This is the anniversary of the death of a man who wrote one of the most famous poems about the Vietnam War. Capt. Michael O’Donnell was a helicopter pilot. On March 24, 1970 he was part of a mission to extract a long-range reconnaissance patrol from Cambodia. The unit was on the run, pursued by enemy forces and in extreme peril. Unfortunately, they could not reach a place where the helicopter could land with reasonable safety. However, when it became obvious the special forces were doomed otherwise, O’Donnell put his chopper down and the men climbed aboard under heavy fire. Soon after taking off the UH-1 was hit by enemy fire, exploded, and crashed in the jungle killing everyone on board. O’Donnell was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and promoted to Major posthumously. Here is the poem:
If you are able,
save them a place
inside of you
and save one backward glance
when you are leaving
for the places they can
no longer go.
Be not ashamed to say
you loved them,
though you may
or may not have always.
Take what they have left
and what they have taught you
with their dying
and keep it with your own.
And in that time
when men decide and feel safe
to call the war insane,
take one moment to embrace
those gentle heroes
you left behind.
Major Michael Davis O’Donnell
1 January 1970
Dak To, Vietnam
https://www.pownetwork.org/bios/o/o021.htm
0 Comments