Michael J. Martin (aka; "Deadeye") was an Army Pointman for most of his "year in the bush" with the 11th Infantry Brigade of the Americal Division, class of '68-'69. He was awarded the Silver and Bronze Stars, Purple Heart, and Combat Infantryman's Badge.

Tim Holiday (aka; "Doc") was a Navy Corpsman, attached to the Marines and Seabees for three tours in Vietnam from '64 to '70. His decorations include the Navy Achievement Medal with Combat "V" and the Republic of Vietnam Medal of Honor. In 1992, at the BRAVO Awards in Washington, he was honored as "Doc of the Decade", overwhelmingly selected in a readers' poll as the person who most reflected the attributes associated with the revered term, "Doc".

Before teaming up in the early 80's, M.J. and Tim both had "brushes" with success in the field of music. Both had records that had done fairly well. Martin's songs were being performed and recorded by other artists. In fact, that is how the two met.

"Holiday had recorded one of my songs," says Martin. "And he had the audacity to change my lyrics."

"I had heard he was one of those Crazed Vietnam Vets," adds Tim, "and that he was a bit touchy about people messin' with his words. So, I let him know right off that I was a Crazed Vietnam Vet myself, and asked him to meet me at a Dallas honky-tonk and give a listen to the cut."

Michael admits that he really liked the lyric changes and was very impressed with Tim's voice and style. Tim had been introduced to one of Michael's tapes some time earlier and was already a fan before they met.

"I thought Michael J. Martin was as good a singer/songwriter as I'd ever heard. Not too shabby on the guitar, either...though he might learn a few things if he hung around me a while," says Holiday.

"Yeah, like patience," Martin grumbles. That initial meeting eventually became the basis for "I Ain't Here Alone."

The song describes how "two weary warriors" meet in a bar and began talking about Vietnam. Through the course of the conversation they overcome their feeling of isolation and alienation by sharing their common experience. They "laughed about the leeches and the girls on R&R", and "cried about our buddies that died in that damned war." They emerge as friends who "didn't feel quite so alone as we had felt before."

During that period, Tim and Michael each had their own bands. But they were sitting in together and "carousin' around and raisin' hell" together. And they were writing songs... songs that were dealing with a subject matter that, at that time, had not really been touched.

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