The notion I had when I was in high school was that the Viet Cong terrorized the Vietnamese population,

forced them to fight against the Americans on the pain of death.

What I began to understand in Vietnam was that they didn't need to do things like that.

All they had to do was let a Marine Patrol go through a village,

and whatever was left of that village, they had all the recruits that they needed.

Welcome to Current Affairs.

My name is Nathan Robinson.

I am the editor-in-chief of Current Affairs Magazine. Today we will be

speaking with Dr. W. D. Earhart. He is an award-winning poet, scholar, and teacher of history and

literature. He has worked in his life as everything from a forklift operator

to a newspaper reporter to a merchant seaman. He has written on a broad range of subjects,

but a great deal of his work is informed by his experience in Vietnam in the United States Marine Corps. His collected poetry is found in

the book, Thank You for Your Service, and he is also the author of several volumes of memoirs

about both his first person observations of the Vietnam War and his life after returning,

including his participation in the Vietnam Veterans Against the War Movement.

Dr. Earhart, thank you so much for joining us on Card Affairs.

Well, you're welcome, and thank you for having me.

I want to start.

Well, perhaps we could start with a poem.

I was wondering if you could read us your poem,

your poem, Song for Lila, Bobby, and Me.

Sure.

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