Khong biet, America

Annotation — P.O.W. / M.I.A. Songs

Bill McKenna served with the marines in Vietnam, and returned to the US disabled. He became a regular performer at the Skidmore Freedom Fest. He died in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1995. The title on the front cover, "F.P.O San Francisco", referred to the US military postal system, either known as APO (Army Post Office) or FPO (Fleet Post Office). The San Francisco gateway dealt with overseas mail to Vietnam. (1) (2) He released this Vietnam-themed LP in the rock-pop genre in 1986, in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. The title track, "Vietnam: Still Part of Who I Am", looked at a Vietnam veteran's attempt to find his place in society - which had labelled Vietnam a failure and a mistake. It can be viewed as part of a 1980s, Reagan-era trend of nationalism, or attempt to overcome the "Vietnam Syndrome". This song also referenced the My Lai massacre. The track "Jake's Song" (FPOSF # 1102108) looked at the perspective of two soldiers held captive in Vietnam as prisoners of war (P.O.W.). The narrator explained that his and Jake's plane went down in the jungle, which they survived. However, they ended up "caught and beaten, locked in this goddamn cage". The captors separated the soldiers, and the…

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — US Military & Veteran Songs

Bill McKenna served with the marines in Vietnam, and returned to the US disabled. He became a regular performer at the Skidmore Freedom Fest. He died in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1995. The title on the front cover, "F.P.O San Francisco", referred to the US military postal system, either known as APO (Army Post Office) or FPO (Fleet Post Office). The San Francisco gateway dealt with overseas mail to Vietnam. (1) (2) He released this Vietnam-themed LP in the rock-pop genre in 1986, in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. The title song "Vietnam: Still Part of Who I Am" (FPOSF # 1102108) looked at a Vietnam veterans attempt to find his place in society - which had labelled Vietnam a failure and a mistake. It can be viewed as part of a 1980s, Reagan-era trend of nationalism, or attempt to overcome the "Vietnam Syndrome". Narrated in the first person, the veteran said that originally he did not want to go to Vietnam, but the experience and memories had helped to define him. But when he returned he "found the country in flames", and the government "were freeing draft dodgers while holding Calley to blame" - which indicated sympathy for the plight of Calley, and of course, criticism of those who…

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

About the artist

Died October 1995, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. AKA F.P.O. San Francisco

Themes

Vet · Military · Anti-Government · Nixon · Peace With Honor · P.O.W. · Draft Dodger · Amnesty · Mistreatment of Vet · Draft

In collections

Draft Songs · P.O.W. / M.I.A. Songs · US Military & Veteran Songs