Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

JUST A COMMON SOLDIER
http://vaincourt.homestead.com/ ^ | n/a | A. Larry Vaincourt

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 ...


TOPICS: Books/Literature; Chit/Chat; Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: poem; veterans
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-23 last
To: laplata

i don’t know, i bought him the Battle of the Bulge with John Wayne.... Henry Fonda.. and he said he never finished it, it was too painful. :( He gave it back to me for my son. When he was wounded his buddy was hit with the same shrapnel and was killed, dad had his jaw almost tore off and and hole in his chest from the same shrapnel. when i was little i could put my fist in the hole. he was in a hospital in England for a year. his three brothers all came home after the war without a scratch way before him. he was a gentle humble man - a farmer, and a lover of God’s earth. i was blessed to know him. i have watched Band of Brothers but it’s been a while..


21 posted on 04/02/2016 8:29:00 PM PDT by sdpatriot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: sdpatriot

What an amazing man. Thank you.

BTW, I have a good friend who grew up on a farm in Mowbridge (sp), SD.

he now lives in Spearfish.


22 posted on 04/02/2016 8:35:20 PM PDT by laplata ( Liberals/Progressives have diseased minds.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: V K Lee

Would it be a copyright violation to put it to a tune and sing it at the pub?


23 posted on 04/03/2016 9:40:08 AM PDT by JimRed (Is it 1776 yet? TERM LIMITS, now and forever! Build the Wall, NOW!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-23 last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson