Writer : Jae-sung Chung	Date : 2012-10-30	Hit : 9481

An Obsolete Tiger
A Has-Been Tiger Written by Yeo, Jung-kun Translated by Chung, Jae-sung At the busy reception desk in the VA hospital Staring the electronic display Looking for his name Leaning his bended back against a chair in the waiting room for the doctor consultation Being unaware of his turn even when his name is called because of his dull of hearing Staring at other's lips with bleary eyes just like an aphasic As the legs are giving out It is becoming sagged Leaning on a cane Walking along with dragging feet Grumbling himself about less than a minute consultation time with doctor Looking up the electronic display Checking his tag for picking up his medicine Rubbing his bleary eyes and turning his head to the guys sitting around He starts asking questions where the guys served and if they had participated in combat full of beam in his eyes Moistening at his dried lips with a turning of his tongue as if he were possessed Seems to be still full of vigor Remembering violent combat at the White Horse hill The hail of bullets and losing a great deal of comrades Eyes are too dried up to cry Those who listened to his tale already left a good while ago The has-been tiger hardly stands up Walking along with dragged feet leaning on the cane Where does the old man live? When can he arrive home with such slow strides? Spending all his youth in the fierce battlefield The only thing left over now is the soulless body of skin and bones

	Don Miller 2012/11/04 11:55:14		[Reply]
A Has-Been Tiger ..... I don't think so, once a tiger always a tiger. I was in the 129thahc from March 1969 till March 1970. I was and still am honored to have served along side the tiger div. the tiger division was a very fine outfit with great men serving. thank you for keeping me as safe as possible so that I was able to come home to my family and friends. I wish everyone tigers and 129th could have come home safe but alas, that is not the way of war. again thank you for your service to us, your country, and each other. hold your head high, for the tigers are some of the best there are. ...... Donald Miller

	Jae-sung Chung 2012/11/04 11:55:14
Hello sir, First of all, on behalf of the ROK veterans I would like to thank for your highrst compliments on Korean troops. I have just introduced your kind message in our Korean bulletin board so that a lot of ROK Tiger ex-combatants will enjoy reading yours. On the other hand the things we had owed to the United States at that time is beyond our description, which we will never forget.Thanks again.

	Vance Hall 2012/12/09 20:50:07		[Reply]
Vance Hall 2012/10/31 08:50:59 [답글] About 25 years ago, my aging mother said "getting old is not for sissies." I am very fortunate so far that my wife and I are reasonably healthy. I once told my adult children that when I get to the stage that I have to be removed from my own home and placed into an assisted living facility, that they should take me out behind the barn and shoot me. (That's an old saying.) Of course that angered my wife and I was told never to say that again. But I know how to make her give me an evil look if she thinks I might say it. ;-) Sometimes we feel like that photo, but the warrior spirit will carry us forward for a long time.

	Jae-sung Chung 2012/12/09 20:50:07
Jae-sung Chung 2012/10/31 08:50:59 Hi Vance, this morning I read a tragic article reported in the headline of a newspaper. The coverage was that a 78 year-old man was brought into custody on a charge of murdering his 74 year-old wife who has been suffering Alzheimer\\\'s disease for years. The old man was going to commit a suicide right after killing his wife, but was fortunately stopped by his son who had just stepped in the house at that critical moment. The son told the police that he had fully understood his father\\\'s situation because his father had taken care of the dementia diseased mother by himself from the beginning to the end without any other\\\'s helps. It is a pitiful thing too for the aged to note there are too many stupid jerks and idiots who tend to behave as if they would never be getting old. Thanks

	joe nawrozki 2012/12/09 20:50:07
\"Preserve your memories, they\'re all that\'s left you.\" -- Simon and Garfunkle, two popular songwriters/singers during everyone\'s time in RVN.

	Ken Strong Jr 2012/12/09 20:53:47		[Reply]
Ken Strong Jr 2012/11/02 03:33:12 [답글] Sorry for our absence on the Korean Site. I have stopped in to read but have not posted in a while. Been behind on many things lately but even yesterday I was talking to one of the guys about flying missions for you all. It has been so many years but we will never forget. Also sometimes the News is not talking about Korea so I get behind. That is a good thing when we don't hear of any things going on there while waiting to figure out what the North is up to? Ken Strong Jr

	Jim(Dustoff) 2012/12/09 20:55:22		[Reply]
Jim(Dustoff) 2012/11/02 03:34:32 [답글] Brother Jae-sung I am also guilty of dragging my feet in surfing the ROK net. The poem has a lot of the same feelings our brothers have on a day by day basis. We feel the same things and have thoughts the same way. Seems like all combat Veterans suffer from the same thoughts. The poem is just telling the truth, but in a different language. Tell the Tiger Brother we understand. Jim

	alvis 2015/08/02 10:26:47		[Reply]
Our bodies may be getting older and weak, but we continue to have a warriors heart. After all, its the heart that makes a warrior. not the mind. ROK warriors had pleanty of heart.