VICTORIOUS
VETS
Some
tortured, some tamed but all evermore
Remember
their comrades beyond this earths' shore
Vets
proud, even more
Frank
Papandrea, 9th Inf Div A Co 2nd Bn 47th
Inf 1967
OLD RELIABLE
They
were called “Old Reliable” and they garnered lots of fame.
Those familiar with their story know they lived up to the name.
From the forests of the Ardennes to the land of Charlie’s birth
“Old Reliable” set the standard; to a man they proved their worth.
Riverine Infantry was a concept that was tested once before
With a group of Union soldiers fighting in the Civil War.
But the 2nd Brigade went for perfection in the war in Viet Nam
By invading Charlie’s hideouts from its home base in Dong Tam.
Those who sit and count their blessings in this land of liberty
Aren’t aware of hardships suffered in the quest to keep it free.
From the rivers of the delta to the jungles filled with death
Fighting hand-to-hand with Charlie, “Old Reliable” passed the test.
The “Brownwater Navy” and “Old Reliable” formed a solid plan
That would bring the war to Charlie and drive him from the land
The Navy had the boats that would take them to the places
Where the soldiers went ashore and destroyed the VC bases.
Riding Tangos up the rivers proved at times a deadly chore.
Taking mortar rounds and rockets from the bushes on the shore.
Delta canals were so narrow that they couldn’t turn around
So they slugged it out with Charlie as they raced for safer ground.
In his strongholds in the delta, Charlie thought he was secure
But he failed to comprehend the things that soldiers will endure.
Waist deep in delta mud as they struggled through the mire
“Old Reliable” kept on pushing, laying down a deadly fire.
There were many fearsome battles for the men of this brigade
And accolades were common for the roles the soldiers played.
Dinh Thuong, Long An, Song Rach Gai, where so many brave men fell
Strange sounding names from long ago with stories yet to tell.
The soldiers of “Old Reliable,” who played the stakes so high
Rousted Charlie from the delta, by water, land and sky
The records of their bravery are now etched in history
For the 2nd of the 9th was known as Riverine Infantry.
So as you sit and count your blessings in this land of Liberty
Think of all the brave, young soldiers who have died to keep it free.
And rest assured, if ever needed, “Old Reliable” will heed the call.
To fight your wars and shoot your guns and defend you one and all.
For the members of
the 2nd Brigade of the 9th Infantry Division,
3/47th,
4/47th, 3/60th, and all other members of the U.S. Army who
fought
so valiantly on the rivers and canals of Vietnam. Thanks.
Larry Dunn RMCM(SS), USN Retired, Anthol/Ha Tien/LST838 68-69, NAVADGRP 72-73
UNLIKELY BROTHER
He was an unwelcome visitor to the park, just another filthy bum in ragged
clothes.
The few meager possessions he owned lay at his feet; stuffed in a ragged, canvas
bag.
His worn out boots had no laces, he wore no socks and walked with a pronounced
limp.
He searched through the trash and garbage for food or other junk he could use.
His scraggly, matted hair was to the middle of his back. He was unshaven and
slovenly.
He never spoke, and on the rare occasions when you could see his eyes.
They would burn a hole in your soul, as if a ghost of the past was peering out.
Eyes that held confusing messages of defeat and victory, despair and hope.
He was about my age, I thought, but we had obviously taken different paths.
I observed him often, wondering what events in his life had brought him to this
point.
Was he really a no-account, a bum, or just another broken man down on his luck?
What fueled that fire behind his eyes? What mysteries were hidden beneath the
filth?
I sometimes thought of approaching him and trying to help him in some way.
But, in spite of his appearance, there was an aura of strong pride that
surrounded him.
He was impervious to those passing by, and deaf to their giggles and ridicule.
He heard their cutting comments but showed no glimmer of anger or resentment.
Each day he would search through his bag, filled with plastic and pieces of
twine,
to retrieve a handful of breadcrumbs that he would gently toss to the hungry
birds.
As winter’s cold invaded the park, I noticed his gait slowing a bit, his limp
increasing.
The fire in his eyes had diminished, as if he had resolved himself to his fate.
For some strange reason, I felt a closeness to this shaggy denizen of the
streets.
The way he held himself as he limped about the park, his calculated movements,
the determined look in those piercing eyes, a total awareness of his
surroundings.
Qualities that I had seen many times before, in another place and another time.
On a cold winter morning, I peered from my warm office to his home in the park.
As usual, he was lying on his bench on a bed made of cardboard boxes and plastic
bags.
He was covered with a light frosting of snow, peaceful and unmoving.
Sound asleep, I thought, too strong or stubborn to be bothered by a little rough
weather.
The next time I looked out of the window, three policemen surrounded him.
An ambulance, interrupting the trickle of traffic on the street, was parked by
the curb,
Leaving the warmness of my office, I walked down to where a small crowd had
gathered.
He was dead. The fire in his eyes was gone. No one knew his name. No one cared.
I watched as one of the cops searched through his tattered bag for
identification.
The coveted plastic bags, balls of twine and rolled up foil fluttered to the
ground.
No wallet, no identification - just junk. Useless and worthless junk.
Underneath the junk was a worn and faded blue box, wrapped with a rubber band.
I recognized the box as soon as the policeman pulled it from the bag.
He held it to his ear, shook it, broke the rubber band and flipped the box open.
It held four small items, meaningless to most of the crowd, but priceless to the
bum:
An Octofoil, a Silver Star, a Purple Heart and a Combat Infantryman’s Badge.
My heart sank. I died a little. Here was a hero, an icon of freedom, and a
brother-in-arms.
A brother that because of my own selfish reasons remains anonymous and
forgotten.
Dying alone in the cold of the night. Buried in a paupers grave. Known but
to God.
I say a prayer for him every now and then. Too little. Too Late.
Monday, March 26, 2001