LOOK INSIDE: The community of Smethport has been going through
months of preparation for the arrival of the Vietnam Veterans
Memorial Moving Wall next week.
Inside today’s Era, please find a commemorative edition to mark
this occasion. In addition, we will be offering daily stories and
commentary from now until the Wall actually arrives next Wednesday.
The wall will be on display at Hamlin Lake Park from June 1-5.
INSIDE STORY: Like The Wall in Washington, D.C., this replica
contains the names of more than 50,000 American servicemen and
women who were killed in Vietnam.
Some of those, of course, were from this region. You’ll read
about them in this special edition. It also includes some of the
war stories from those who made it home.
Among the survivors were Lenny Anderson of Smethport and his
friend Dewey Allen. Dewey, who has since passed away, wrote a song
about their harrowing experience in the war. It’s called, “Me and
Leonard.”
We’re quoting the lyrics in today’s RTS which certainly convey
the emotion surrounding the situation. If you’re interested in the
details, you might want to check out their story which starts on
page 5 of this special edition.
Me and Leonard
“Me and Leonard were pinned down and wounded
Five klicks out on Burlington Trail
We were weak and were cold, it was raining
Both of us wishing that we were in jail.
‘Bout nine o’clock in the evening,
Alpha company finally got through
Well, they stopped me and Leonard from bleedin’
Just before we both turned blue.
Vietnam was a bummer of bummers
It took and changed a lot of good lives
But I decided it was to time to stop running, Son
And be grateful … me and Leonard survived.
Well, a cigarette and chopper ride,
We were warm and as safe as could be
In our hospital bed we swore on our head
Next war won’t see Leonard and me.
The lessons are hard to learn, I guess
But one thing I can say is true
Friend if you’ll do your best not to shoot at me,
I’d be happy not to shoot at you.
Vietnam was a bummer of bummers
It took and changed a lot of good lives
But I decided it was to time to stop running, Son
And be grateful … me and Leonard survived.”
