HE WAS A YOUNG SOLDIER
by Yvonne Guidroz

THE LAST TIME I SAW HIM, OUR SWEET RONNIE,
TWAS THE SUMMER OF ’65.
WE EMBRACED AND SAID OUR FINAL FAREWELLS
THE LAST TIME I SAW HIM ALIVE.

HE HAD SUCH A LOVE FOR HIS COUNTRY
AND FOR HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS
HE HAPPILY WENT TO PROTECT US ALL
THOUGH IT MEANT HIS LIFE WOULD END.

A LAND CALLED VIETNAM; SO UNFAMILIAR
WITH TERRAIN HE DID NOT KNOW
BUT FOR HIM IT WAS AN HONOR
FOR HIS COUNTRY HE WANTED TO GO.

IN THAT LAND CALLED PLEI ME, THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD
FROM HIS FAMILY WHO LOVED HIM SO
NOTHING WE SAID COULD EVER STOP HIM
IT WAS HIS CHOICE; HE WANTED TO GO.

THEY WERE HEADED FOR LANDING ZONE ALBANY
A WALK IN THE SUN THEY SAY
THEY WALKED RIGHT INTO AN AMBUSH
ON THAT HOT NOVEMBER DAY.

IT IS CALLED THE IA DRANG VALLEY
GOD MUST HAVE LOVED HIM SO
FOR HE SENT HIS ANGELS TO TAKE HIM
FROM THE LAND HE FOUGHT IN BELOW.

THE TELEGRAM CAME AND IT PIERCED LIKE A BLADE
CUTTING AND SCARRING MY HEART
NOVEMBER 17, 1965
SGT. RONNIE T. MATHIS DID DEPART.

MANY YEARS HAVE COME AND GONE
SINCE THAT DAY IN 65’
THE LAST TIME I SAW HIM, MY WONDERFUL UNCLE,
THE LAST DAY I SAW HIM ALIVE.

AS I SIT AND THINK OF HIM, EVERY DAY NOW
MY MEMORIES ARE SO CLEAR
OF GREAT TIMES WE SPENT TOGETHER
THOSE DAYS FOR ME ARE DEAR.

I KNOW NOW, RONNIE, YOU ARE AT PEACE
I HAVE FOUND MINE TOO WITHIN
FOR I KNOW NOW YOUR SOUL RESTS IN HEAVEN
AND I KNOW I’’LL SEE YOU AGAIN.

HE WAS A YOUNG SOLDIER SO BRAVE AND PROUD
STRONG IN EVERY WAY
THEN WAR CAME TO OUR COUNTRY
AND TOOK OUR RONNIE AWAY.