Don't Forget The Nam Vet

The Year was nineteen hundred and sixy-five;
And I had just turned eighteen.
I graduated from high school that year;
I wanted to see the world, and what others had seen.

Sure, I knew there was a war going on;
But that was far away.
I was here in the United States;
I was safely tucked away.

I ventured out to the big city;
And got a job and had some fun.
Afterall, I had done my time in school now;
I was free and on the run.

Then one night, when I was out with friends;
In a bar and having a good time.
I met a young man, named Ted that night:
In his uniform, he looked so fine.

We started talking, he was so nice;
Such a gentleman, and oh so sweet.
I was so happy that he was there;
And by chance we happen to meet.

He asked if I would go out with him;
He wanted to go dancing the next weekend.
I answered yes, of course I will;
There was no better way, for my time to spend!

He picked me up at eight and we went;
And we danced the night away.
I will never forget what a wonderful time;
Ted and I had that day!

When he took me home he told me;
He was leaving for Nam the next day.
Then, that war I hadn’t thought about;
Didn’t seem so far away.

Ted wrote to me and I to him;
I was here, and he was there.
It finally brought the war to me;
And I began to care!

About six months after Ted had gone;
The mailman brought the news.
Ted’s helicopter had been shot down:
I couldn’t believe it, I refused!

I finally realized that Ted was gone;
No more mail would I receive.
I was left with a tiny memory;
But now I did believe!

My eyes have been wide open since then;
And I feel for those who have died.
I went to the wall, and found Ted’s name;
I knelt, I prayed, I cried!

Many take for granted the freedom we have;
And still no respect do they show.
But I, for one, will never forget;
What I learned and now I know!

Don’t ever forget what they did for us:
For you and your families and me.
They fought, and some even died for us;
So that we can still be free!!!!

© Betty Hawkins 2003

(All Rights Reserved)