Vietnam Stories

If you’d think the shock and awe of four Pulitzers would mute a granddaughter’s proclivity to be a smart ass you’ve not met Jenna. Though, this Christmas, she’d decided to observe her first seasonal ceasefire of banter. Neither she nor her mother moved a muscle as my arthritic fingers struggled with the reindeer wrapping paper. Perhaps they understood their Dylan Thomas; there’s no helping the stubborn raging against the...

The dayroom was open to personnel not on duty. The television was on. A few troops sat in open seats responding to questions on Jeopardy. The pool balls clicked softly. Two fellows talked quietly. One just back from 'Nam. "You spent a lot of time out in the field, sort of changing," said the Marine. "How's that?" asked the sailor.  "You decided you could do things. It was okay 'cause women weren't around." With hesitance,...

Not for the first time, he wondered if he was destined to become just another aimless, wounded war “hero” in an era when wars and heroes were no longer in fashion. "What’s dat stuff on your face? What is it?" Mark Cahill tried to pretend he was still asleep but the high-pitched young voice was penetrating and persistent. He had already endured two rough connecting flights and even rougher landings. Now this, and it wasn’t...

While there are many disturbing memories of Vietnam, there is one surprisingly excellent memory - Christmas morning. The confusion, laughter, and joy that I created for eleven very homesick young men remains to this day my most memorable Christmas. In December, 1967, I was stationed at DaNang Air Base, South Vietnam. I was 22. Since I had been in the Air Force for over three years, I was both older and of higher rank than...

Alice went to wonderland I went to VietnamWe both got highAlice and IEach in our own dreamlandEdward Lear the father of limericks - called them nonsense poems. He wrote them for Queen Victoria's children. As a Vietnam Veteran I found the Vietnam Conflict a load of nonsense and thought this five line poem style was perfectly suited to express my feelings. I've written dozens of them - but this is my favorite. For you Ameri...

Vietnam DMZ 1968 - A Flashback It was over in less than a minute. The fog was mixed with the smell of gunpowder. It’s the kind of smell that gets up you’re nose - puts the hairs on end. Nick’s squad knew, when he threw out the white phosphorous grenade - that’s it - no more fire. A willy peter grenade will light an area up like a circus tent. Wait a few seconds more, for emotions to settle down. Then down to the trail to...

The smiling, long legged brunette in the photo leaned against the door of a familiar car. One hand held a set of keys against her freckled cheek while the other seemed to toy with the unfastened snapof impossibly skimpy white shorts. In between, an unbuttoned olive-drab, US Army fatigue shirt was spread just wide enough to give a teasing peek at the swell of her firm young breasts.The soldier holding the photo smiled. He’...