Thirty years have gone and passed,
Except for now a roaring blast,
Blades a popping..Buddies dropping
Door Gunner join me Home at last.

Sights and sounds the humid jungle,
Raise this chopper off the pad.
Barrel heating..lives so fleeting
Only Brothers..I've ever had!

Popped smoke on an LZ echo,
Rolling in to save another
Blades a popping..Buddies dropping
Send the letter home to Mother.

Smell of Mo-gas..heat and thunder
Zippo lighter on the floor.
Stop the dying..young Wives crying
Soldiers then and evermore.

Haunting how you can't forget them
The memories now are flooding back.
Smell of lighters..Still we're Fighters
Pop a Zippo..with a snap.

Blades a popping..Buddies dropping
Pop a Zippo..
with a snap.

Dave/11bravovet..10-30-98..for Dennis Hoff

Dave & Keith Kruse---1975 [Siletz River]

Bro.’s

Many years ago two young men, Nam Vets returned from war
They fished the streams in solitude
Quite unlike they were before
In canyons dark and break of light, their shadowy memory steeled
For many years they never shared, nightmare dreams they sealed
But all the while they knew the other, while up the canyon side
Unto his own in quite time
They kept it all inside.

Not to fault the duty of war, not to shun their pride
Not to admit the guilt they felt, lost brothers still reside
But here in canyon these two did heal
Enough to stuff it down
When none could ever understand
Serenity unwound.

They gave the country honor and they gave their hearts to Bro.’s
They kept alive the brothers memories
In this canyon where they would go
In names of Elk creek riffles and yellow jacket hole
Kruse rock, Buck & cigarette
They never let it show

Yes they’re still soldiers though old and gray
A simple picture told
And they’ve not changed from youthful warriors
Still memories they hold

Of quiet times in darkened canyon
No distant rifle crack
They chose this time to be together
And watch each other’s back.

Nothing’s changed in thirty years, wherever they may go
They’re still united by that single phrase
They call each other Bro.

WELCOME HOME
Dave / 11Bravovet / 5-03-03

Arizona Brothers – Bro’s

Beneath the sun of thirty years ago
Two Brothers of the Nam
Now took another step in time
Two soldiers coming home.

They laughed the laugh that young boys do
They played beneath the sky
Two brothers in step with just their hearts
No reason, no schedule to die.

For now in awe of the rimrocks
And all of nature’s prize
The death of soldiers they once knew
Still misted weary eyes.

And in this cathedral of painted hills
They remember for those before
That did not have the gift of life
Lost children in a
Far away war.

Dave / 11Bravovet

Jimmie Alexander

"Marine Friend"

Waking this morning from a restless sleep and a well worn path of pain,
Hard to face this simple day..cloaked in clouds and rain.
I cannot explain why they haunt me so,
I cannot let it be.
Please God..let them understand..it's just a part of me.

So I came here to this awful spot,
Words written on this screen.
And sought the comfort of one who knows,
One Proud and Brave Marine.

In simple words he talked with me,
We've lost so very much.
Let me be just who I am,
A Soldier who's heart he touched.

And though we've never met as yet,
I promise you Jimmie still.
We'll pass through Heaven's Gates someday,
As all good Soldiers will.

For "Jimmie"..11bravovet..10-09-98

The Testament

Locked inside a Bible,
His words there printed red.
There is an old worn ribbon,
Marks the pages of the dead.
Etched in pencil and faint with time,
Young boys lost and more.
Given to me by Grandfather once,
When going off to War.

Inside the cover his name resides,
Written in quill dipped ink.
1914 is the date, I stare and cannot blink.

Carried in France by an Infantryman,
11Bravo on another shore.
The friends of mine are recorded there,
Had not looked...could not look
Before.

Last night with the Words for company,
I crawled inside myself,
The Bible from it's leather pouch,
On a special hidden shelf.

The worn red ribbon fell from my hand
The pages open to see.
All my Brothers,
That day in August,
I thought I'd never see.

But in restless dreams, I saw the eyes,
Popped smoke in veils of red.
Heard their voices call my name,
Remembered what they said.

Heard the gunfire echoing still,
Heard the Arty blast.
Nightmares that are mine alone,
Thirty years have past.

Closing the cover..replacing the ribbon,
I push it all away.
Not to open, until the Wall,

I hope then a healing Day.

Dave/11bravovet 4 10, 1998

The "Doc"

Medic!, Medic!, Medic!, is the cry you can't forget.
The screaming Soldier calls to you,
"Sarge, help me, I've been hit!"
Medic!, Medic!, Medic!, I'm dying, can't you see!
Please Doc, say I'll be all right!
Lord God, don't let it be!

Medic!, Medic!, comes the scream..another to your right.
Artillery shredding all your world,
Locked in a fire-fight.
Medic!, medic..medic, shrapnel cutting overhead,
And then the whisper that fades to silence,
Your friend in arms lay dead.

You curse the day and scream his name,
Trembling you begin to weep.
And jolt awake in a cold, cold sweat,
Jarred from a nightmare sleep.

You lay in darkness and search the room,
For the eyes you know are there.
The eyes of "The Wall" are calling now,
Transfixing is their stare.

Thirty years later, I'm making the trip,
With the Brothers help to see,
If the screaming nightmares and Medic calls,
Will ever end for me.

Dave/11bravovet 3 27, 1998

Serenades

The tree frog's song on the evening air,
Brings an early Spring again.
As memories of those who once were young,
Are calling just to him.
They take his soul to times before,
On the edge of a meadow there.
With a friend he'd found to tag along,
Wasting time without a care.
They explored the streams and hills together,
With youthful wonderous smiles.
Caught trout together on hidden lakes,
Back-packed through forrested miles.
They'd sit by the river bank under a tree,
Just listening to the geese going by.
And I still hear the geese and return to the river,
Overhead the branches just sigh.
Here a true friend..knowing his heart,
Living life as it only should be.
From a Patriot family..knowing somehow,
A battle to set us all free.

