The Rain- Vietnam Veteran Sniper Reflects on His Experiences Through Poetry
John Steinmeyer served in Vietnam as an Infantry Sergeant with the 9th division in the Mekong Delta, then was transferred to the 25th Division and served the last half of his tour in a sniper team.
Thuy Smith’s father (Vietnam Veteran) and Vietnamese mother along with Thuy were friends of John and his family. This will be the first post of a collection of poems that John wrote of his many experiences during his time in Vietnam. Thuy Smith (TSOI) was given permission to share his poems on all of TSOI’s media platforms, etc.
First Poem:
Other Side
The mixed bag of newbies
now scuttle from the plane.
Welcome to the other side.
The side that is insane.
A side that tears emotion
and pulls it down the drain.
Welcome.
Welcome to the rice bowl
of pits and paddy holes.
Welcome where the numbers
are counted as the goals.
welcome where the living
are walking on their souls.
Welcome.
welcome to the Jungle
where night time brings the fear.
welcome to the rifle
and one hundred pounds of gear.
Welcome to the fighting
that now says you are here.
Welcome to the other side of the world.
(C) John Steinmeyer
More reflections from John’s collection of poems
Veterans, War, and Peace 
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