Red River Valley Poem by Anonymous

To the Red River Valley we are going,
For to get us some trains and some trucks.
But if I had my say so about it,
I'd still be at home in the sack.

Come and sit by my side at the briefing,
Do not hasten to bid me adieu.
To the Red River Valley we're going,
And I'm flying four in Flight Blue.

We went for to check on the weather,
And they said it was clear as could be.
I lost my wingman 'round the field,
And the rest augured in out at sea.

S-2 said there's no flak where we're going,
S-2 said there's no flak on the way.
There's a dark overcast o'er the target,
I'm beginning to doubt what they say.

To the valley they say we are going,
And many strange sights will we see.
But the one there that held my attention,
Was the SAM that they threw up at me.

To the valley he said he was flying,
And he never saw the medal that he earned.
Many jocks have flown into the valley,
And a number have never returned.

So I listened as he briefed on the mission,
Tonight at the bar Teak Flight will sing.
But we're going to the Red River Valley,
And today you are flying my wing.

Oh, the flak is so thick in the valley,
That the MIGS and the SAMs we don't need.
So fly high and down-sun in the valley,
And guard well the ass of Teak Lead.

Now things turn to shit in the valley,
And the briefing I gave, you don't heed.
They'll be waiting at the Hanoi Hilton,
And it's fish heads and rice for Teak Lead.

We refueled on the way to the valley,
In the States it had always been fun.
But with thunder and lightning all around us,
'Twas the last AAR for Teak One.

When he came to a bridge in the valley,
He saw a duty that he couldn't shun.
For the first to roll in on the target,
Was my leader, old Teak Number One.

Oh, he flew through the flak toward the target,
With his bombs and his rockets drew a bead.
But he never pulled out of his bomb run,
'Twas fatal for another Teak Lead.

So come sit by my side at the briefing,
We will sit there and tickle the beads.
For we're going to the Red River Valley,
And my call sign for today is Teak Lead.