Opaque Memories of War

By Gary Robert Geister

Many of the poems contained herein follow excerpts from my books; NAM The Devils Domain, The Pimp of Saigon and Undaunted Valor. These poems were created to envision facts of war, inspired by my Vietnam War experiences; some are inspired by myths reported by biased American newspaper, radio and television media. Still others were created to reflect individual valor, human suffering and mans inhumanity to man.

Myths:
The biased American media reported that the U.S. Military lost many encounters with the enemy in Vietnam. The TET offensive was an NVA/VC Victory and that America had lost its first war ever as witnessed on television during the fall of Saigon, April 30, 1975.

Facts:
The American military was not defeated in Vietnam. The American military did not lose a battle of any consequence. From a military standpoint, the war was a major military defeat for the Vietcong and North Vietnamese Army.
Militarily, the 1968 TET offensive resulted in a total defeat of the Communist forces on all fronts. It resulted in the death of some 45,000 NVA troops and the complete, if not total destruction of the Vietcong elements in South Vietnam.
The fall of Saigon happened April 30, 1975; two years after the American military had left Vietnam. The last American troops departed Vietnam in their entirety March 29, 1973.
It is impossible to lose a war we had stopped fighting. We fought to an agreed governmental stalemate and turned over all military responsibility to the South Vietnamese army which included jets, helicopters, tanks, trucks, weapons and ammo. The U. S. peace settlement was signed in Paris on January 27, 1973. It called for the release of all U. S. prisoners and withdrawal of U. S. forces. Effective April 30, 1975 the South Vietnamese army outnumbered the North Vietnamese army by at least two to one in all categories, men, machines, aircraft and firepower. The U. S. A. supported the French military with 98% if its military costs and fought Communism in Vietnam for a total involvement for 10,000 days. With the South Vietnamese army now in charge of their own countrys destiny they never fought, but instead surrendered unconditionally to North Vietnam within nine days.
The 140,000 evacuees in April 1975, during the fall of Saigon, consisted entirely of Vietnamese civilians and military. There were twice as many causalities in Southeast Asia (primarily Cambodian) the first two years following the end of U. S. involvement than there were during all the years of the Vietnam War. The media perceived loss of the war, the countless assassinations and torture visited upon Vietnamese, Laotians and Cambodians is due to the American media for their undying support by misrepresentation of the anti-war movement in the United States.
As Americans, we must support our military men and women involved in the War On Terrorism, for once again the American media is working tirelessly to undermine their efforts and force a psychological loss or stalemate for the United States.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 8, 2010
• ISBN: 9781469101279

Gary Robert Geister

Gary Robert Geister served with B5/12 and A2/3 of the 199th Light Infantry Bde. and the (C.R.I.P.) Combat Reconnaissance Intelligence Platoon in Vietnam 1968-69. A life member of the VVA Chapter 154 and the VFW Post 6782. Born and raised in East Detroit Michigan and educated at Central Michigan University. Also the author of NAM THE DEVIL’S DOMAIN, THE PIMP OF SAIGON and UNDAUNTED VALOR.

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Copyright © 2010 by Gary Robert Geister.

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Cover illustration: Stephen J. Jezierski

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Contents

OPAQUE MEMORIES OF WAR

SAIGON

TIME

DANTE’S INFERNO

MISSING IN ACTION

PRISONER OF WAR

OPIUM

LUKE

SERGEANT CARMIN

DRAGON’S BREATH

HANOI JANE

SANDALS

THE VALLEY OF DEATH

THE EAST DETROIT 19

THE EAST DETROIT 19

DEAR JOHN

FACES

FINAL FLIGHT

MEGAN’S LIFE

BROTHERS

PERNICIOUS WOUNDS

VICTIMS OF NAM

BLOOD BROTHERS

CASUALTY

ALL THE YOUNG WARRIORS

PTSD

PREDATORS

THE ABYSS

IF I WERE IN CHARGE

Dedicated to all the young soldiers whose names are inscribed with honor on the Vietnam Memorial Wall. For America, they stood so tall, so young, so brave,

so very bold, their souls rest in Heaven, they’ll

never grow old.

OPAQUE MEMORIES OF WAR

Many of the poems contained herein follow excerpts from my books; NAM The Devil’s Domain, The Pimp of Saigon and Undaunted Valor. These poems were created to envision facts of war, inspired by my Vietnam War experiences; some are inspired by myths reported by biased American newspaper, radio and television media. Still others were created to reflect individual valor, human suffering and man’s inhumanity to man.

Myths:

The biased American media reported that the U.S. Military lost many encounters with the enemy in Vietnam. The TET offensive was an NVA/VC Victory and that America had lost its first war ever as witnessed on television during the fall of Saigon, April 30, 1975.

Facts:

The American military was not defeated in Vietnam. The American military did not lose a battle of any consequence. From a military standpoint, the war was a major military defeat for the Vietcong and North Vietnamese Army.

Militarily, the 1968 TET offensive resulted in a total defeat of the Communist forces on all fronts. It resulted in the death of some 45,000 NVA troops and the complete, if not total destruction of the Vietcong elements in South Vietnam.

The fall of Saigon happened April 30, 1975; two years after the American military had left Vietnam. The last American troops departed Vietnam in their entirety March 29, 1973.

It is impossible to lose a war we had stopped fighting. We fought to an agreed governmental stalemate and turned over all military responsibility to the South Vietnamese army which included jets, helicopters, tanks, trucks, weapons and ammo. The U. S. peace settlement was signed in Paris on January 27, 1973. It called for the release of all U. S. prisoners and withdrawal of U. S. forces. Effective April 30, 1975 the South Vietnamese army outnumbered the North Vietnamese army by at least two to one in all categories, men, machines, aircraft and firepower. The U. S. A. supported the French military with 98% if it’s military costs and fought Communism in Vietnam for a total involvement for 10,000 days. With the South Vietnamese army now in charge of their own country’s destiny they never fought, but instead surrendered unconditionally to North Vietnam within nine days.

The 140,000 evacuees in April 1975, during the fall of Saigon, consisted entirely of Vietnamese civilians and military. There were twice as many causalities in Southeast Asia (primarily Cambodian) the first two years following the end of U. S. involvement than there were during all the years of the Vietnam War. The media perceived loss of the war, the countless assassinations and torture visited upon Vietnamese, Laotians and Cambodians is due to the American media for their undying support by misrepresentation of the anti-war movement in the United States.

As Americans, we must support our military men and women involved in the War On Terrorism, for once again the American media is working tirelessly to undermine their efforts and force a psychological loss or stalemate for the United States.

Excerpt from The Pimp of Saigon—

Phantasmagoria:

As they approached the outskirts of Saigon, the traffic at times came to a standstill; thousands of motorcycles lined the highway, hundreds of trucks and jeeps created traffic jams.

Saigon was bustling with thousands of people lining the early evening streets preparing for the night when the city would come alive in a sea of neon lights. Saigon would be the ultimate place for a thousand opportunities and Bobby would be putting all of his skills to work as soon as humanly possible.

SAIGON

My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

My son, walk not thou in the way with them;

refrain thy foot from their path.

Proverbs Ch 1 Verse 10 and 15

Some called Saigon, The Pearl of the Orient.

In reality, it was a terrorized city full of torment,

where too many young American lives were spent.

Saigon, the city of false illusions

and place of hundreds of thousands of blood transfusions.

An endless mirage of neon lights,

illuminate the evil faces of the people of the night

and elongate deep dark shadows of fright.

The brightly shining moon mixed with artificial light,

created a shimmering, sparkling, Saigon river of silver and gold each night.

All the young soldiers, this was their favorite part,

nightlife