In 1965, Vietnam seemed like just another foreign war

But it wasn't

It was different in many ways, and so were those who did the fighting

In World War II the average age of the combat soldier was twenty-six

In Vietnam, he was nineteen

In-in-in-in-in-in-in-in Vietnam, he was nineteen

In-in-in-in-in-in-in-in Vietnam, he was nineteen

In-in-in-in-in-in-in-in Vietnam, he was nineteen

N-n-n-n-nineteen

The heaviest fighting of the past two weeks continued today twenty-five miles northwest of Saigon

I wasn't really sure what was going on

N-n-n-n-nineteen, nineteen

N-nineteen, nineteen

In Vietnam, the combat soldier typically served a twelve month tour of duty

But was exposed to hostile fire almost everyday

Ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-nineteen (Nineteen)

Ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-nineteen (Nineteen)

Ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-nineteen (Nineteen)

Ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-nineteen (Nineteen)

In Saigon, an US military spokesman said today, more than 700 enemy troops were killed last week in that sensitive border area

Throughout all of South Vietnam the enemy lost a total of 2,689 soldiers

All those who remember the war

They won't forget what they've seen

Destruction of men in their prime

Whose average age was nineteen

D-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-destruction

D-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-destruction

According to a Veteran's Administration study, half of the Vietnam combat veterans suffered from what psychiatrists call Post-traumatic stress disorder

Many vets complain of alienation, rage, or guilt

Some succumb to suicidal thoughts

Eight to ten years after coming home, almost eight-hundred-thousand men are still fighting the Vietnam War

None of them received a hero's welcome

Nineteen

Saigon, Saigon

S-S-S-S-Saigon, Saigon

S-S-S-S-S-S-S-S-S-S-Saigon

Ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-nineteen (Nineteen)

Ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-nineteen

Ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-nineteen (Nineteen)

Ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-nineteen

Vietnam, S-S-Saigon

Vietnam, S-S-Saigon

Vietnam, S-S-Saigon

Vietnam, S-S-Saigon

Purple Heart, Saigon

P-P-Purple Heart, S-S-S-Saigon

I wasn't really sure what was going on

I wasn't really sure what was going on