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THE BUG-OUT BALLAD (MOVING ON)
Hear the patter of running feet
It's the old First Cav in full retreat
They're moving on; they'll soon be gone
They're haulin' ***, not savin' gas
They'll soon be gone.
The Bug-Out Ballad (Moving on)
The Bug-Out Ballad (Moving on)
Hear the patter of running feet
It's the old First Cav in full retreat
They're moving on; they'll soon be gone
They're haulin' ***, not savin' gas
They'll soon be gone.
Over on that hill there's a Russian tank
A million Chinks are on my flank
I'm movin' on, I'll soon be gone
With my M-1 broke, it ain't no joke
I'll soon be gone.
Million Chinks comin' through the pass
Playin' burp-gun boogie all over my ***
I'm movin' on, I'll soon be gone
With my M-1 broke, it ain't no joke
I'll soon be gone.
Twenty thousand Chinks comin' through the pass
I'm tellin' you, baby, I'm haulin' ***
I'm moving on; I'll soon be gone
I'm haulin' ***, not savin' gas
I'll soon be gone.
Standin' in a rice paddy up to my belly
From then on, they called me "Smelly"
I'm moving on; I'll soon be gone
I'm haulin' ***, not savin' gas
I'll soon be gone.
Here's papa-san comin' down the track
Old A-frame strapped to his back
He's moving on; he'll soon be gone
he's haulin' ***, not savin' gas
He'll soon be gone.
Here's mama-san comin' down the track
Titty hangin' out, baby on her back
She's moving on; she'll soon be gone
From her tits to her toes, she's damn near froze
She'll soon be gone.
I sung this song for the very last time
Gonna get Korea off my mind
I'm moving on; I'll soon be gone
I done my time in the **** and slime
I'm movin' on.
From Ther Erotic Muse, Cray
Collected from Cray, 1953
Note: a parody of a country classic by Hank Snow
In Vietnam, they sang:
The McNamara Line is a hundred miles long
Completely surrounded by Viet Cong
I'm movin' on etc.
For those not familiar with it, it was sung after the Chinese invaded to save the defeated North Koreans. MacArthur had pushed his units relentlessly to fulfill his promise to end the war by Christmas so that they were strung out badly and far ahead of their support. The only ones who resisted this pressure were the Marines, and there were broad hints from headquarters that they were "shy." When the Chinese attacked with 300,000 troops, the Army and ROK units on their flanks were defeated and broke, leaving the Marines surrounded at the Reservoir. The song was sung mostly by the Army about themselves.
From what I've read of that battle Bob the weather was atrocious snowing and absolutely freezing.
When I was a wee soldier, I heard the 1st Cavalry lost their colors in Korea and because of their "Bug Out" they lost the privilege to return to the United States and were sent to Japan after Korea until they could redeem themselves in combat. Which they did in Vietnam.
But then, you know how rumors and scuttlebutt gets around. I have found out since then the loss of colors (by the 8th Cavalry regt.) was not true.
An insulting description of the 1st Cav shoulder patch: The shield they never carried, the horse they never rode, the river they never crossed, and color is the reason why.
Attachment 127610
I had the pleasure of getting to know a Korean War vet that spoke openly of his experiences.
He carried a BAR and received a Purple Heart for being injured by a grenade.
He served in the 1st Cav.
He did many interviews before passing and you can likely find some on the internet. William Stenberg was his name.