Got To Go

Called to Cambodia, a place called "Fish Hook"
Lots of boys down, thought about taking the Chinook
Very hot area, called gun ships for cover
Need their big guns, while they hover

On radio with the ground, to establish a plan
"Brought escorts, will set down when we can"
All medics are dead, no support there
Will need help, from any men you can spare

Unbelievable, what damage done
Sucking chest wound, head wound on one
Mortar in mans chest, a double amputee
One man unconscious, another can't see

Gun ships go in first, to clear the way
Three gun ships can create quite a display
I had not experienced an escort before
I don't want to fly without them, anymore

Lots of noise all around, then somebody yelled "GO!"
We came in hot and low, now my time to show
No time to spare, pilot said I had one minute
Had to move all four men within it

Hit the ground, in a run
Moved the men one by one
Pilot started yelling "GOT TO GO, GOT TO GO!"
Loaded in less than a minute I know

While on the ground I was full speed ahead
Could feel enemy fire flying past my head
It must have been a tumbling round
The shock wave was quite profound

These men were dying, had to move fast
Little room to move, but got around at last
Starting IV's and stopping the bleeding
So far I was succeeding

We were cruising fast at tree top
Didn't want Charley to hear our chop
Gun ships all around us
That sure was a plus

I heard ground fire penetrate the under side
Wasn't sure yet what that implied
Pilot said "I'm hit and the controls are sloppy"
"Might have to ditch this ole jalopy"

Cleared the trees just in time
Pilot said, "We can't climb!"
"Brace for impact" is what he said
"Might be crashing on our head!"

Skidded into a rice field
Lucky but now unconcealed
Shut the engine down
Prepared to move by ground

Gun ships hovered around to give us a hand
Distribute the wounded is what we planned
Had to move fast, before we were zeroed in
Crew chiefs came to help us, the move to begin

Got all the wounded reloaded
Must exit area, before it's exploded
Flying away I sat in the door
Looked back, our helicopter was no more

Flew our wounded back to the 71st
With the ER I conversed
All in all, it was quite an ordeal
A better choice of words might be "surreal"

It were the gun ships that made the day
Needed them to make our way
No medics on the ground
But the troops rallied 'round

One task remains before our mission is complete
I have the pilot yet to treat
Removed the frag from his calf
We were flying back again, in an hour and a half

David Rose - Vietnam Veteran - Combat Medic

PS.
I recall all this in extreme detail
I can still feel every inhale
Reliving in slow motion
I remember all the commotion

Me removing the frag from my pilot's leg.

The frag.