As many of you know, I am a member of the Bridgeport High School Marching Band. We marched in the Veterans Day Parade in Clarksburg. Many students loved the fact that they got out of school, but do many people actually realize the true meaning of Veterans Day? It’s one of the days out of the year that you give thanks to the brave men and women who are fighting for our country every single day.

 

I have had the privilege of becoming very close to one veteran who has come to feel more like family.

 

Gary Skidmore, 65, of Bridgeport has been my neighbor ever since I was born and I have known for a while that he fought in the army. When I was younger, I was just happy because I got out of school for Veterans Day, until Gary started telling me stories. He is retired from Dominion Hope Gas

 

At the age of 20, Gary was drafted into the Vietnam War.

 

“I knew it was coming. I just knew that If I had to go, then I had to go,” he said.

 

In fact, he actually spent his 21^st birthday overseas - fighting for our country. Although he was 20 when he was drafted, he couldn’t vote until he turned 21. The drinking age was 18 at that time. So, he was allowed to walk into a bar and drink long before he could even vote.

 

Although he was only a part of the army from March 1968 to March 1970, Gary still had a pretty interesting time. He was actually only in Vietnam from August 1968 to August 1969. He was actually a part of the 1^st Infantry Division. They are the soldiers who attack on land, rather than ride in tanks. They did fly in helicopters to most of their destinations.

 

Gary also told me about NDP, which stands for “Night and Day Positions.” That is when his 1st Infantry went out in the jungle and worked operations.  They lived in bunkers, which are ditches with sandbags piled up all around, and that is where they got into position when incoming mortar fire occurred.

 

When Gary wasn’t out in the jungle at the NDP, he was stationed in Lai Khe.  This was the home of The Big Red One Infantry Division.

 

The only souvenir that Gary brought back to the United States from Vietnam was a poem written by a fellow soldier that he took down from a bulletin board. The poem has special meaning to him. The author was unknown. Even though this poem was written in Vietnam in 1968, it still describes the plight of today’s soldier in current war time:

 

Company A

2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry

1st Infantry Division

 

“Who Is He”

 

You sit at home and watch TV;

You’re sipping refreshing cold iced tea.

The news comes on and you hear

The All Star game is near.

Then you see a far off land,

Where men are dying in the sand.

A frown appears across your face;

You’re tired of hearing about that place.

Who cares about Vietnam across the sea?

It’s far away and doesn’t concern me.

You would rather hear the Beatles play

Than hear about the world today.

But stop and think a moment or two,

And ask yourself does this concern you?

It’s great to be alive and free,

But how about the guy across the sea?

He’s giving up his life for me,

So that I can live under Liberty.

He’s far away to fight a war,

Instead of fighting it at my door.

This guy who lives in filth and slime,

How can he do it all the time?

He’s about my age so why should I care,

About a war someone else should share?

You call him vile names and make fun of his cause.

Yet he’s the first to go and win your wars.

You’re lucky, you just laugh and sneer,

Because you’ve never really known fear.

But, this brave man faces death each day.

Yet he’s always got something funny to say.

No mail again, a twinkle of sorrow.

Oh what the hell, there’s always tomorrow.

The moral is low, the tension is high.

Some men even break down and cry.

He wants to go home and see his loved one.

But, he won’t until the job gets done.

He works all day and stands guard all night.

He’s tired and sick but continues to fight.

The college crowd thinks that he’s a fool.

And that is what makes it so hard and cruel.

You don’t appreciate the things he will do,

Like giving up his life for you.

He sacrifices much, yet asks not return.

Just so you can stand in school and learn.

He believes in freedom, and the American way of life.

He’d rather die than live in a communist way of life.

No party or dancing  for this young man,

Until he comes home again.

The days are hot and the nights are too,

What wonders a cold can of beer can do.

He dreams of a cold beer, and a thick juicy steak.

Then someone shouts, “We’ve got a hill to take!”

Some will be heroes because they’re brave,

And others will get a wreath upon their graves.

You’ll recognize him when he walks by.

There’s a saddened look within his eye.

He walks so proud, yet looks so mean.

He’s called the world’s greatest Fighting Machine!