Vietnam Vets

Annotation

Hardcore Punk group, formed in 1980 in Los Angeles, California, USA. Members imcluded: John Macias (vocals), Michael Vallejo (guitar), Mike Ituarte (bass), Bill Ituarte (drums), Danny Dorman (bass), Jody "D.J." Hill (drums), Omar (vocals), and Nick Manning (drums). The song "Vietnam Vets" (Upstart Records # UP 001) of course looked at the experience of the Vietnam veteran, which included familiar lines about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - frequently referenced in post-war 1980s songs about US veterans, often connected in songs to stress, shell shock, flashbacks, nostalgia, and feelings and dreams related to an event: "Flashbacks, jitters another nightmare". It noted that the vets did not receive a heroes welcome, with parades etc, as seen after World War Two, and often noted in songs: "came back with no glory... a war the people want to forget". The song criticised the US and Russia for being imperialistic: "the U.S. and Russia are almost the same, leaders of the imperialist game". The song also made reference to "gook" - a racist, derogatory name for the Vietnamese, used by US soldiers during the Vietnam War, and often featured in cultural representations, such as in films and songs.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: They told us to fight for our country / But came back with no glory / Instead a ringing in our heads / Or blinded, paralyzed, maimed, or dead / V.V. syndrome doesn't stop there / Flashbacks, jitters another nightmare / A war the people want to forget / Will it happen again that's a sure bet / So send in the first wave lose eighty percent / Don't worry doc will fill the tent / We have plenty of young men to fill up the ground / Underclass jobless we don't want around / So listen you whore do me in good / I might die tomorrow so I'll fuck when I could / No rules, no more, kill to survive / Women and children are all gonna die / Sniper patrol kill anything in sight / Flame throwers hot and burning bright / Choppers in the air lay on the ground / Snipers in bushed don't make a sound / I got my trusty rile I'm gonna unload / I got my avocado its gonna explode / Gooks, dinks, and commies I'm a gunning for you / Just like the song "bombs bursting in air" / Only I wish I wasn't there / Was I so lucky to watch friends die / Too tired and scared no time to cry / "Buts" and "Ifs" in my head / How come I'm not left for dead / Animal instincts came over me / I had no control you can't blame me / The U.S. and Russia are almost the same / Leaders of the imperialist game / Fighting for land, health and power / Armageddon getting closer by the hour / Vietnam vets you did your time / Convicted of a rich man's crime / But what happened to you will happen to us / Us we don't get…

About the artist

American hardcore band formed circa 1980 in Los Angeles, California. [Source: Wikipedia]

Themes

Anti-Government · Combat · Gook · PTSD · Vet · WW2 · Anti-Asian Racism

In collections

PTSD Songs · Punk Songs