Posted on 09/09/2004 7:48:53 AM PDT by Blood of Tyrants
God's letting him fly now without wings and I bet he's loving it!
Now there was a real Hero. Too bad he didn't run for President.
JUST A COMMON SOLDIER
(A Soldier Died Today)
by A. Lawrence Vaincourt
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 had 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 Legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer for old Bill has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer, for a soldier died today.
He will not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,
For he lived an ordinary and quite uneventful life.
Held a job and raised a family, quietly going his own way,
And the world won't note his passing, though 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 their whole 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
A guy who breaks his promises 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?
A politician's stipend and the style in which he lives
Are sometimes 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's so easy to forget them for it was so long ago,
That the old Bills of our Country went to battle, but we know
It was 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 want a politician with his ever-shifting stand?
Or would you prefer a soldier, who has sworn to defend
His home, his kin and Country and 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, then 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 a paper that would say,
Our Country Is In Mourning, For A Soldier Died Today.
© 1985 A. Lawrence Vaincourt
Thanks! Because of these men, this remains a great country.
As long as our country remains a GOOD country, there will always be good people to replinish the ranks.
As we mourn his passing, let us reflect upon his deeds.
What a stud!
You should send that to "The Tennessean" newspaper. You never know, maybe the left wing rag would print it. More people should know about this man's heroism.
Another HERO goes Home....
He was a true hero.
This was a loss for all mankind.
What a wonderful tribute to the man. Thank you.
I can't imagine having it on your conscience for the rest of your life that two strangers voluntarily laid down their lives to keep you safe. Not repayable. It's beyond humbling.
BTTT;- Thank You for posting this !!!
Thank you for posting...
IMHO, this should be posted to the next FR Foxhole thread..regards..
Hero bump!
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air. Up, up the long delirious, burning blue, I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or even eagle flew - And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod The high untresspassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand and touched the face of God.
Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee No 412 squadron, RCAF Killed 11 December 1941
I remember hearing that poem and seeing a video clip of an F-105 as it was being read. I don't suppose anyfreeper would have it as a digital copy, would they?
not me...
God Bless Mr. Earnhart! Just the fact that he survived the Battle of Britain is astounding. I think the RAF pilots had an average life span of 6 WEEKS during that 40-41 time period!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.