Dennis W. Lid

TRIBUTE TO THE ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM (ARVN) SOLDIER

They call him ARVN,
That’s his name,
And each one looks
About the same.

His skin is caste
With yellow hue,
His hair is dark,
His eyes are, too.

The ARVN Soldier is
Not very tall,
Little more than five feet
Overall.

Though small in stature
He may be,
Still, ARVN’s quite
A sight to see.

Clad in ARVN
O.D. green,
And sporting tennis shoes
He’s seen.

On his feet,
Down the trail,
There goes ARVN
Pack and pail.

Burdened by
A heavy load,
With ten days rice
His back is bowed.

Still he trudges
‘Neath the sun,
Till his weary
Day is done.

As dusk draws near
All ARVN hear
Their captain’s order
Loud and clear.

“Take the high ground
For the night,
No danger of
An ambush site!

Post the guard, then
Cook your rice,
Lest negligence
Viet Cong entice!”

The high ground gained,
The post secure,
One more night
Will he endure.

Then ARVN crumples
To the ground,
Hardly uttering
A sound.

Exhausted, sweaty,
Hungry too,
ARVN lets a smile
Come through.

Tomorrow is
Another day;
We’ll chase VC and
Make them pay.