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For Billy and another Billy, a cousin of mine, who also gave the ultimate sacrifice as part of the 58,000 noble American heroeswho died there.

Fifty-Eight Thousand, Americans All, Noble and Tall

The sound of the bugle, the flap of the flags, waving in the breeze,
Fifty-eight thousand, bravest of the brave, sacrificed across the seas.
Their cause, so noble, an enclave of freedom in distant South Vietnam
Their countrymen foundered, and brought shame and disdain

Their burden was heavy, the jungles were deep, but they knew no retreat
The goal was freedom and the Communists’ obstacles were very steep
And the battles were fought in the valleys and highlands often without sleep
Their heads remained high, and many died, while the flag burned in U.S. streets

They were the Presidents’ men, Ike, JFK, Johnson and Nixon until the end
And the plan was to duplicate Korea by halting Communism once again
Those gallant troops fought night and day, in hopes that tyranny would end
The colors waved, the choppers braved, the pilots saved, the Navy paved

The Stars and Stripes cleared the way, and freedom’s path got closer each day
The enemy when in the way, were punished severely until D.C. got in the way
No major defeats on the field occurred, but still, freedom in Nam was lost
Communists smiled, some politicians relieved, Liberty for Nam too high a cost

That fateful day in Saigon, when all watched the last copter from the Embassy depart
Unaware that our combat troops were removed about two years prior to the chopper’s start
For the political decision had been made, our troops had died in vain, for freedom, no gain
The coffins came home, those brave men draped in honor and spiritual fame without stain

Fifty-eight thousand, Americans all, a high price to pay, when you let freedom take a fall
They had no parades, but didn’t complain, they sacrificed all, for their name on a black wall
Now their memories are marked often by simple white crosses that stand noble, as I saw
In the eternal echo of that bugler who played Taps to let God know one more hero stood tall.

Fifty-eight thousand, through shot and shell, they fought for their country extremely well
The Marines, the Navy, the Air Force, the Army, and the Coast Guard, did the world tell
That the Stars and Stripes never was felled, and all Yanks who follow continue to swell
While they remember their lost brothers, they maintain Freedom’s light and will yell

God Bless The United States of America And The Souls of Her Faithful Departed.

Seniram Publishing, Glenside, Pennsylvania Copyright © 2003 A.D. http:usmilitaryhistory.com

bump for Billy

bump for Billy...please help me in paying tribute to my friend.
Thanks.

another Billy bump...still working for 100 tributes on his webpage by November 1st, 2004 at the website... "thewall-usa.org" for him, to counter-act all the horrible filth that Kerry spewed about our Vietnam veterans.
Search for William James Lunsford, from Ohio, and post your thoughts.
Thanks.