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Intelligence never got much further
than downtown Saigon
or a short trip to Da Nang
Most of us were in the states
far behind enemy lines
doing our best to make the country safe
like the time I interviewed a young marine
who had survived the Tet offensive
He talked about throwing Cong
prisoners out of helicopters
said the nightmares left him sleepless
and kept seeing those faces in
on, between the walls
Claimed a buddy of his had sent
home dope concealed inside
body bags
but no one believed him
Tiny pieces of flesh hitting him
in the face.  Blood between what
was left of his chewed fingernails
and "fragging"  a Lieutenant
kept haunting  him

Intelligence said he couldn't
be trusted
that he was a basket case
or maybe just wanted out
of the military
so they gave him a three day pass
to play it safe
and set up an appointment with
a VA shrink
not surprised when he didn't
show up for his appointment

A week later they found
his body down by the
Beach Chalet behind
A forgotten old
WW II bunker

The bullet lodged inside
his head
a fragment of the guilt
he left behind

E-mail: ad1936@juno.com


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