I guess I hadn’t really thought much about wildlife being a menace in combat, but after uploading a 1943 Flit insecticide ad the other day, I found this.

Lions and Tigers Oh My! Vietnam

The Tiger– Pete “the Greek” Agriostathes –
B/1/501

We saw his prints by the riverbed that day
And were amazed by their size
An eerie vibe hung in the air
Like we were being stalked with his eyes!

We had heard the stories
How you’ve tasted soldier meat
And hunted at night
While we were asleep!

We soon forgot about them
As the sun went down
And we set up camp by the river
In a clear piece of ground

Night fell hard and black
We tried to sleep
But were restless from recent battles
Yet no one talked or made a peep!

Then in the black of night
We heard splashing in the river
And since “Charlie” moved in silence
It made our spines quiver!

We hunkered down
Figured there was 30 or more
I told Sarge here we go
Katie bar the door!

Then someone yelled
It’s the Tiger and he’s coming fast
We aimed at the shadow
And cut loose with a blast!

We hollered for “Shorty”
Get up here with your “thump gun”
He said, “I’m not on that cats’ menu.”
And broke into a run!

So we fired a couple clips of “16”
And tossed two Grenades
And one last deafening roar
The Tiger made!!

The next morning we tracked him down
There he lay upon the ground
His beauty took our breath away
No one made a sound!

I said, I’m sorry my friend
Your life had to end
Like us you were caught up in a war
Yet killing you seems like a sin!
The Tiger!

Picture uploaded by a veteran Hero Browse and Search Thousands of Veteran Uploaded Photos by War or by Branch of Military at VetFriends