THE PURPLE HEART BOOGIE

Every war breeds its balladeers, and Viet Nam is no exception. Xenophon's Greek mercenaries marched "up country" into the Persian empire 2,300 years ago to the rhythm of harshly sung battle hymns; Wellington's light infantry quick-stepped through the Iberian peninsula to the bugles of Over the Hills and Far Away. Pershing's doughboys remarked the lack of lingerie in Armentieres, while Rommel's Afrika

Korps lusted for Lili Marie ne. In Viet Nam, the anonymous lyricists sing of "the Air Cav" (the 1st Cavalry Division turned Airmobile) and "pees" (South Vietnamese piasters worth roughly a penny); they abbreviate the helicopter gunships that support them to a curt A.R.A. ("aerial rocket artillery"). "Charlie" is the enemy, Victor Charlie being Viet Cong in the military phonetic alphabet. Top tunes in Viet Nam today:

(To the tune of I'm Movin' On]

I was landiri on a paddy, thought I had it made,

Until a friendly farmer threw a hand grenade--I'm movin' on; I'm movin' on.

Convoy flyin' through Man Giang Pass:

Play the Purple Heart Boogie on the Air Cav's ass

I'm movin' on; I'm movin' on.

(To the tune of Rock of Ages)

Victor Charlie--at Plei Me Threw a hand grenade at we. So I caught it, in my palm, Threw it back, and he wax gone. Victor Charlie, at Plei Me, Thanks a lot, you s.o.b.

(To the tune of The M.T.A.)

Let me tell you of a Cong by the name of Charlie

On that tragic and fateful day.

He put ten rounds in his pocket, kissed his wife and family

And went out to zap the A.R.A.

But did he ever return? No, he never returned,

and his fate is still unlearned. He may run forever through the trackless jungles. He's the Cong who never returned.

Charlie handed in his rifle at the An Khe station And he turned into a refugee.

When he got there the boss man told him "one day's labor, And he gave him only fifty pee.

Now Charlie's wife went down to the airstrip One day at quarter past three,

And from the open chopper she pulled Charlie to safety and they infiltrated Plei Me.

But did he ever return? No, he never returned,

and his fate is still unlearned. He may run forever through the trackless jungles. He's the Cong who never returned.

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