Things I've Seen

As I was going upriver after the Battle of Dai Do Village, I spotted a flat-bottomed boat loaded with the bodies of dead US Marines being removed from the battlefield. They were stacked up like so many logs, so many bodies that the boat was in danger of capsizing. Those kids, most of whom were the same age as the high school students I had taught before entering the Navy, died while keeping the rest of us safe. Such a waste of precious youth and potential. 
 
As a former English teacher, I used my writing abilities to help me cope with my experiences in Vietnam. I kept a daily journal and wrote poetry to express my feelings. Here is one of the poems from my journal. 

 
Things I've Seen  

During these few months, I've been 
In this war-ravaged land, I've seen 
A lot of things. Some have made me glad
I'm here, and some have left me sad. 
Some have made me mighty proud 
Of who I am and for some I've bowed
My head in shame and felt somehow unclean.  

I can't recall how many times I've seen men
Who just yesterday were boys and then
Were asked to pay the dreadful cost 
Of keeping this land from being lost, 
Show courage unsurpassed in the face 
Of certain death in some God-forsaken place 
To take a hill or help a friend.  

Yes, and I've seen grown men crying, 
Unashamed when they see a buddy lying
In their arms, their furtive efforts all in vain 
To save his life or even ease his pain. 
I've seen strong men paralyzed by fear
When enemy shells have landed near
And they were so afraid of dying.  

I've seen some lend a helping hand 
To cure the sick and rid this land 
Of dread disease, while others give
Much of their time to help men live
A better life than they have ever known. 
By these deeds these men have shown
That they truly love their fellow man. 

Then, too, I've seen the awful pain
That warfare brings and ask again, 
“Why must it be? Why must men kill
And scourge the land? Is man still
So uncivilized and savage?” And then I pray
To God, and I'll live to see the day
When war shall end, and peace shall reign. 

 
Herman W. Hughes, LT, USN 
Republic of Vietnam
July 1968 
PFC USMCR
1959-1962