Two boys quickly grew, now flew off to a war,
The serenade silence is heard.
The notes cut short of the tree frog's song,
With a simple dying word.
"Remember" was the word he said to me,
With a tear that glazed his eye.
And I'll never forget the tree frog's song,
Now, not a song..but a cry!

The 11bravo's 3 12, 1998

Prayers

Grant this one request to me, that I may replay all that be.

Erasing memories of long ago, still keeping those that touch me so.

Close my eyes, embrace my soul, and let a friend of mine be whole.

Change the choices, Call my name, Please help me wash my hands...the Stain.

That flowed so freely in an unknown place, though crimson red..it paled my face.

Let the omnipotence from which I reel, let me be free and let me feel.

Wipe all slates clean and let me live, for I believe I've much to give.

Hold for me the memory, of rivers, falls, and all that be.

Suspend in time a sunset here, to share with those that you hold dear.

Capture a rainbow, hear a seashell roar,

Touch my heart, so again I soar.

But don't surpress this will to fly,

Don't hold back and don't ask why.

Please grant this wish, I'm waiting still.

With another sun behind the hill.

It has to end..to live it must.

Just knowing this...In You I Trust!

Dave/11bravovet 2-28-1998

Take Me

Take me instead I cry out loud, the bullets cracking still.

Don't let him die here in my arms,

Take me..I'll go..I will.

He must not leave his love at home, his baby to her breast.

Don't take my friend away from me!

His family and all the rest.

Let him live here in my arms, breathe life and show him how.

Stop the blood that flows so freely.

Please let him live just now.

But my pleads, unanswered cries,

He speaks my name and closes his eyes.

And now you see why I must write.

I can't forget that lonely fight.

Where Soldiers fought and many died, their Names upon
"The Wall".

Long after now the Soldiers weep,

For friends who gave their all.

Dave/11bravovet 3 05, 1998

Homecoming

The heavens open their gates again, to let still another one in.

He died from the wounds of 30 years past, that festered from with-in.

The bullets in hometown streets were his,

With placards they raised in the air.

With War torn nerves, he came home at last, but no one seemed to care.

Instead they spit upon his Pride, as he now contained his Rage.

But home alone he cried at night, his Hell a self made cage.

When you would ask him how he was, he'd always answer fine.

So he traveled the rivers in natures Relm, at Peace on his own to unwind.

He tried to reach out..but no one came, until this day in the rain.

And now 'neath a headstone that holds the words, they listen and understand pain.

With swollen hearts and broken dreams, to carry away on the air.

Too late now to tell of their love,

He can't hear them...And he doesn't care.

Dave/11bravovet 2-20-1998

Scars of War

You'd think with time all wounds would heal,

Leave only but the scar.

But dreams return from some lost world,

That never is too far.

And thoughts of healing quickly fade, in screams that tear the night.

Another friend just died with you, in another fire-fight.

And nightmares of his dying words, continue to replay.

You ask yourself a thousand times,

Was it meant to be this way?

The request he needs is haunting still, forget not when I try.

Through blood soaked lips, he softly asks,

Please don't let me die!

But I can't stop this happening, can't grant his simple needs.

For he rolls his eyes into his head,

And I'm the one that bleeds.

And years have passed, and still it takes,

Me down a lonely road.

With no one there to understand, or comfort, in the cold.

For this you see..my Cross to bear, I'm hoping to make it through.

So do not leave me all alone!

I'm counting now on You!

Dave/11bravovet 1-29-1998

Ron Fleischer graphic.

A Dying Soldier

Leave your body where it may lay. Do not look back, attempt to say

Why has this happened..just unto me?, There is a reason..we do not see.

Your Soul on wings beyond the hill, more memory than your presence will.

For it feeds the Fire of young loves lost.

It kindles the flame of Passions tossed.

Each battle beyond this one today,

Instills a Firestorm on it's way.

And none can stop the Wrath that seeths,

Inside the Hearts of Soldier's Creeds.

And Freedom reigns for all us here,

That remember you now...

And have no Fear!

11bravovet 1-13-1998

Sorry..?

Sorry never means a thing, and sorrys never will.

Can't heal the wounds that took the lives, whose voices now are still.

Sorry has no love at all. Sorry takes no thought.

It's just a word of passive reason, young children once were taught.

And yet you hear it everyday, from lips that do not care.

From hearts that do not love enough, to take the time to share.

Where is the voice of understanding, this Soldier needs to hear.

Who'll take this place beside me when I'm choking back the fear?

Can you walk beside the man when the ground is shaking still? Have you sight of intangibles, to know you always will.

Or will the load of a pain filled heart, with it's pleading, screaming way,

Form the word upon your lips,

"I'm sorry", all to say.

Dave/11bravovet 3 21, 1998

The Airman

He streaked above the cottony clouds, at breakneck speeds he'd fly.

His vaporous trails would twist and turn, left patterns in the sky.

With pounding heart and a rush of blood, he'd dive and strafe and try,

To leave the enemy far behind,then lay awake and cry.

He flew in so many, many wars, thought controls were left behind.

But what he pilots, McDonald can't build, on the world-wide web you'll find,

A tribute to the American Vet., so many crushed with pain,

The wounds of Wars, some hard to see, but crippling just the same.

Though a ground-pounder once, who cannot soar,

With rhyming words I fly.

Someday I'll leave my mark like him,

Or at least I'm going to try.

11bravovet

Vietnam Brothers

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