Posted on 04/02/2016 5:45:46 PM PDT by V K Lee
Larry Vaincourt's classic poem was first published in his 1987 Remembrance Day newspaper column. There are several incorrect versions of this poem circulating the web; below you'll find the original text.
JUST A COMMON SOLDIER (A Soldier Died Today)
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?
(Excerpt) Read more at vaincourt.homestead.com ...
A poem for all our beloved Vets. We remember ~ God Bless!
Thank you so very much AMERICA could not survive without each of you wonderful people
This is a lovely memorial for all who have served.
Bkmrk.
Reminds me of my friend, George “Tex” Ferguson, one of the finest soldiers in WWII. Supposedly,he was the second most decorated U.S. soldier in the war. I believe it. I once saw his somewhat dusty board of medals. And I once saw his torso, sans shirt, when the day was rather hot. It was like a roadmap of scars from bullets, blades, and shrapnel.
Incredible man. Fought in the Cold war as well, almost certainly was an “operator” for the CIA.
When he died, I wrote a memorial, It was published in the base paper. I never saw anything nationally.
I think the “award” that he treasured the most was a comment by his company commander. They had gone back to battalion HQ for a meeting of some kind. It was in Europe, before the Battle of the Bulge. Tex lay down in a convenient place behind some boxes, to catch some sleep. Just before he nodded off, he heard the Battalion XO ask his Commander if he had brought an escort of troops.
“Only Ferguson” he said “He is worth an entire company.”
He told me that not long before he died. He didn’t talk about his combat exploits much, unless he trusted you, and you caught him in the right mood.
He was a great man. I learned a lot from him.
Thanks for posting.
Nice tribute, thanks!
Ping.
I know that for myself and good friends who served that our memories of that time has made it the most profound experience of our lives.
Here’s a wonderful video presentation;
https://www.youtube.com/embed/eEs4ke7cdNQ?feature=player_detailpage.
Gotta get new reading glasses. Hurts my eyes every time I watch.
Thank you for posting.
Thanks for the ping.
That tribute always makes me grab some Kleenex.
Thanks for posting.
Welcome home, Screaming Eagle.
Thanks for posting this.
Thank you very much and thank you for your service and sacrifice.
It is the soldier who is responsible for our freedom.
Not our bull shitter politicians, not our bedwetting, PC “journalists and talking haircut announcers on TV.
It is the soldier, because he is willing to give his life to protect yours...
my dad was 101st airborne, wounded in the Battle of the Bulge. i asked him many times to tell me about when he was wounded and he never would speak of it. finally, out digging taters with him in the garden i tried again, he told me, and finished with tears stream down his face. after dad had passed away i happened to tell my older brother - a nam combat vet - what dad had told me, and he said he had tried many times for the story and dad would never say. maybe because i was his daughter it was easier... he was my hero always.
God bless you Screaming Eagle laplata, thank you for your service
Thank you very much, sdpatriot.
And thank you for sharing that about your Dad. Your Dad and his fellows will always be heroes.
My Dad fought in the China-India-Burma Theater and he never discussed much, either.
God bless them all.
Did your Dad ever see “Band of brothers”, the story about a unit in the 101st during WW II?
What an extraordinary group of men they were.
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