LA CANZONE DEL GIORNO: 19/PAUL HARDCASTLE

In 1965 Vietnam seemed like just another foreign war
But it wasn't
It was different in many ways, as so were tose that did the fighting
In world war II the average age of the combat soldier was 26
In Vietnam he was 19
Nineteen

The shooting and fighting of the past two weeks continued today
25 miles west of Saigon
I really wasn't sure what was going on
19

In Vietnam the combat soldier typicaly served a twelve month tour of duty
But was exposed to hostile fire almost everyday
19

In Saigon a US military spokesman said today more than 700 enemy troops
Were killed last week in that sensitive border area
Throughout all of South Vietnam the enemy lost a total 2689 soldiers

All those who remember the war
They won't forget what they've seen
Destruction of men in their prime
Whose average was 19
Destruction
Destruction

According to a Veteran's Administration study
Half of the Vietnam combat veterans suffered from what psychiatrists call
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Many vets complain of alienation, rage, or guilt
Some succumb to suicidal thoughts
Eight to ten years after coming home almost eight hundred thousand men
Are still fighting the Vietnam war

None of them received a heroes welcome
19
Saigon
19

Vietnam
Saigon

I wasn't really sure what was going on
I wasn't really sure what was going on

ALBUM: PAUL HARDCASTLE (1985)