Jesse R. Edwards

THE MEN WHO RODE GUNTRUCKS

You have heard of the fighting soldiers from the sky
The pilots, and the sorties they fly.
The marines and the battles they fought
And the Navy, sinking enemy ships they sought
But there is one group of unsung fighting bucks
Whose story is not told by movies or books
The men who rode and fought on Guntrucks
A motley bunch to say the least
Those men on the armored, rubber tired beasts
Both day and night they were on the roads
Protecting convoys and valuable loads
There was ammo, food, medicine, and PX supplies
And if you met the convoy late you could hear the driver’s cries
“Where are those damned Guntrucks?”
Hot as hell and covered with sweat
Or half naked and wet
Tired to the bone and full of pride
Because without that pride bro, you didn’t ride
From all walks of life they came
They fought and died but none made the hall of fame
These fighting young men who rode Guntrucks
Many a gun barrel, bent and red hot,
they changed, but gloves they had not.
By mines, ambush, and crash, they died
And many mothers and wives cried.
Of all the Vietnam Vets today
How many would stand up and say
“Thank God for the men who rode Guntrucks”
So mothers, wives, daughters, and sons
If your loved one was one of the son of a guns
Who rode the roads of Vietnam
And never put up a qualm
Be proud and hold your head up high
Because for you and love of country is why
He rode that fire breathing Guntruck
He knew the odds when he mounted that truck
He knew the job was not one of luck
But he was not greedy or afraid to give
Even his life that others might live
His loved ones were on his mind all the time
Yes, so many died in their life’s prime
Thank you for your men who rode Guntrucks
I rode one for two long years
And still at night my sleep is filled with fears
Some even say I was lucky to survive
But they don’t know the memories I carry through life
Of those brave young men who rode with me on Guntrucks