Conscript

Cherry

By D G Moody

Wed, 28 Feb 2024
  • 770 reads
9 comments
 

Conscript.

Vietnam 1969

 

Bazza and I both rolled the dice,

with the numbers our birthdays –

partners in that unlucky lottery.

When it landed I was the lucky one,

but for him it meant the army.

Some years later I met him again

while drinking in the same pub,

and I thought we might catch up

the years lost in between,

but then I saw his eyes –

and what they’d seen.

 

© D G Moody 2024

Certificate U
Poem
Autobiography
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Just a few lines expressive of the trouble of war. There is so much war around the world, and much we rarely hear about.

When we were growing up our father couldn't really talk about the war (WW2) with us, though he got frustrated at some of the war films (fictional) and felt they glossed over so much. After he died I read a letter he'd written on his way back from the war (Indai at that point) to his fiancee (my mother). It was very touching because I was hearing him as a young man of my own age, but of course, he probably still missed out much of even his own experiences. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by D G Moody on

So true  Rhiannon. While it can be argued that there are wars for justice and freedom (as in WWII), they are all apalling experiences, both for the combatants and civilians. Both my wife's and my own father showed signs of PTSD, when it was neither recognised or treated as such.

Dougie Moody

Submitted by D G Moody on

Thanks dear Ed's for the Cherries, they are so much apperciated smiley

Dougie Moody

Submitted by celticman on

I think you've caught the difference between then and now. Them and us. 

 

Submitted by D G Moody on

All too true Jack. The irony of having my sister airlifted out of Vietnam after an accident while on holiday there trecking. And these are the people who we were mutaully trying to kill! I always thought that war was a waste, but then aren't they all?

Dougie Moody

Submitted by Tom Brown on

I was in the infantry after nine days was discharged on grounds of insanity. Had the whole show- gun overalls lots of stuff belt waterbottel belt boots namit, kruszcheff hair cut hundreds inoculations (probably the one thing worthwile). Food wasn't so good but enough. 

Was I glad about being rejected! I'd seen enough not your hero tipe not me. The one guy that was sent home with me called me King david all the time hahaha! I  even got paid R7.50 or something.

They sent my leftenant into the bushes with an ammobox fot PT he was very tired when coming back it was either because we lied around on the grass or that a rifle was stolen from our bungalo. Pity. Nice guy.

Thanks for a trip down memory lane Dougie! Tom

 

Submitted by D G Moody on

Thanks Tom, your comments reminded me of the old Aussie CMF part time soldiers, who were quite a few rungs below the regulars - as in taking eskies on manouveres to keep the tinnies cold. With my dodging the call-up the irony was, that years later I ended up in North East Thailand on the Lao border in a monastery close to the Mekong river. BTW, yes, King David?

Dougie Moody

Submitted by Nolan on

  What is this “King david” business?

 

Submitted by Tom Brown on

My father's mother's maiden name was Keyes, in turn her mom was King, David was an uncle and his brother Dick King (not for his anatomy) was a folkhero for a marathon horserace. Long story, much like Paul Revere.

David was a hero in his own right people always find this amusing. A legend in the Boer War fought on the Boer's side together with the Irish.

What that has to do with the army don't ask me. They had intelligence check up in me with the struggle and that you might say I was a bit fearless outspoken. Isn't it funny how memories fade? Then you were a traitor and a terrorist, now you're a great hero.

Tom Brown