Before the longest war in American history
Before the longest war in American history
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 II
The average age of the combat soldier was 26
In Vietnam, he was 19
In-in-in-in-in Vietnam, he was 19
In-in-in-in-in Vietnam, he was 19
In-in-in-in-in Vietnam, he was 19
N-n-n-n-nineteen
The heaviest fighting of the past two weeks
Continued today 25 miles northwest of Saigon
I really wasn't sure what was going on
N-n-n-n-nineteen, nineteen
Nineteen, nineteen
In Vietnam, the combat soldier
Typically served a twelve month tour of duty
But was exposed to hostile fire almost everyday
N-n-n-n-nineteen
N-n-n-n-nineteen
N-n-n-n-nineteen
N-n-n-n-nineteen
In Saigon, a US miltary spokesman said today ,
More than 720 troops were killed last week
In that sensitive border area
In all of South Vietnam
The enemy lost a total of 2,689 soldiers
N-n-n-n-nineteen
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
D-d-d-d-d-destruction
D-d-d-d-d-destruction
According to a Veteran's Administration study
Half of the Vietnam combat veterans
Suffered from what psychiatrists 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
D-d-d-d-d-destruction
D-d-d-d-d-destruction
None of them received a hero's welcome ...
Nineteen
Saigon, Saigon
S-s-s-s-s-Saigon
S-s-s-s-s-Saigon
N-n-n-n-n-ninteen
N-n-n-n-n-ninteen
N-n-n-n-n-ninteen
N-n-n-n-n-ninteen
Vietnam, S-s-saigon
Vietnam, S-s-saigon
Vietnam, S-s-saigon
Vietnam, S-s-saigon
Purple heart,Saigon
Purple heart,S-saigon
I really wasn't sure what was going on
I really wasn't sure what was going on