Reflections page

Vietnam As I See It  -  by Terry Racine

(December, 1968 to December, 1969)

Blistering summers, long dark nights.

Bombings, sappers and feared firefights.

Sorrow, fear, terror and rage;

known by people of every age.

Everyone in this land stops to pray,

for the seemingly far off day

when they will be free of war.

Nonetheless, they'll always bear the scar.

Soldiers far away from their homes

anxious to return and nevermore roam.

Wives and girlfriends weeping and crying;

we know its true - there's no denying.

The price of Freedom is very dear,

but to us the cost is one small year.

To the people its a lifetime of agonizing pain

which must be endured so peace may soon reign.

An American soldier has a future to come,

but not so for a soldier of Vietnam.

As long as he can last in the war,

he must seek the enemy both near and far.

War is cruel, but as history has shown,

war must  precede if peace is to be known.

Men must die for others to be free,

that's just the way it has to be.

Many ask, "What are we doing here

away from freedom and peace for a whole year?".

But stop and think before you complain,

for in just one year, you will see freedom again.

So when you feel that the war is unfair,

just remember, we're just doing our share.

To stop oppression, terror and turmoil,

and keep the stain of blood off American soil.