19

In 1965, Vietnam seemed like just another foreign war, but it wasn't
It was different in many ways, and so were those who did the fighting
In World War II, the average age of the combat soldier was 26
In Vietnam, he was 19
In Vietnam, he was 19
In Vietnam, he was 19
In Vietnam, he was 19
N-n-n-n-nineteen
The heaviest fighting of the past few weeks
Continued today, 25 miles northwest of Saigon
I wasn't really sure what was going on
N-n-n-n-nineteen
Nineteen, nineteen, nineteen, nineteen
In Vietnam, the combat soldier
Typically served a 12-month tour of duty
But was exposed to hostile fire almost every day
N-n-n-n-nine, nine, nine, nine
N-n-n-n-nine, nineteen
N-n-n-n-nine, nine, nine, nine
N-n-n-n-nine, nineteen
N-n-n-n-nine, nine, nine, nine
N-nine, n-nine, n-nine, nineteen
N-n-n-n-nine, nine, nine, nine
N-nine, n-nine, n-nine, nineteen
In Saigon, a US military spokesman said today, "More than 700 enemy
Troops were killed last week in that sensitive border area
Throughout all of South Vietnam, the
Enemy lost a total of 2,689 soldiers."
All those who remember the war
They won't forget what they've seen
Destruction of men in their prime
Whose average age was nineteen
According to a Veteran's Administration study
Half of the Vietnam combat veterans suffer from what
Psychiatrists call post-traumatic stress disorder
Many vets complained of alienation, rage, or guilt
Some succumbed to suicidal thoughts
Eight to ten years after coming home, almost
800,000 Men are still fighting the Vietnam War
None of them received a hero's welcome
Nineteen
Saigon, Saigon, S-S-S-Saigon, Saigon
S-S-S-S-S-S-S-S-Saigon
Nineteen
N-n-n-n-nine, nine, nine, nine
N-n-n-n-nine, nineteen
N-n-n-n-nine, nine, nine, nine
N-n-n-n-nine, nineteen
N-n-n-n-nine, nine, nine, nine
N-n-n-n-nine, nineteen
N-n-n-n-nine, nine, nine, nine
N-n-n-n-nine, nineteen
Vietnam, S-S-Saigon
Vietnam, S-S-Saigon
Vietnam, S-S-Saigon
Vietnam, S-S-Saigon
Purple Hearts, Saigon
Purple Hearts, Sai-Sai-Saigon
I wasn't really sure what was going on
I wasn't really sure what was going on