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In 1965 Vietnam seemed like just another foreign war

But it wasn't

It was different in many ways

And so were those who did the fighting

In world war two

the average age of the combat soldier was 26

In Vietnam he was 19

The haviest fighting of the past two weeks

Continued today 25 miles north west of Saigon

I wasn't really sure what was going on

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In Vietnam the combat soldier typically served

A twelve-month tour of duty

But was exposed to hostile fire

Almost everyday

In Saigon U.S. Military spokesman said today

More than 700 enemy troups were killed last week

In that sensitive border area

Through out all of south Vietnam the enemy lost

A total of 2,689 soldiers

All those who remember the war

They won't forget what they've seen

Destruction of men in their prime

whose average age was 19

According to a veterans administraction study

Half of Vietnam combat veterans

Suffer from what phychiatrists call

Post traumatic stress disorder

Many vets complain of alienation, rage or guilt

Some succumb to suicidal thoughts

Eight to ten years after coming home

Almost 800,000 men are still fighting the Vietnam war

None of them received a hero's welcome

19, Saigon, Saigon, Saigon, Saigon, Saigon

19, nineteen, nineteen, nineteen, nineteen

Vietnam, Saigon, Vietnam, Saigon, Vietnam Saigon

Purple heart, Saigon, purple heart, Saigon

I wasn't really sure what was going on

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