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“Just a Common Soldier” by A. Lawrence Vain-court
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.
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.
And very true. I, for one, am extremely appreciative for all the men and women who are now, or have in the past, served in the military. It allows the rest of us to live safely and happily in this great country.
Bonbon (who proudly flew her flag all day)
I always joke I didn’t know what a civilian was until I was in my mid-20’s – I thought they were just people who’s uniforms were at the cleaners…My flag flies 365 and I’m proud of all of our wonderful and brave troops too – I sleep so much better at night knowing we are all safe on their watch!
You are all very welcome. I am proud to say I served my country. There’s no better place in the world! GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!!
(I graduated at barley 17 – skipped 6th grade not that I was so smart, I just did well in class) and I also started kindergarten at 4 years old way back then in Texas so that made me younger than most too.
Anyway after high school, I went in to the recruiter’s with a guy friend when did his military testing. While I was waiting, the oh so handsome in his uniform recruiter asked me if I wanted to take the test too, (sucker for a guy in uniform still even now that I’m an old lady). I said I wasn’t 18 yet and had to go to college or else my dad would kill me.
This was early 70’s mind you. 26th Amenment got ratified in 1971. They said even if I was 18 I would still need my father’s permission – and women in the military had really tough stereotypes and connotations to overcome – you were either gay or a whore – that was only the civilian world thinking that BTW. Well, that got my dander up. With Vietnam still going, they would have considered any guy who was 18 and breathing walking through the door. We’ve come a long way baby! But if I’d gone to OSC after college, I could have retired by 40 with 20 years or 30 years by 50. I loved the military brat life, I know it was different actually being in the service but I sure do admire and respect and love anyone who served. Esprit de corps and all of it!
Thank you for your service KPRSTRS!
Yeah, I understand everything you just wrote!! I served (Army) from 81 to 84 and one of the very reasons I got out was because of the double standards and my fellow soldiers thinking that if I wasn’t the whore, I was ‘butch’! WHATEVER!!! I missed the Grenada incident by just about 5 weeks, and although I would have gone in a heartbeat, I was bowing to and praising God that I didn’t have to!!
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