Where are you Tam?
The following poem, written by Ron Kuebler, is part of a combat healing process in which members of the NC Veterans Writing Alliance perform public readings of their work in a program called Brothers and Sisters Like These. The group鈥檚 mission is to provide healing to veterans of all conflicts through the arts and creative writing.
Private Ron Kuebler started his tour in Vietnam as a Rifleman and left聽the聽country as a Sergeant and Squad Leader.聽His areas of expertise included Infantry and Intelligence including aerial reconnaissance聽missions and聽intelligence communications.
Sergeant Tam,聽the聽subject of this poem, was with聽the聽Army of聽the聽Republic of Vietnam (ARVN), assisting聽the聽US Army in intelligence and interpreting.聽Flying in a Huey helicopter fitted with speakers on聽the聽skids and an amplified microphone, they encouraged聽the聽Viet Cong and North Vietnam Army to surrender their weapons in exchange for money and a chance to return to farming or other pursuits.
Tam and Ron analyzed captured weapons, maps, and battle plans to pinpoint enemy positions.聽In聽the聽process they became friends and shared stories about their families.聽鈥淚 have not had any contact with Tam since I left Vietnam and have no idea what happened to him,鈥 Ron says.
Top image: Ron Kuebler playfully聽leaping off聽the聽communications bunker at Landing Zone Gator
Sgt. Tam
Sgt. Tam
Ron Kuebler at Landing Zone Gator near Chu Lai, S. Vietnam
Where Are You, Tam?
by Ron Kuebler
Are you bleeding in your mind as you rue your family lost
Tried to reunite but could not afford聽the聽cost
Of paying someone to find your family scattered
Or telling you they were found but tattered
Did you make it past聽the聽Viet Cong and NVA gauntlet barrier
Trying to figure a way to survive聽the聽reprisal harrier
Wonder if you died in聽the聽attempt without reuniting
Or did you figure a way to get to them and then get safe hiding
Where are you now as I often wonder
And think about you when we worked聽the聽thunder
Trying to get VC and NVA to give up their weapons to us
Disarm them with money and send them without a fuss
To farm their fields and shoot at no others
Be back in聽the聽village as if you were brothers
I hope you survived and your family too
What a reunion it would be if I were to see you.聽
Kuebler in 2023 at Carl Sandburg Park near his home