THERE WAS A TIME WHEN I WAS A BOY
THAT PLAYING GUNS WAS SUCH A GREAT JOY
THERE WAS NO ETHNIC THAT WAS UNTOUCHABLE
ONE WEEK IT WAS COWBOYS AND INDIANS
THE NEXT WEEK IT WAS GERMANS AND AMERICANS
WE EVEN INCLUDED THE JAPANESE
FOR WE DID NOT DISCRIMINATE AS TO OUR ENEMIES
AS I BECAME OLDER AND JOINED THE NAVY
THINKING I'D BE SAFE MAKING BISCUITS AND GRAVY
LITTLE DID I KNOW THE DISLIKE I'D HAVE TOWARDS SHIPS
WHILE BEING DOWN IN THE HOLD TRYING TO KEEP MY WITS
THEN ONE DAY WHILE ON YANKEE STATION
PERSONNELL CALLED AND ASKED TO CHANGE MY CLASSIFICATION
THEY NEEDED CORPSMEN - VERY BADLY I'M SURE
SO I TOLD THEM "YES - LET ME OUT THE DOOR"
SO I WENT TO CORPS SCHOOL LEARNING MY MOS
THEN TO FIELD MED SCHOOL LEARNING HOW TO CLEAN UP A MESS
THE NAVY WAS NICE AND SENT ME TO THE HOSPITAL OF MY CHOICE FOR A YEAR
BUT LITTLE DID I KNOW IT WAS JUST BAIT FOR AN UPCOMING FEAR
AS THE YEAR ENDED AND ORDERS WERE POSTED ON THE BOARD
MY NAME WAS THERE AS WERE MANY MORE
BESIDE IT READ "VIETNAM - 3/26 MARINE CORPS"
SO I DID MY DUTY AND WENT OFF TO A FAR AWAY LAND
AND WAS ASSIGNED TO KILO COMPANY WHICH NEEDED A HAND
I WENT ON MY FIRST OPERATION WHICH ENDED IN A MINEFIELD
THINKING TO MYSELF "THIS CAN'T BE REAL!
THIS ISN'T THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE
EVERYBODY GET UP AND FOLLOW ME!
WE'LL PLAY THIS GAME AGAIN AND MAKE IT RIGHT
WHERE NOBODY GETS KILLED OR ARE CRIPPLED FOR LIFE"
AS REALITY SET IN I REFUSED TO BELIEVE IT
I JUST KNOW IT'S A GAME AND EVERYBODY WILL MAKE IT
NOBODY EVER REALLY GETS KILLED
I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I WAS A KID
NOT ONE OF THE GUYS EVER DIED EVEN THOUGH WE SAID THEY WERE DEAD
SO YOU GUYS WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE GONE
COME ON OUT AND QUIT MAKING US WAIT SO LONG
I WANT TO PLAY AGAIN AND THIS TIME I'LL BE DEAD
SO I CAN HIDE AND REALLY MAKE YOU BEG
BY: Keith "Rocky" Miller
HM2 - Kilo & H&S Co.'s
3/26 Marines
RVN 1968-69
