A WALK IN THE PARK
Gear has been checked and taped
No sounds will it rattle and make
Another trip across the wire
Another walk in the park
Into the bird, three each side
turbines began to spin, louder each min.
Nose dips, spins in place and moves
Looking for all the work like a giant bug
Pilot pulls back and we began to climb
Climb up towards the hot blazing sun
Down on the tarmac, it's 110 degrees
110 degrees and 100% humidity
You melt into your own shadow and
sweat out your life and soul
At altitude now and the wind is cool
sitting with feet on the skids watching
Watching the jungle flash by below
How calm and peaceful it looks
But looks are deceiving for there is death
Death waits in the jungles and paddies
Tap on the shoulder means we are 5 out
Weapon on safety and chamber a round
Bottom falls out and the bird drops to the ground
Back up again it's only a fake, twice more we'll fake
Here comes number 4, this is for real, everyone ready
Everyone on the skids as the birds drops towards the ground
Bird flares out four feet above the hard ground
six men jump and fall the four feet to the ground
Pilot pulls stick and climbs away only to drop
drop into another clearing 5oo years away
Did we fool them, did we get in without being seen
In the trees we sit in our IA positions and wait and see
For forty minutes we sit and not a sound do we hear
One Zero releases the birds and point begins to move
As we move deeper into the bush a single shot is heard
One-One looks at me and mouths the words "well shit"
Look like they know we are here but is Charlie or Mr. Charles?
For over two hours we move deeper into the bush and away
And hopefully away from the watcher and the trouble he brings
One-One has taken the point and point is back to slack
The drag is coming slowly our back trail he watches
He drops a few toe poppers and leaves a few other tricks
Time to start looking for a place for the night
There, up ahead on the side of the hill, a small overhang
A small overhang and rocks and boulders in front
good fields of fire on all fronts. Here we will RON
We ease into the rocks and it's better than it looked
Time to set our claymores and as darkness falls give one last look
As the sun is setting, the fog begins to come in
Slowly creeping like some fearsome alien enemy
If it keeps coming, we'll be on our own
aircraft will be grounds and not even Covey can fly
Key a sitrep, set the night watches,
one hour each, one hour of precious sleep
The night passed slowly as sounds are all around
No one asleep, not with Charlie maybe around
Noises in the dark foggy night, no shapes visible
Green tracers arc overhead searching for a target
Charlie's out there but he doesn't know where we are
Hold you fire, don't give him a location, hold your fire
Sounds of crawling getting closer now, pop a claymore
Claymore lights up the night and screams all around
Off to the left, some one just hit a toe popper,
And now another, shits in the fire, they know where we are.
Covey on the horn, he can't see a thing,
two hours until daylight if we can last that long
Two WIA and one on his way, grab their weapons
Use the thumper and give them some willy pete
One Zero gives the word, call in the Arty
Give them the zone not even 10 feet from our own
Fire one for marking and now fire for effect
Willy Pete and HE should make Charlie forget
Fog is still heavy, still can't see squat,
Hear more movement off to the south
Adjust arty, God I'd love to see Puff
As answer to a prayer and red fire come from above
Hammer this is Puff, where would you like our stuff
Give them the coordinates and sit back in awe
There can be nothing alive, not after that display
Dawn is coming and the fog is starting to lifr
Covey still with us and he's got him some friends
Charlie is massing out in front of us now
If we don't get some help soon it won't matter anyhow
Covey is calling and saying get your asses down
Fast movers coming east to west and they'll get you out
I look to the east and see the smoke trails, two F-4's
And behind them are two more, Down to the treetops
with burners fully lit, they let go the ordnance and it's heaven sent
It bounces and ruptures and brings forth the fires of hell
Charlie is hit and he's not doing well.
Her come the Cobras like swarms of angry hornets
Making gun passes and rocket runs one after the other
Suppressive fire if poured all around and over the radio
Over the radio I hear a voice say "Kingbee go down now!"
Coming out of the sun, his door guns blazing in the morning sun
Sitting there cool as can be, it's ole Cowboy and his old Kingbee
We break from the trees running like hell; one-one carries one of the yards
The one-two is hit hard himself; he carries another badly wounded yard
I'm working drag, and carrying the body of my friend
I won't leave him, even if it means my own end
Working backwards with fire from the doors and the Cobras
I make it to the door and hands pull me in, the floor is wash in blood
Cowboy powers up and spins in place, he pulls the throttle
and soon we depart this friggen place; Tac Air continues
Continues to hammer that miserable place, no more are lost
As least not on this walk in the park.