Uploaded August 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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15 Cigarette Packets

I was in the Army,
Signed up with Uncle Sam,
I never was a hero,
And I didn’t go to Vietnam,

My first taste of Army life,
On our twenty mile hike,
The whole battalion saddled up,
To march into the night.

Then pitching tents in the rain,
We got the news we feared,
The Captain and First Sergeant,
Would be inspecting all our gear.

About fifteen guys failed the inspection,
And they marched them all back,
It was two in the morning,
And they sent us to our racks.

At four AM was reveille,
Breaking down and to our stations,
We were given each a box of food,
They called the box C-rations.

Neat little cans and crackers,
Some coffee for your cup,
And a four-pack of cigarettes,
Which Armied us all up.

I really have few regrets about,
My military days,
But I wish I’d kept that pack of Camels,
Instead of giving them away.