Sunday, May 26, 2013

JUST A COMMON SOLDIER

(A Soldier Died Today)

by A. Lawrence Vaincourt

I have known this guy, not personally, but I have known many like him.

He was getting old and paunchy

And his hair was falling fast,

And he sat around the Legion,

Telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he once fought in

And the deeds that he had done,

In his exploits with his buddies;

They were heroes, every one.

And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors

His tales became a joke,

All his buddies listened quietly

For they knew where of he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer,

For ol' Joe has passed away,

And the world's a little poorer

For a Soldier died today.

He won't be mourned by many,

Just his children and his wife.

For he lived an ordinary,

Very quiet sort of life.

He held a job and raised a family,

Going quietly on his way;

And the world won't note his passing,

'Tho a Soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth,

Their bodies lie in state,

While thousands note their passing,

And proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell of their life stories

From the time that they were young

But the passing of a Soldier

Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution

To the welfare of our land,

Some jerk who breaks his promise

And cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow

Who in times of war and strife,

Goes off to serve his country

And offers up his life?

The politician's stipend

And the style in which he lives,

Are often disproportionate,

To the service that he gives.

While the ordinary Soldier,

Who offered up his all,

Is paid off with a medal

And perhaps a pension, small.

It is not the politicians

With their compromise and ploys,

Who won for us the freedom

That our country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger,

With your enemies at hand,

Would you really want some cop-out,

With his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a Soldier

His home, his country, his kin,

Just a common Soldier,

Who would fight until the end.

He was just a common Soldier,

And his ranks are growing thin,

But his presence should remind us

We may need his likes again.

For when countries are in conflict,

We find the Soldier's part

Is to clean up all the troubles

That the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor

While he's here to hear the praise,

Then at least let's give him homage

At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline

In the paper that might say:

"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,

A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."

In honor of the ones now gone, that I have known:

Jim Wrape, Lefty Harris, Jr. Darnell, Odis Darnell, Hisure Darnell, Hershal Darnell, Sam Waters, Robert Harris, Fred Fulbright, Ralph Smith, Barney J. Randolph, Charles O’Shields, Junior Helms, Tommy Harris, Turner Darnell, Q.J. Cox, Bobby Bracket, NC Jones,     I am sure I have missed some, there were millions and millions yet to come.

God Bless them all!

*****************************************************

WWII-Jeep

WWII Willys Jeep

USAUSAFUSCGUSMC

                   USN

The Ships log salutes All those who gave all that I might sit here and say what is on my mind!

military salute

9 comments:

Paula said...

A touching entry Jack. Thank you and Amen.

shirl72 said...

Very good we sure had a lot in
our Family who served.."YOU ALSO" God Bless all of them and thanks to them we have our freedom.

TARYTERRE said...

That was heartfelt and beautiful.

Chatty Crone said...

What a wonderful tribute to your family who is gone. My dad is gone too. sandie

Louis la Vache said...

That's a fine Memorial Day tribute you've posted, Jack.
«Louis» et Mme la Vache plan to drive to the Military Cemetery at San Bruno on Monday to salute the men and women there. Among those buried at San Bruno are four Admirals: Nimitz, Lockwood, Turner and Spruance and their wives.

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

That was a very good tribute for Memorial Day. We should never forget the price paid for the freedoms we enjoy.

Fred Alton said...

What a splendid tribute to our military men and women who have fallen in the service of our country! You have a special way with words.

Glenda said...

Jack, it's so often you introduce something new, had not read this wonderful piece before today. But, there's lots of info about the poet online; he was a fascinating, gifted man.
Thank you for a thought provoking entry &
Happy Memorial Day!

Anonymous said...

I finished this with a sigh. Thank you. ~Mary