Poem By Clarence H Jones, 4th ID

[Packo]

Our last stop on the way back from San Antonio was in Vicksburg, MS. It was late at night and we had been driving all day. The Hamton was booked so the lady called Quality Inn next door, which was the old Hampton. The desk man saw my shirt and we started talking. He was still in the reserves, 40 year man, but was a 4th ID trooper in Vietnam. He has written a book of poety about Vietnam. He recited this poem, then signed a copy for me. I gave him this web site and told him to stop in because of all the 4th Guys here. I think he said that this poem is in the Smithsonian. He recites it every memorial day at the Veterans Services in Vicksburg. The hotel was a dump, but Clarence is worth the visit. I had tears as he recited it.

SURELY THEY'LL BE PASSING BY
(The Brave Men and Women of Yesteryear)

If I could talk, I'd tell the world how it feels to lose a life on the battlefield or how it felt in 1776 with bullet holes in my body lying beneath the trees, how I suffered and died for their freedom and the sake of Liberty.

I'd tell them how I struggled and died during the Spanish American war, how Davy, Daniel and the rest of us fought, to the last, at the Alamo you see.

I'd tell of the sound of pain coming from friends and comrades asking for sudden death, the smell of burnt flesh of those not as fortunate as I, one who had no feelings left. I'd tell of the bravery displayed by these men and the ones who survived how the bodies of the dead and wounded could be seen, like a blanket of blood far and wide.

I'd tell of the courage that it took to fight my brother during the civil war
And how it hurt to destroy my own country, things just went too far.

I'd tell them how it felt during World War I and II, as we fought Japan and Germany till the end, and how it felt to bury a comrade not to mention a close friend. Oh, yes, we won those wars but we suffered much pain, supposedy these were the wars to end all wars, Ha, not a chance for there are still more wars to name, like Korea, Viet Nam, Iraq and the rest, oh yes America, you've had the best.

We fought in the snow and we fought in the rain, it was so cold, I could barely feel my hands and feet, can you imagine the pain? We fought in the jungles and deserts with all of it's heat, sometimes without water, sometimes without food to eat, but you see, all of this was for a country that we love so dear, for the freedom they enjoy today, yes freedom, freedom without fear.

Then after they've heard what I've had to say, maybe then, they'll take the time to honor me on every Memorial Day, maybe then they'll go to the parades and lift their flags and wave them, high, for the Brave Men and Women of Yesteryear, surely they'll be passing by.

Clarence H. Jones


Pack

[Jerry D]

good poem

[Robert Ryan]

Ditto Jerry D. Good poem Packy.