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Double Jeopardy |
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So, off I went to Vietnam, full of purpose and proud;
I thought that I should do my part, though I never said it
aloud.
I wore the uniform, you see � I figured it was my
duty to go
And show the Flag, to protect my land; I did
believe, you know,
In the decency of my countrymen, I
felt they'd be true and fair.
We were engaged in this
noble cause, this ultimate event men share.
But, sadly,
it was not to be, for there are always those sorry few
Who do not care how hard you work, it doesn't matter what
you do.
They only see through bitter eyes that are
clouded by lifelong hate,
So, they scheme and plot, wink
and smirk and snidely denigrate.
In the end, it turned
out to be just another day in the life,
Filled with
tedium, terror, smiles and fears, happiness and strife;
Except that each day now had an added twist. I also had
to contend
With the new enemies outside the walls as well
as the old ones within.
Really, though, who lost the
most: was it I who lived and let live
Or those who closed
their minds up tight and simply could not give
Credit
when and where it was due but just had to gibe and sneer?
One can only wonder what could cause such deep, elemental
fear. |
By
Thurman P. Woodfork
Copyright 1968
Listed
January 20, 2011 |
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Author's Note:
I wrote this poem during Tet in May of �68. I
had returned to Trang Sup TDY to remove the
radar after Penthouse (Detachment 7, 619th
Tactical Control Squadron) was deactivated.
The original poem was lost with my hold baggage
when I rotated back to the States from the
Philippines. This is what I remember, the
original was much longer. If I remember more,
I'll add it. A recent discussion on a Vietnam
Veterans' discussion group brought the poem back
to mind.
About
Author...
Thurman P. Woodfork (Woody) spent his
Air Force career as a radar repairman in places as disparate as
Biloxi, Mississippi; Cut Bank, Montana; Tin City, Alaska; Rosas,
Spain and Tay Ninh, Vietnam. In Vietnam, he was assigned to
Detachment 7 of the 619th Tactical Control Squadron, a Forward Air
Command Post located on Trai Trang Sup. Trang Sup was an Army
Special Forces camp situated about fifty miles northwest of Saigon
in Tay Ninh province, close to the Cambodian border.
After Vietnam, Woody remained in the Air Force for nine more years.
Visit
Thurman P. Woodfork's site for more information
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