Metal Coffins In My Dreams At Night

Metal Coffins In My Dreams At Night

Written by Fletcher Jowers (ASCAP)

Written by Fletcher Jowers

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By Fletcher Jowers (ASCAP)

A young man proud of my country

Raised my right hand with honor and pride

Promised to protect and defend it

Even if it meant my life

Ch:

And at night I can still see the jungle

Hear the thunder of blades in the sky

Smell the scent of death all around me

See metal coffins in my dreams at night

Tormented by screams of men dying

The awful noises of war

The sounds of enemy gunfire

have pierced my heart to the core

Ch:

God in his mercy brought me safely through

On my way back to family and friends

Going home with twelve young heroes

That had given their lives for this land

Ch:

First Recon Patrol Kien Giang Province 1967

Search and Destroy mission with RF/PF and 1st Inf Div Advisor

Six man patrol...

About 120 degrees!

Operation Market Time was to prevent NVA and VC from getting equipment and supplies into South Vietnam via waterways. Junk boats such as the one I'm on in the picture were operated by the South Vietnamese Navy. We were based out of Kien An and Rach Gia

Operation Market Time near Rach Gia, Kien Giang Province, South Vietnam

1968

An Thoi, Kien Gian Province Phu Quoc Island. This picture was taken at An Thoi. I think I was having a discussion with my Vietnamese counterpart. Phu Quoc is known for it's Nuoc Mam (Very smelly fish sauce). Once you get past the smell it's pretty good. Phu Quoc was controlled by the VC when I got there and still controlled by them when I left.

Young and mentally wounded

When I left Vietnam in August of 1968 I left out of Tan Son Nhut Air Base along with three other guys aboard a military cargo plane, a C-141 Starlifter. We were setting right up in front in the cargo bay on side seats that folded up to the wall of the planes sides. There were twelve coffins carrying the remains of young men who had given their lives for their country. I set maybe 18 inches away from them for the sixteen hour flight back to the "World". I asked myself why am I getting to go home to my darling family and these guys are going home for their funeral. Fifty years have passed now and I still see those coffins. I was going to be tough and not think about Vietnam and the war but it doesn't work that way as I found out later in life after making so many mistakes and having the horrible nightmares of going back to Vietnam for the umteenth time! Waking up thanking God it was just a dream. Then on top of everything, I received a Bronze Star with V for valor. This added fire to the survivor guilt I was already dealing with. But I've come to grips with all of it as best I can and just believe it was God's mercy and answer to many prayers. God bless the USA