In Vietnam I wrote one poem and just one (1971):

Guard Responsibility on a Dusty Highway

I am out right here on guard responsibility

rifle and all…

(despatched a letter to Rachel).

The mud on the trail

that results in my hut

(close to the ammo dump)

is dusty and tough…

not a lot to do right here

simply speak to your self

depend the hours

as they go by

(be certain the VC

do not get too close to);

look ahead to the five-ton

to reach, take me again

(off this dusty highway)

to 611 Ordnance,

which I name house!

Observe: I keep in mind pondering (on the time), I ought to ship a poem house, maybe to my mom, or ship it to somebody, anyone, to allow them to know I used to be alive, even {a magazine} or newspaper got here to thoughts. I keep in mind, the day was lengthy, and sizzling, I used to be in Cam Ranh Bay, South Vietnam, and was chosen for guard responsibility, and when the truck picked me up, to take me again, we drove down alongside the South China Sea, a smoother highway there, and up into our campsite, a number of miles from the three 17 hornet ammo for sale dumps that occupied the peninsula.

I put the poem in my pocket, and forgot I left it there, wouldn’t notice it for a spell, after which tucked it away. The poem was written about June, 1971. It was shortly after this time, we received hit by rockets, which have been at 2:00 AM within the morning, and I might should go this time within the ammo dump to protect, undecided what we have been guarding, the rockets got here all spherical us, and a few inside meters of me.

The VC would blow up the Air Power dump that night time which was subsequent to Charlie Dump, (one man received killed) and our dump being Alpha. It was a attempting night time. Anyhow, after a few years, the poem seems, and for the primary time since 1971, it’s out there for studying. It does not say a lot, only a sizzling day, on guard responsibility, distant.