Bravo Troop "Photos Page 35" IN HONOR OF JOSEPH BRESKI, JR.

Penned with honor to our brother, Kent Zerr on March 6, 1970

Take a man and put him alone
about 17,000 miles from home

Empty his heart of all but blood
Make him live in sweat and mud

That is the life I have to live
So all my heart I give

You peace boys rave from easy chairs
Talk is cheap, does anyone really care?

You have a ball without near trying
But over here our guys are dying

You burn your draft cards and protest on the lawn
We kill for peace and march at dawn

All you want to do is ban the bomb
You think there is no real war in Vietnam

Back home you kill and steal and have nothing to do
While over here, I'm expected to die for you

I'll hate you till the day I die
Because you made me see my buddies cry

All I saw was a barrage of lead ---
Then I heard someone say he's dead

He paid the price to fight and die
But what did he buy?

He bought your life while losing his
But who gives a damn what a soldier gives?

His MOM, DAD, WIFE, BROTHER, SISTER, SON, DAUGHTER,
They are about the only ones -----

The soldier added this note at the bottom:
My feelings coincided with someone elses, some lines are his some are mine. It's the thought that counts. This is the way I feel and a lot of guys too.

{NOTE: no changes made for punctuation or spelling}



" So all my heart I give "
...these words were penned by a soldier who identified himself as "B Troop, 1/9th Cav (AIRMOBILE)"
Author recently identified himself as ~ Dominic "DOC" Cavalieri ~ SEE BELOW FOR HISTORY OF POEM Contributed by BLUE, SP4 James Hnizdil. In 69-70 he "was at Quan Loi with the author".
Penned with honor to our brother, Kent Zerr on March 6, 1970 Take a man and put him alone about 17,000 miles from home Empty his heart of all but blood Make him live in sweat and mud That is the life I have to live So all my heart I give You peace boys rave from easy chairs Talk is cheap, does anyone really care? You have a ball without near trying But over here our guys are dying You burn your draft cards and protest on the lawn We kill for peace and march at dawn All you want to do is ban the bomb You think there is no real war in Vietnam Back home you kill and steal and have nothing to do While over here, I'm expected to die for you I'll hate you till the day I die Because you made me see my buddies cry All I saw was a barrage of lead --- Then I heard someone say he's dead He paid the price to fight and die But what did he buy? He bought your life while losing his But who gives a damn what a soldier gives? His MOM, DAD, WIFE, BROTHER, SISTER, SON, DAUGHTER, They are about the only ones ----- The soldier added this note at the bottom: My feelings coincided with someone elses, some lines are his some are mine. It's the thought that counts. This is the way I feel and a lot of guys too. {NOTE: no changes made for punctuation or spelling} History of the poem — Dominic "DOC" Cavalieri penned this poem with "the help of my fellow Blue squad troopers" who were at Quan Loi the day Kent Zerr was KIA, 06 MAR 70. "Doc"did his best to save Kent's life that day. The title he gave the poem is "BUT WHAT DID HE GIVE" or "THE QUAN LOI BLUES." DOC's reaction to seeing the poem: "I was shocked to see the poem again, it's been 32 years! It was all because of Sgt. Kent Zerr that we did it. I'm glad it's on the B/1/9 web site, where it belongs!" CLICK HERE TO EMAIL "DOC" CAVALIERI CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR TRIBUTE TO SP5 KENT ZERR
Photo 612_v7 "The Memorial Service"
Writing7883 "The Quan Loi Blues" aka "But What Did He Give?"


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