WE VOLUNTEERED TO GO TO WAR
TOOK GAMES TO THE TROOPS TO MAKE THEM SMILE
AND WERE ALL THE WORLD LIKE THE GIRL NEXT DOOR
WITH A TOUCH OF HOME FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

TO BASE CAMPS, HOSPITALS AND LZ’S
WE’D FLOAT, WE’D FLY, WE’D DRIVE
AND HOPED, SOMEHOW, TO REMEMBER THEM
WOULD KEEP EACH ONE ALIVE.

WAR SHOWED US NO SUCH KINDNESS
SO TO HONOR THEM INSTEAD
WE CARVED THEIR NAMES IN GRANITE WALLS
TO BE REMEMBERED, TOUCHED AND READ

BUT THOSE LISTS OF NAMES ARE USELESS
WHEN IT’S SKEETER, DUTCH OR BRO
FOUR EYES, GRAMPS OR GREASER
WHOSE REAL NAMES WE’LL NEVER KNOW.

WHERE CAN I FIND THEM ON THE WALL?
TO MATCH A NAME WITH THE FACE WE KNEW
TO FIND EACH ONE WHO GAVE THEIR ALL
LIKE SKI, POPS, CORKY, KID OR STU.

I PLAYED CRIBBAGE WITH THE COWBOY
AND WROTE LETTERS HOME FOR BUZZ
BUT I CAN’T TELL YOU WHO THEY WERE
I JUST KNOW THAT EACH ONE WAS.

OF COURSE I STILL REMEMBER
STONEY, BIG MIKE, ACE AND JER.
I STILL CAN SEE AND HEAR THEM
BUT CAN’T FIND THEM ANYWHERE.

SOME REARRANGED THEIR GIVEN NAMES
OR SHORTENED THEM INSTEAD.
THERE’S SMITTY, FOX AND BUD,
YANK, MACK, LT AND RED.

EACH TALKED ABOUT THEIR FAVORITE THINGS–
CHIP’S GIRL, SLY’S DAWG, BUCK’S CAR.
IF WE HAD A ROLL CALL NOW
I COULDN’T TELL YOU WHO THEY ARE.

TO JUST REACH OUT AND TOUCH THEIR NAMES
BUT THERE IS NO DOC OR TOO TALL PAUL…
I’D BRIDGE THAT GAP AND EASE MY PAIN
IFTHERE WERE NICKNAMES ON THE WALL.

IT’S EASY TO REMEMBER
RUSTY, GABBY, SWEDE AND BEAR
THEY’RE LOCKED INSIDE MY MEMORY
AND NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

I CAN’T REACH OUT AND TOUCH THE NAMES
THAT I KNOW ARE ON THE WALL.
I NEVER GOT TO SAY GOODBYE, OR
WELCOME HOME, THAT, MOST OF ALL.