Forgotten heroes

the Jacobson organ

2 tiny pits

nothing to speak of

but such precious bits

 

the olfactory system

is better by far

and in dogs as a matter

of fact its a star

 

it gives them the power

the great power of scent

as such when the war dogs

yes when they went

off to Vietnam to the jungles

they could

sense and would smell

much more than we could

 

a thousand times better

so subtle so keen

they were our 4 legged

protection machine

 

but they were not machine like

so sensitive they

could smell the Viet cong

way way  away

 

and never were wrong

the German shepherds

they really  did know

and as we got to know them

how they moved did show

 

their handlers really

for what they did do

was sense all the trip wires

when we had no clue

 

the sounds of the breeze

on the wires they could hear

they would stop sharp and turn

and for us it was clear

 

we became so attached to our dogs

to our friend

we fed them we slept with them

right till the end

 

they knew how we ticked

and we also knew

sentry and guards

they were all true

 

they saved us they dragged us

out of harms way

they became victims

yes night and day

 

that great sense of smell

and good hearing too

saved many a soldier

lost, very few

 

handlers

will never forget what their dogs

did for them out there

through swamps and through bogs

 

up rocky climes through rivers these boys

gave us pure spirit and

brought back the joys

 

that we all, had forgotten

out there in green hell

with the cong up your arse

and the vilest of smell

 

so many handlers realized they

were closer with their dogs

and so everyday

 

the dog and the handler

learned a great deal

learned how to think more

and how to feel

 

and many of these men

had not before

had any relationship with dogs

they were sure

 

Vietnam brought down upon them

such stuff

that without their dogs

it would have been  rough

 

such loyalty transferred from canine

to those

wounded and injured

they  did  juxtapose

 

they stayed together

till the danger did pass

this was a friendship

it became first class

 

and when it was over

and the men had to go

their dogs their best friends

what did they know

 

they were just useless

the army was mad

abandoning everything

it was so sad

 

dogs were equipment

they didn’t care

they got no medals

nothing to share

 

just stuck in some pound

to be eaten by those

Vietnamese

or even crows

 

yes we were upset

frantic as well

leaving our 4 legged buddies in hell

 

the american government

THEY HAD NO HEART

and we couldn’t do anything

from the start

 

so many forms no

anyway what does the ministry know

stuck behind desks pushing papers about

they had no idea  and if we did shout#

 

they just said pipe down they are not coming back

that’s when the shit hit the fan

and the flack

 

we had to take it on board

and just leave

the dogs were heartbroken

our hearts on our sleeve

 

but we were on orders that was our lot

and came back

and knew  most would be for the pot

 

that’s what they do sadly those souls

forgotten heroes

hanging on poles

 

 

 

 

 

 

About Rex Tyler

I love animals. I enjoy writing poetry and delivering speeches.I like to mentor people who need help in preparing speeches and evaluations.I enjoy travel although it is much harder for me these days.I so enjoyed the Andes Mountains and Volcanoes and the Quichua people who live and thrive there.I have lots of friends around the world.
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