My James went to VietNam he didn't make it back . we had our plans made when he would come back all of our dreams laid on the VietNam ground when they killed him I always remember the last time I said good by

My late husband's name was 'Billy' and we eloped from college - I was a freshman and he was a junior. The college was 24/7 military for the men, and of course I knew I would be an officer's wife before I was even 20, but I guess I didn't count on anything bad happening. We had a son during finals his senior year and our daughter was born right after he graduated from Ranger School, having finished Airborne that summer. We had orders for Hawaii, asked for surface (ship) transport, and got it! We thought life could not be much better. Oh, we were 'poor' - even a 1st Lt made very little $ in 1965, but we soon found a house on Sunset Beach right next door to our neighbors from Benning - Life was amazing! Our son was bright and mischievous and our daughter a beautiful baby. But back to the song - it came out about 1968, I think, but it always broke my heart since my Billy was killed in September 1965, and at 22 I was a widow. And this song always reminded me of him. He thought nothing bad could ever happen to him! That part 'don't be a fool with your life' for me should say, 'and come home to your wife'.

I was a teenager when this song came out. The Vietnam war was winding down. I had a cousin and an uncle who was only 8 years older than me who fought in Nam. I was close to both of them, and I can tell you that neither came back the same. I joined the army during the Vietnam era, change service to the navy and would go on to serve 21 years combined. This song had some meaning to me, and I liked it then and still do. I don't look at it as an anti-war song, though it may be implied. Peace to all.

June 2024 anyone?????

Yes 2024 still listening

My Daddy went to Vietnam and Korea he served the Air Force for 35 years then he served after the service I loved my Daddy more than he could have ever known he was Amazing Daddy❤

Back in a day when they could take a subject matter and write a complete song around it THAT YOU UNDERSTOOD

Karen, I'm he didn't come back . My brother stepped on a land mine , he got torn up, but he survived 🙏. The pain

My Mom died when this came out . I was 5, the youngest of 4.... My Uncle just came out of Vietnam only to Man up once again, to collect us 4 kids from grade-school, for my Father to give the news. This will always be a imprint in my heart!😪💕💕💕

As a viet nam veteran I am glad I made it home.

I’m 58. This song made me cry as a little girl and it makes me cry now.

Still My Favorite Song Still Listening In 2024

God bless every man or woman that ever put their lives on the line for ours 🙏

As the original singing drummer on this record and just to put a few facts straight, Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods covered the song after we had a number one with it in the UK, also the girls part was sung by Joanne Stone formerly Williams a great and gifted session singer.

Loved this song back in 1974 and still do.❤️❤️😥

I was 9 years old when this song came out. I am 57 now, how time passes

This is a very sad song.I always cry when I listen to this song.

Many attribute the song to the Vietnam war, others have commented that it is about the Civil War due to the video. This song, even if written for a particular war, is just as meaningful to today's wars as it can be applied to any wars in the past few hundred years. There have always been men, and women as well, that have given their lives for their fellow soldiers, and there have always been loved ones at home, waiting for their soldier that will never return.

My brother Billy was in Vietnam when this song came out. So it always had a special meaning to me..

This is the memory of my late cousin. RIP. Jim