john williamson
only 19
Mum and Dad and Danny saw the passing out parade at Puckapunyal  It was a long march from cadets The sixth battalion was next to tour, it was me who drew the card We did Canungra, Shoalwater, before we left  And Townsville lined the footpaths as we marched down to the quay This clipping from the paper shows a youngon', strong and clean And there's me with me slouch hat, my SLR and greens God help me - I was only nineteen  From Vung Tau riding Chinooks to the dust at Nui Dat I'd been in and out of choppers now for months We made our tents a home, V.B. and pinups on the lockers And an Asian orange sunset through the scrub  And can you tell me, doctor, why I can't get to sleep?  And night time's just a jungle dark and a barking M.16?  And what's this rash that comes and goes, can you tell me what it means? God help me - I was only nineteen  A four week operation, any step could be your last one on two legs It was a war within yourself But you wouldn't let your mates down 'til they had you dusted off So you closed your eyes and you thought about somethin' else  Then someone yelled out "Contact", and the bloke behind me swore We hooked in there for hours, then a God almighty roar Frankie kicked the mine the day that mankind kicked the moon God help me - he was goin' home in June  I can still see Frankie, drinkin' tinnies in the Grand Hotel  On a thirty-six hour rec. leave in Vung Tau And I can still hear Frankie, lyin' screamin' in the jungle 'Til the morphine came and killed the bloody row  And the Anzac legends didn't mention mud and blood and tears And the stories that my father told me never seemed quite real And I caught some pieces in my back that I'd