’m not.

Day after day, year after year.
I have grown tired of it.
It is definitely not fair.
My whole life has been a lie.
And I don’t know who I am.


​Ed Matyjasik
A 2/502 Infantry
8/69 - 6/70

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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