Vietnam Til Now 

There is something inside I’ve always wanted to say
Here is the story so let it be told

That you and I were meant to rock’n’roll
Through all the dancing, drugs and denial there’s a war going on that was never in style

Many died and those left able watch their brothers trapped in the VA fable

Somehow, I thought it was all a joke and made sure it wasn’t by giving myself a poke
We have seen our behavior of the past to welcome our pats with the finger
and a kick in the ass

Now we are all cool and know our place
Ready to wave the flag so we can all save face

Don't be fooled talk is cheap one war after another
With body counts higher, the next one home will be your son for you to bury and admire

With the flag and $240 seems a bit shoddy

Hardly ever seems we can make it right but could if we tried with all our might
Mothers are sad dads are mad because our policies have proven bad
​
Our last bit of hope lies with those in power who lie to us to fulfill their own desire
What are we to do? Sounds like it's time for a political coup 


by Contributing Poet  Ron Turcotte   Copyright © 2026 
VWP 2026     First published in VietnamWarPoetry.com 

Bio: Ron Turcotte born in Lowell, Massachusetts, is currently residing in Palm Coast, Florida, Turcotte
served in the United States Navy from June 1968 to June 1972. During his service, he was stationed
in Imperial Beach, California, as a maintenance analyst for a helicopter squadron. He also served at
the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, working as a computer operations manager for
academic computing. Finally, he was stationed in Virginia Beach as a computer operator aboard the
submarine tender U.S.S. L.Y. Spear, concluding his military service with an Honorable Discharge.