Khe Sanh Veterans Association Inc.
Red Clay
Newsletter of the Veterans who
served at Khe Sanh Combat Base,
Hill 950, Hill 881, Hill 861, Hill 861-A, Hill 558
Lang-Vei and Surrounding Area
Issue 47 Fall 2000
A Sprinkling of Your Poetry
Home
In This Issue
Notes from Editor & Board
Incoming Health
Matters Short Rounds
Memoirs In
Memoriam Email
The Truth
by Steve Riddle
Scout/Snipers 1/26
Years have passed
Elation and adrenaline have ebbed
Once again sitting quietly in the darkness Only now, sipping scotch
Still absorbing the night
Rejoicing in my solitude
The Big Dipper stationed overhead Thank you God for not making those jungle boots be mine hanging from that poncho in "68'...
*****
Ambush
by Steve Riddle
Lying on the ground
Motionless
Searching into the night
Listening to the darkness
Its raining again
Soaked to the bone
Hours have come and gone
It seems like centuries
God, just to close my eyes
for a moment
Fighting to stay awake is agony
If I fall asleep
I might not wake up
I don't feel the insects biting anymore just their buzzing in my ears and nose as they suck my blood
I slide my tongue slowly over my swollen lips
Having to be so still for so long
Amid such intense misery and torment Leaves me numb
*****
"Look Homeward"©
Paul R. Pettit, 1968
Look homeward my beloved son Across the misty sea
Out past the blue horizon Beyond this galaxy;
Out past the fading sunset Beyond the moon of gold
Look homeward my beloved son No one your dreams can hold.
Look homeward my beloved son Up, o'er the rolling swells
On, past the muddy rivers High, o'er the jungle hells
Up, o'er the raging monsoons Beyond the rattle of the gun Forget hunger, thirst and misery Sweet victory you've won.
Look homeward my beloved son Above life's rugged sea
Hark! A gentle Voice is speaking Yes, the Master calls for thee "Come out My blessed loved one, depart earth's dismal scenes; Come quickly, I have need of thee in My 26th Marines."
In memory of my son, Stanley
*****
Vagabond
by Sandra Hill
His crumpled form was huddled seeking shelter from the cold,
with heavy heart and soulful eyes he watched
the night unfold.
The city folk just passed him by, oblivious of his plight,
and as the rain began to fall he settled for
the night.
He wondered how things got so bad and where it all would end,
his past just full of broken dreams, the future
not his friend.
A vagabond they called him, a rogue, a rolling stone,
unfettered by convention with no place to call
his own.
He dreamed of places far away, strains of a lullaby,
precious moments long since gone just made him
wafer to cry.
Reality was far too stark, its price too high to pay,
he yearned for a release from life, with no
desire to stay.
"You're a derelict! A down and out!" they shouted in his dream,
recollections of a time when he was warm,
secure and clean.
To when his body didn't ache, before he got this old,
to cherished aspirations of a life yet to
unfold.
Sometimes dreams collapse, fate intervenes and plays its hidden hand,
the sudden spiral downwards can be hard to
understand.
Just a fugitive from life itself, in search of peace of mind,
tethered to a pipe dream which long since he'd
left behind.
A vagabond they called him, a rogue, a rolling stone,
he finally surrendered, took the hand which led
him home.
As the stars receded heavenwards he did not greet the dawn,
just a solitary silhouette, a soul forever gone.
*****
"Untitled"
by Timothy Pipes Bravo 1/26
The Siege What is it? What was it?
How, 0 Lord can I comprehend?
I wasn't there, but I was literally dying, six
month old, at the beginning; desperate, cold and hungry
just the same!
But, why 0 Lord can't I comprehend?
I have listened and I have read; I hove seen
the "thousand yard stare!"
Why can't I comprehend?
I wish I knew, but I don't, in a way you Khe Sanh Veterans couldn't comprehend!
Why? Because I wasn't there and neither were you all here; here in
my shoes and my shoes are heavy!
Heavy with the burden of trying to understand!
Oh, why can't I comprehend?
I wish I could maybe it wasn't meant for my eyes
and my heart But, why can't I comprehend; I wish I could!
Lord, I was lying near lifeless while you had my Dad at the land of Khe Sanh--
But, I don't understand why my Dad was in a
lifeless land!
What you all went through I pray I never can comprehend; but
please, 0 Lord, help me understand!
Semper Fidelis
Tim is the son of Lt. Col. and Mrs. Kenneth W. Pipes, USMC, (Ret.). Tim was six weeks old when his dad went to Viet Nam; his brother, Dan, was 21/2. Their mom and dad will celebrate their 39th Wedding Anniversary December 9, 2000.
*****
Cpl. Robert H. Littlefield
Tues. April 16, 1968
by Suzi Littlefield
Bobby
I was so blessed to find you
The person I was born to love
The special kind of love we shared
If only for a short time
You
changed my life with just one kiss
You surpassed my everything
You gave your all in life and love
If only for a short time
You were all I ever wanted
You are all I'll ever need
I wish everyone could know this kind of love
If only for a short time
Life is not forever
Love is
Your wife
If only for a short time
Suzi
Alpha - 1/9. From top: Cpl. Robert H
Littlefield
Suzy
[KIA, Khe Sanh Hill 689]
Issac Lunke [WIA], George Eihorn [WIA]
