By Rick Tam

Khe Sanh is made of red clay,
some think nature made it that way.

The ground is red that part is true,
but how it got that way some have a different view.

When it's dry it turns to dust,
it covers everything and looks like rust,

When it's wet it turns to mud'
it sticks to everything like some kind of crud.

Troops on the ground have this to say'
it took a lot of their blood to make it that way.

Yea the dirt is red alright'
some of us still see it every night.

Khe Sanh is made of red clay'
40 years later it still won’t wash away.

FACES AND PLACES

By Rick Tam

What were their names, I can’t remember.

In my mind I see all these young faces.

They are like photographs I will always remember.

Where were we, the names of all those places?

Those are like maps in my mind I still look at.

All those faces go with different places.

I can’t stop seeing all those young faces –

Why can’t I remember the names of those faces?

Why can’t I remember the names of those places?

But every day I walk those places

And I see those faces.

A Warriors Heart

By Rick Tam

Those that say a soldier only wants to fight,
knows nothing of the warriors heart.

It is true he will not hesitate to fight,
a war he did not start.

Soldiers aren't the ones who decide to go to war,
but are willing to go and bare that scar.

A soldier is not eager to kill,
he doesn't really want to fight.

He does so out of honor and duty,
he does so when the cause is right.

Not many know it but its true,
few things are as fragile as a warriors heart.

During the battles he is hard and cold,
but his torment comes to him late at night.

Often horrible things happen he can not control,
that is when all the terrible stories get told.

In battle often there is no time to think,
all he can do is react.

When it's over and all is calm,
right or wrong it's not possible to take anything back

So say what you will, think what you want,
but make sure you get this part right,
few things are as fragile as a warriors heart.

Tell Me Why The Bullet Passed Me By

By Rick Tam

I heard it pass right next to my head,
why did that bullet pass me by.

No one will ever be able to tell me,
so I'll always wonder why.

It went right by with a rush,
it hit the guy next to me in his head.

Was it not my time,
was it his instead.

Only thing I know is I'm still here,
and he is still dead.

So many near misses,
too many too close to call.

Why did those bullets pass me by,
now their names are on the wall.

I can still see their faces, they look so young,
it some times makes me cry.

No one has the answer,
so I'll always wonder why.

There are a lot of theories and explanations,
but no one really knows why.

Yes those bullets passed me by,
yes sometimes it makes me cry.

I will never know why.