Just a soldier...

Tuc · #1 03-09-2010, 08:56 PM

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' 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,
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's so easy to forget them,
For it is so many times
That our Bobs and Jims and Johnny's,
Went to battle, but we know,

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 honour
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."

Pass On The Patriotism!
YOU can make a difference.

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank cheque made payable to 'The UK' or ‘Canada’, ‘Australia’, for an amount "up to and including my life."

That is Honour, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand that. They come to Canada and tear away at our core values, trying to inflict their own, never once giving thought to what our forefathers fought and died for.
Many spineless politicians who never knew what it's like to lose a loved one to war, fighting for our rights and our country let it happen.
What have we become....

6mmRem · #2 03-09-2010, 09:03 PM

Awesome, I'm speechless.

TreeGuy · #3 03-09-2010, 09:55 PM

Great post TUC, and thanks for the reminder.

uglyelk · #4 03-09-2010, 11:24 PM

thanks for that!

BBJTKLE&FISHINGADVENTURES · #5 03-10-2010, 12:20 AM

Awesome Post Tuc . Kinda leaves a tear in your eye .

Selkirk · #6 03-10-2010, 12:58 AM

Thanks for that Tuc ... very well done, and much appreciated.

We cannot be reminded too many times, that our freedom is not free. The cost of our freedom is all too often the "ultimate", and lies buried in the ground.

To all those who serve and have served, we owe you our 'all' ... we owe you our 'everything'.

TF

S.A.S · #7 03-10-2010, 02:08 AM

Where did you get this from? It is an emotional poem.

rccam1 · #8 03-10-2010, 04:32 AM

Very nice!

super7mag · #9 03-10-2010, 06:46 AM

spot on

WayneChristie · #10 03-10-2010, 07:02 AM

thank you

#11 03-10-2010, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S.A.S

Where did you get this from? It is an emotional poem.

This poem was first published in 1987 in Larry Vaincourt's newspaper column. There are several incorrect versions of this poem circulating the web; below you'll find the original text.

http://vaincourt.homestead.com/common_soldier.html

Whiskey Wish · #12 03-10-2010, 05:35 PM

Well done, well said. Thank you for posting it.

Keep Your Powder Dry,
Dave.

Selkirk · #13 03-10-2010, 05:43 PM

This fellow does a pretty good job of it, in a live on-stage performance . . .

'JUST A COMMON SOLDIER' (A Soldier Died Today) by A. Lawrence Vaincourt;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1zN_5m0ADU

TF

sharrozap · #14 03-10-2010, 05:58 PM

Thanks Tuc!
We are all soldiers of Canada, still paying our taxes for somebody who is not able and we are working hard for prosperity of our country. Never forget the victims of the wars, but we must show that we are good and to pass the torch to the next generation.

Geezle · #15 03-10-2010, 06:44 PM

Great post Tuc, thanks for sharing

FishinFreak · #16 03-10-2010, 08:50 PM

great reminder; thanks TUC

Kootenai · #17 03-10-2010, 09:54 PM

Great poem, all my uncles were in WWII, my dad, father-in-law, (who was presented the Medal of Honor by King George of England). The stories they told of their tours overseas was at times humorous, sometimes sad, and they all hated the war. They were there for their country, our country, CANADA. They believed in what their country stood for and were willing to die for their beliefs. I often wonder, seeing what is becoming of Canada today, what our politicians are doing to Canada, would they still be willing to die for Canada? Many Canadian soldiers today are still willing to go to war, but are they willing to die? Would a soldier go into a battle today, knowing they were going to die that they were being sent into a battle just to prove to the enemy they were willing to die for their country, just like the soldiers at Dieppe did? I don't know.

Gray Wolf · #18 03-10-2010, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kootenai

. . . Many Canadian soldiers today are still willing to go to war, but are they willing to die? Would a soldier go into a battle today, knowing they were going to die that they were being sent into a battle just to prove to the enemy they were willing to die for their country, just like the soldiers at Dieppe did? I don't know.

What planet are you from?!

Kootenai · #19 03-10-2010, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gray Wolf

What planet are you from?!

The Canadian soldiers were sitting in England for months doing nothing. The Canadian government told Churchill to get the 'boys' into the war or they were coming home. In response Churchill said, they wanna fight, then they can go to Dieppe. The English war machine knew it was a death trap, that is why Dieppe was left alone for so long. Canadian soldiers went to Dieppe, they fought, they died, they lost. As they fully expected to. The ocean ran red with Canadian blood. That is love for your country. To enter a fight where you know you will probably die.

You obviously can't read the PRIDE between the lines.

howlin · #20 03-10-2010, 10:56 PM

great poem ,patriotism all the way ,and then we get an argument to **** it all up (our true north strong and free)

conan · #21 03-10-2010, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kootenai

Great poem, all my uncles were in WWII, my dad, father-in-law, (who was presented the Medal of Honor by King George of England). The stories they told of their tours overseas was at times humorous, sometimes sad, and they all hated the war. They were there for their country, our country, CANADA. They believed in what their country stood for and were willing to die for their beliefs. I often wonder, seeing what is becoming of Canada today, what our politicians are doing to Canada, would they still be willing to die for Canada? Many Canadian soldiers today are still willing to go to war, but are they willing to die? Would a soldier go into a battle today, knowing they were going to die that they were being sent into a battle just to prove to the enemy they were willing to die for their country, just like the soldiers at Dieppe did? I don't know.

It sound like you are questioning the hearts of todays Canadian soldier....DO NOT DO THAT!!!!!!!

Our men and women are there to make a difference and to keep us out of harms way. Dieing is not what they intend to do but if so they would consider it very honorable and so would their families.

Proudly Canadian

Conan

S.A.S · #22 03-11-2010, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by conan

It sound like you are questioning the hearts of todays Canadian soldier....DO NOT DO THAT!!!!!!!

Our men and women are there to make a difference and to keep us out of harms way. Dieing is not what they intend to do but if so they would consider it very honorable and so would their families.

Proudly Canadian

Conan

He is not questioning the soldiers, He is saying back then Canadians had something to die for. If you look at what soldiers were fighting for then and what they are fighting for now, It is completely different. Back then I would go to war for this country and proudly die for it, But now I would be dying so instead of Bill smith being free it is now Rajinder Singh and that is just not acceptable in my books.

Tuc · #23 03-11-2010, 06:29 AM

Quote:

I often wonder, seeing what is becoming of Canada today, what our politicians are doing to Canada, would they still be willing to die for Canada?

Quote:

Back then I would go to war for this country and proudly die for it, But now I would be dying so instead of Bill smith being free it is now Rajinder Singh and that is just not acceptable in my books.

Dead on!!!
Soldier dies, politician gets his vote from the party who let Rajinder Singh into the country, if he votes at all.
Pity help when these guys become politicians, and they will. (some already are)
Like I said, they'll strike from within, the writing is already on the wall.

sharp_85 · #24 03-11-2010, 11:33 PM

Great poem. As to the question of whether our troops are still willingly to fight in a war knowing that they may die in the line of service, just look at every single man or woman in Afghanistan. We've suffered a lot of casualties over there and yet our troops are still lining up to go over, Reg Force and Reserves.