Vietnam War, Life goes on behind the scenes

The following pictures are ones I took in Saigon during 1967 and 1968 of the every day life. You would never know that a War was raging outside the city.

                                        



          The fruit market

                                                                                        Family coming to Town

                           The crowded streets

                                                          



       Pottery Factory                                         Flower Market

                           The Sidewalk Vendors

                           Young Couple on Moped

      

Going Shopping
  





                                                                                                               Going to Work
****************************************************************
                           Life in the Villages

                           Life in Grass Huts

                             Working in the Rice Paddies

                                                      Working in the Field

                                                    Life on the Saigon River


These pictures are just a few of the many I have that have never before been seen by anyone and are part of History. Hope you enjoyed them.


                    

New Book, "A Date With Vietnam"

It's been awhile since I've been writing but I have been busy for the last 7 months working on my latest book. This one has been a long time coming but I have finally finished it. The book is now in the final editing stages and will be released this coming Veterans Day 2013 and dedicated to my friends who never made it home.

This final book of my life in the Nam is a compelling story of my time spent there complete with the pictures that go with the stories. The book has close to 300 pages for your enjoyment along with the pictures that I took while there.

The longest process of this book was the processing of over 200 slides that I had to turn into pictures and bring back to life. These slides were stored in my parents attic for over 30 years and I had totally forgot about them until my parents death and the house was cleaned out. This book means everything to me and I wish my parents were still here to share this project with me. 

So I hope you check out Amazon.com or Kindle come November and order your copy.
Happy Reading
Steve Weathers - aka VietnamVet68

Big Brothers are special

Big brothers are a special breed. They look after you and protect you when you are little.

Big brothers teach you how to ride a Motorcycle.

Big brothers even teach you how to shoot a gun.

Big brothers even let you drive their car.

If it wasn't for Big brothers, where would little brothers be?

Here is to Big brothers, thank you for being there when I needed you.Those memories of the things we shared will always be there.

Memories of War

It was the summer of 1968 on a lonely dirt road in a place called Vietnam. A beautiful sunny day and a jeep ride to a barge site called Cat Lai that I had been to many times before.

My jeep

The Lonely Dirt Road

On a lonely dirt road in middle of a war

I was only 19 a mere kid new to this game

This game we call war, I hadn't learned the score

This game adults play, using their kids as pawns

I transported pilots from Saigon to the ports

I got my first call in the summer of 68

I had not yet learned about war

Had not learned of this thing called hate

It was in the middle of a rice paddy

Just a young soldier and his pilot

Headed down that long dusty road

The pilot was my only load

We were ten miles out and no one around

It was a beautiful day, it was quiet, not a sound

Down by the river so far out of town

It seemed like a short ride

Only a fool would venture out this far all alone

A bend in the road and a forest ahead,pretty trees all around

Shots ring out piercing the quiet,what a blood curdling sound

Holes in the windshield and a hole in his head

I looked the pilots way,was he dead?

Young soldier grabs his weapon as he looks all around

His heart is pounding, as he stays close to the ground

With his weapon in hand, would he be killed in this strange land?

He radios for help as he and a sniper the only ones around

Was the sniper alone, would others join him soon?

Was the sniper alone or an entire platoon?

Soldier checks his ammo, only one clip in his hand

Would help get there before he spilled his blood on the sand?

The radio crackled, help was on the way

But when faced with death, an hour becomes a day

He listened he waited, didn't dare breath

Would this enemy hut him, or would he leave?

Finally after what seemed like an eternity, the sound of a chopper

A gun ship this soldier hoped

This fear was making waiting harder to cope

From his hiding place he dared not raise his scope

The chopper got closer, he heard guns blazing

The bullets cut the trees, the smoke looked like a hazing

Five men jumped from the chopper with guns

He wondered; so this is how it's done

The soldier felt something warm on his cheek

On his check there was blood, flesh cut by flying glass

He had not noticed any pain

He was busy concentrating so his very life he could gain

The jeep windshield had been shattered

In the frantic hail of bullets, it had not mattered

But the pilot was dead, shot through the head

This soldier thought, it could have been me instead

Young man had never been shot at before

This experience changed him to the core

Some experiences can change a man so they say

Some experiences can change you for ever more

The road to Cat Lai

Poems of a Forgotten War

(Remembering Vietnam)

Available on Amazon.Com

Barnes & Noble

Old Farmsteads of NY

(Old horse barn abandoned)

Western New York is farm country and the country side is filled with family farms, many abandoned to foreclosure sitting  empty and alone looking sad. Another reminder of the failing economy and the prosperous life they once had. Here is a collection of old farm pictures I took while driving through the countryside.

This once abandoned homestead has been brought back to life and is once again a beautiful home.  Years ago this house sat empty, over run with weeds and brambles.  This shows what a little TLC can do.

Reflections of Saigon

                      (Picture was taken Sept 1967 upon my arrival)

The following is a poem that I wrote about Saigon for my book "Poems of a forgotten war" hope you enjoy it.

THE CITY OF SAIGON

When I first saw this place we formed a bond
The streets of this city were a sight to behold
I wandered the markets, tasted the food
I walked her streets and felt so bold

This lovely,lovely unspoiled city
To a young soldier, she seemed so pretty
The smells of food could lift my mood
She would one day be in ruins, such a pity

As a young soldier I loved her
I went to her bars and walked her streets
I watched her people, living and happy
I walked her streets, for my senses, such a treat

From shop to shop I used to hop
You could buy food and silk suits
Girls on the corner wanting your companionship
To look at them you'd not always see their hardship

The girls so tempting and calling
I wonder how many soldiers virtue went falling
Come hither, they'd say
Be my companion for just this day................

This book is a story of war told in the form of poems, check it out today on Amazon.com

The Holidays are here

The holidays are upon us once again. As you plan your fancy trips, cruises and dinners take time out to think of the ones less fortunate than you.

The homeless ones who have nothing at all except life itself, living on the streets or in a car wondering what the next day will bring.

The hungry children that don't think of a Christmas toy or gifts, but all they want is something to eat to give them the strength to see another day.

The children of war who have nothing at all, no home, no family no one at all.

So as these holidays come around take some time to spread some love and lend a helping hand. Take some time to serve up a meal at the local food kitchen.

Make someone else happy this holiday season...