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A Soldier Died Today...

fogtender

Now a Published Author
Site Supporter
Sent this out to a friend and they suggested I post it here, that was/is a good idea! So here it is, has a lot of merit!



A POEM WORTH READING And sharing! *(Author unknown)

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 whereof he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For old Bob 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,
Someone 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 like 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
 

muleman

Gone But Not Forgotten
GOLD Site Supporter
While I have heard it before it is well worth repeating. Thanks!:clap:
 

Erik

SelfBane
Site Supporter
Sunday is the memorial service for my uncle who served in WWII and died a week ago.
He was diagnosed with pneumonia about 10 days after the Joplin tornado, I suspect because of something he inhaled after the tornado passed by his house. (not a direct hit, but they ended up bulldozing the house along with the rest of his neighborhood)
That leaves me with only 2 great-uncles who served in that war.
 

fogtender

Now a Published Author
Site Supporter
Sunday is the memorial service for my uncle who served in WWII and died a week ago.
He was diagnosed with pneumonia about 10 days after the Joplin tornado, I suspect because of something he inhaled after the tornado passed by his house. (not a direct hit, but they ended up bulldozing the house along with the rest of his neighborhood)
That leaves me with only 2 great-uncles who served in that war.

Sad that our real heroes are going away and it would be even nicer if we didn't have to make new ones! Hope you get your Great Uncles to tell you what they did and record/write it down! I wish I'd written some of the stories I was told before my hero's left us!
 

AAUTOFAB1

Bronze Member
SUPER Site Supporter
Great poem new to me too,sorry to hear about your uncle Erik hope his passing was peaceful.
 

Doc

Bottoms Up
Staff member
GOLD Site Supporter
Good find and post foggy. :thumb: :tiphat:

Condolences for your Uncle Erik.
 

fogtender

Now a Published Author
Site Supporter
Geeze, had a friend pass away this last week. He had been sprayed with Agent Orange in VN and has since had a rather extensive list of aliments not limited to losing limbs, spine was almost laying him over sideways and stuff I never heard of. He has been in such pain for the last dozen years I'm glad it's over. Surprised at how many of the guys I served with have gone..

May ask to read this poem at the Funeral depending on where it will be.
 
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