I doubt it's traditional, from the title the war he came back from almost has to be the Franco-Thai war, and "mourn your dead, land of the free" doesn't sound very French. Also wikipedia says he wrote everything on the album it came from.
you gave me the method for finding the answer. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luang_Prabang_(song) I could have been hearing a instrumental version of "Byker Hill" http://www.lyricsbay.com/byker_hill_lyrics-unknown.html gone is my dream of subversive hammer dulcimer players.The song is based on the tune "Byker Hill", but with lyrics about the Vietnam war, and a refrain at the end of each verse of the song "now I'm a fuckin' hero".
It took a couple of listens to get this, but wow. Great stuff, I don't think I ever would have found this song if you didn't post it.
clever dulcimerist. Never heard this song before, i kinda like it
they called it Christmas balls and did not sing the lyric.