RAYMOND CARLEY REMEMBERED 1966
by Ranger Jerry Conners,
Chinese Bandit Recon 1st Bn (ABN) 8th Cav, 1965-66
Note: Raymond Carley was killed on June 23, 1966 during the Battle
of Trung Luong where the Chinese Bandits were awarded their 2d
Presidential Unit Citation during the period 1965-66…the first was
awarded for participation in the Battle of Ia Drang in November
1965. More information on the Chinese Bandits can be obtained at
http://www.geocities.com/d6566mustangs/
Those of you in Europe and elsewhere near USA gravesites, please visit and remember those that have fallen.
Jer
by Ranger Jerry Conners,
Chinese Bandit Recon 1st Bn (ABN) 8th Cav, 1965-66
face down crawling
the pain does not matter anymore
they can not help me,
Don't try he yells
to those nearby
must it end
the ground is warm,
the smell of the earth
the fallen leaves in hand
engulfed in the sounds of withering fire
touched twice again
he grimaces and smiles
through gritted teeth
alone without strength
must it end,
colder now
shaking
unable to breathe
or tear the collar too close
about his neck,
struggling frantically
to hold on
numb now,
through squinted eyes some light,
soaked in blood
fingers slowly grasping emptiness,
swaying in the arms of death
let there be more
the pain does not matter anymore
they can not help me,
Don't try he yells
to those nearby
must it end
the ground is warm,
the smell of the earth
the fallen leaves in hand
engulfed in the sounds of withering fire
touched twice again
he grimaces and smiles
through gritted teeth
alone without strength
must it end,
colder now
shaking
unable to breathe
or tear the collar too close
about his neck,
struggling frantically
to hold on
numb now,
through squinted eyes some light,
soaked in blood
fingers slowly grasping emptiness,
swaying in the arms of death
let there be more
Note: Raymond Carley was killed on June 23, 1966 during the Battle
of Trung Luong where the Chinese Bandits were awarded their 2d
Presidential Unit Citation during the period 1965-66…the first was
awarded for participation in the Battle of Ia Drang in November
1965. More information on the Chinese Bandits can be obtained at
http://www.geocities.com/d6566mustangs/
Those of you in Europe and elsewhere near USA gravesites, please visit and remember those that have fallen.
Jer