In 1965 Vietnam seemed like just another foreign war
But it wasn't
It was different in many ways
And so were those who did the fighting
In world war two
the average age of the combat soldier was 26
In Vietnam he was 19
The haviest fighting of the past two weeks
Continued today 25 miles north west of Saigon
I wasn't really sure what was going on
19
In Vietnam the combat soldier typically served
A twelve-month tour of duty
But was exposed to hostile fire
Almost everyday
In Saigon U.S. Military spokesman said today
More than 700 enemy troups were killed last week
In that sensitive border area
Through out all of south Vietnam the enemy lost
A total of 2,689 soldiers
All those who remember the war
They won't forget what they've seen
Destruction of men in their prime
whose average age was 19
According to a veterans administraction study
Half of Vietnam combat veterans
Suffer from what phychiatrists call
Post traumatic stress disorder
Many vets complain of alienation, rage or guilt
Some succumb to suicidal thoughts
Eight to ten years after coming home
Almost 800,000 men are still fighting the Vietnam war
None of them received a hero's welcome
19, Saigon, Saigon, Saigon, Saigon, Saigon
19, nineteen, nineteen, nineteen, nineteen
Vietnam, Saigon, Vietnam, Saigon, Vietnam Saigon
Purple heart, Saigon, purple heart, Saigon
I wasn't really sure what was going on
19