27 Oct 2002 Tommy was assigned to the Scouts, A Company, 2/47th Infantry, in October 1968. He was a fine soldier and well liked. He also spoke of his wife. Tommy was from Tennessee and that's probably the reason we hit it off so well. My mom and grandparents were from there. I remember he used to always tease me about eating grits and biscuits. I was the medic assigned to his squad. He died several months after I went home. He is one of the reasons I wrote this poem: THE WAR AT HOME What is happening to the real world? Have they all gone nuts! Protesting and carrying signs against something They have no idea what's it all about They are not the ones who should be Believe it or not! Why don't they keep the politics out And let us fight to win. What do you mean they killed Martin Luther King? And Bobby Kennedy too! Then Kent State and My Lai too What is a good soldier to do? How did they let the world go so wrong? Now ... we got a WAR AT HOME! Vietnam's a funny place People here from every race. Black and white and brown Helping to defend the yellow race. Fighting side by side Just to stay alive. If the people back in the WORLD Could only just see How we live and fight and die United by circumstances beyond our control We don't care about the color Of the skin. That doesn't count on what determines A person's worth. What would be the greatest tragedy of all To go home at the end of my time. Just to be killed on the streets Of my hometown. By a friend who was my brother In another place and time. Doc Pardue - Vietnam @ 1969 & 2001

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