“Why”

by Gary Berry

I ask myself just “WHY” are we sent here to fight?
The U.S. has nothing to gain,
Yet She sends us here to fight in the heat and rain.

What would we have, if the war should end tonight?
Just tears and sorrow
For the boys who lost their lives,
And left behind their children and their wives.

I pray each night to the Lord above
That I will return home safe to the ones I love,
For my heart is still back home to stay,
It could never be here with me and live this way.

I am proud to be an American
And live in the U.S.of A.
If I had it to do all over again,
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
.
Today is my 20th birthday
I can’t say I will spend it well.
I hope and pray on my next one
I won’t be living in hell.

Written January 3, 1970
B/1/327 Inf. 101st abn div
In the jungles of Viet-Nam