DUSTOFF

 

THE crews were always ready

And constantly on call

To come out and do a pick up

From where the enemy had let our blokes fall

SOMETIMES they came with Gunships

With their weapons at the ready

To keep the enemy's heads down

While they held their choppers steady

THEY would come into the LZ

Whether it was hot or cold

To pick up they're human cargoes

They were really very bold

AND once the blokes were loaded

Both the wounded and the dead

They would fly them back to "Vungers"

To the Morgue or to a bed

IT was really quite a miracle

To hear the thumping sound

Of the friendly "Dustoff" chopper

When you're lying on the ground

IT was like a door would open

To allow you to be whisked away

From the constant heat of battle

Hopefully to fight again another day

THEY were the unsung Heroes

Of this our Jungle War

And without their undying courage

We surely would have lost more

SO to our brave young Heroes

I'd like to put all things aside

Then remember my own "Dustoff"

And say thank you for the ride

Copyright © 2001 Phil Kadow.

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EVERY ONE HATES A SOLDIER

EVERY one hates a Soldier

Until the enemy is at the gate

Then the feelings change

To ones of PRIDE not hate

 

BUT when the conflict is over

And the enemy is no longer a threat

The feeling of the Nation turns

From relief to regret

 

THE loss of life is horrific

At the hands of either side

It's no wonder so many people

Just sat down and cried

 

BUT the Soldiers must come home again

To return to their respective States

And that's where the countries love

Turns again to hate

 

FOR they will be cursed for the loss

Of many innocent civilian victims

And be kicked and punched and set upon

For only answering the call

THAT call came from the Government

Which is voted in by the people

And these people we know

Are not the soldiers equal

 

SO if you have a problem

With our Soldiers in some far off distant land

Shout and curse your Government

But shake a Soldiers hand

 

IF it were not for the people

Who work to keep us safe

Another enemy will come along

And start rattling the garden gate

 

SO remember well your FREEDOM

That you take so much for granted

And say thank you to those people

Who at all times stand PROUD and TALL

 

FOR they form a line in front of you

To protect you one and all

Then stay there with out question

As if they were a wall

 

That runs around your country

To keep you safe and warm

So that no one on the inside

Will come to any harm

Copyright  ©   2003.  Phil 'Fearless' Kadow.

========================================

My Best Friend

 

MY weapon was my best friend

My weapon was my gun

It was meant for giving protection

Not meant for having fun

 

I would clean it every morning

And then again at night

So that when I had to use it

I knew it would work just right

 

"BIG BERTHA" was her nickname

Killing was her game

And leaving her behind

It really was a shame

 

SHE really was a beauty

All black and big and bold

But when it came to firing

She was anything but cold

 

SHE was capable of shooting down aircraft

But she was never used for that

She was used against human targets

And the bunkers where they were at

 

FOR that she did a good job

When ever we were around

And it made our lads feel safer

While they were being pinned down on the ground

 

THE enemy had weapons

Of a very similar size

And were only too willing to use them

To take many of our lads lives

 

So when we had the chance

We would always pay them back

For when it's kill or be killed

That's really where it's at

 

BUT when you are in a War Zone

You gun becomes your best friend

So that's why you take good care of it

So as to make it through to the end

 

Copyright © 2002 Phil Kadow.

=============================================

PTSD and Me.

 

I don't understand the feelings

That are happening to me

Is it that I'm abnormal?

Or is it PTSD

 

I want to be a loner

I want to yell and scream

I make mountains out of molehills

All is not what it seems

 

My tolerance is very low

Incompetence I cannot stand

If mistakes are made of any kind

Retribution I demand

 

At times I feel like crying

Or just lashing out

I can't control the feelings

That are languishing about

 

I know I won't be cured

After all these many years

But there's a light at the end of the journey

Shining bright through the tears.

 

Copyright © 2001 Phil Kadow.

=============================================

THANK YOU AUSTRALIA

Thank you Australia

Thank you one and all

For all the support you gave us

When our backs were against the wall

We gave our lives and spirits

To protect you for years to come

We answered the call of our country

But you treated us like scum

You called us 'baby killers'

Murderers and the likes

And while your sons and daughters

were trying to survive

The 'BLOODY MONGREL' wharfies

called a couple of strikes

We came home after our Tour

Under cover of the night

To be whisked away in secret

So as not to cause any strife

When we stepped out in the daylight

With our Medals so shiny bright

You cursed and spat and treated us

Like a wound that oozes pus

It was your way of protesting

Against the 'War Machine'

But you used us as the scapegoats

And for that you will always be seen

As a country that was too ashamed

To stick up for what was right

Then left the under dogs stranded

With no future joy in sight

They were in the hands of the aggressors

And were treated with disdain

For only wanting their freedom

They were left to deal with the pain

You blamed the Government of the day

for sending our young to fight

But they went with pride to do their best

as others had done before

And came back home to the ones they loved

Just to fight another WAR

For those of us that did come home

We remember those with pride

Who gave their all for their mates

And for their country died

But as always for the living

The war will never end

As the memory in the mind

Has been etched with an indelible pen.

Copyright © 2001 Phil Kadow.

=============================================

Switched On.

When we were training with our unit

It was about the middle of the Vietnam War

We learnt new techniques every day

That we put in our heads to store

 

We did exercises after exercises

That were mostly in the bush

But they always seemed to finish

With everyone in a rush

 

There was always some one saying

Things like 'Hurry up and wait or get your Great Coats on'

But there's the one that was to linger

And that was to stay 'Switched On'

 

I expect that all of those sayings

Have been said one way or another

To all 'Diggers' from years gone past

And like them we had to learn it fast

 

In 'Conventional' warfare they had a net

To catch them as they'd fall

In the form of 'mateship' and old friends

Who had also answered the call

 

There were breaks between the battles

And troop movements to the rear

Which gave them time to simmer down

And talk about their fear

 

But the jungle is a different place

With no line front or rear

Just ever increasing tension

And hardly time to shed a tear

 

When the 'Great' war was over

Or they were returning from their tour

They had the time with their mates

To share what they all had to endure

 

But we would be out bush one day

Being reminded to remain 'switched on'

Then be on a Qantas flight the next

Flying cautiously out of Saigon

 

As yet, I haven't found the fuse box

Which controls the bloody switch

That keeps me jumpy and on edge

And occasionally increases the itch

 

To pack my bags and piss off

Some where to be on my own

So I can pull out the fuse

And no longer be alone.

Copyright © 2001 Phil Kadow