In 1970 my field partner, Mark Gilreath (post Vietnam, the singer Marcus Leddy) introduced me to the song Boonie Rats. I included the song in The 13th Valley, which was published in 1982. The note in the original forward regarding the origins of Boonie Rats is erroneous. More on that in a moment.
The song begins: I landed in this country, one year of life to give, My only friend a weapon, My only prayer to live.
It is fifty years ago today, 13 June 1970, that I landed in Vietnam. To me, that calls for a celebration—at least a personal celebration. But it also call for a lot of reflection, a lot of memories, some regrets, some very deep sadness. Next verse and chorus:
I walked away from freedom and the life that I had known, I passed the weary faces of the others going home.
Boonie Rats, Boonie Rats. Scared but not alone, 300 days more or less, Then I’m going home.
Marcus wrote his own music to the song, recorded it, and sang it on a nationwide tour of backwater honky tonks and some pretty fine establishments. The original note in The 13th Valley states, “The words to the Boonierat Song in Chapter 7 were allegedly written by an M-60 machine gunner of the 101st under the double-canopy of the Ruong-Ruong Valley in the spring of 1970. He added music when his unit moved onto the Elephant Valley. In late October … The composer was allegedly killed in action.”
Marcus was one of perhaps two score of singers/composers who added their own music to Boonie Rats. Sometime around 1984 or 1985 Johnny Cash contacted me for permission to perform the song. I had to explain to him that I didn’t own it. We were treating it a a folk song. Singers were donating a portion of their income to veteran charities, as was I, in honor of their fellow troops who had not come home.
The first few days were hectic as I psyched my mind for war, I often got the feeling they’re trying to tie the score.
Some of the entertainers changed words, lines, to make the song fit their unit, or the occasion at which they were preforming. Of all the versions I heard, I always liked Marcus’ best. Together we attempted to chase down the true origin. For some time we believed the original composer was an ex-boonierat living in Maine, but the man said he didn’t remember writing it.
The air was hot and humid, The ground was hard and dry, Ten times I cursed my rucksack, And wished that I could die; I learned to look for danger, In the trees and on the ground, I learned to shake with terror, When I heard an AK round.
Several years ago I was invited to speak at the dedication of the John’s Creek, Georgia veteran memorial. And it was there that I received the attached audio, with The Boonie Rat Ballad sung, in 1970 in Vietnam, by the man who originally wrote the words and music. He is Ronald Jordan, and he served with Alpha Company, 1st of the 327th, 101st Airborne Division. I salute you Sir for all the pleasure the song has given me, and many others… now for nearly fifty years. If you listen to the end you’ll note that the song is dedicated to the City of San Mateo, California. San Mateo had adopted 1/327, and its residents sent care packages and letters to the soldiers of this battalion. Contrary to the current narrative, in 1970 not everyone was against the war.
Boonie Rats a legend, For now and times to come, Wherever there are soldiers, They’ll talk of what we’ve done.
They say there’ll always be a war, I hope they’re very wrong, To the Boonie Rats of Vietnam, I dedicate this song.
I wish Marcus had lived to learn the real story of The Boonie Rat Ballad. Hey Breeze, miss you man.