The Last Forgotten Soul

by

David V. Skocik

1979

They’re coming for me now, I’m going home.

I’ve waited oh so many years, thank God, I’m going home.

 

I first arrived in ’68, a lot of us moved in.

Mostly young and idealistic, unknown to battle’s din.

 

We came here out of high school to do a noble chore.

But there was no glory in combat in an ugly, teen age war.

 

Our country was behind us then, we had a job to do.

I remember the day that I arrived, half boy, half man, still new.

 

My friends who went to college just could never understand.

We were inspired with a mission, to free a foreign land.

 

I’ve heard some of us were spit on, some upbraided and abused.

I thought we served our nation well, but some held another view.

 

But I forgave my country, I loved it more than life.

Even though I really felt betrayed by the protest and the strife.

 

I traveled over Vietnam, from Khe Sanh to Saigon.

I fought in the A-Shaw Valley and partied at Cam Rahn.

 

I saw action in the Delta and did battle at Phan Rang.

Just when I thought I’d seen it all I bought it at DaNang.

 

From the stilted hope of glory to the darkness of the grave,

I tried to do the best I could, it’s a hard thing to be brave.

 

I expect no rousing welcome, just a single moment’s pause.

A minute of reflection upon a long forgotten cause.

 

My soul is squared away with God, now they’ve finally found my bones.

Yes, I was killed in ’69, Oh thank God, I’m going home.

 

 

 

If a name is followed by an *, the family is disputing the government findings.