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Mr. King, Thanks for a great story. I plan to send it to my parish priest, who for some reason seems unable to add the men and women who "defend us every day" in our prayers at Sunday mass. Maybe this story will be the light he needs to understand that praying for our "protectors" is not against peace!

Sir,

I hope it helps with your pastor. I'm a pretty religious man and I know for a fact Violence is very prominent in the bible it self. God's commandment was, though shall not murder not though shall not kill for defense. God empowers men and women to defend them selves. It is always good to have God on your side, But even better to have a high powered rifle to back it all up :)

Well you know how it is for we who have been in the military, and how we have been treated by most American's for years (I learned it the hard way having enlisted during Viet Nam), until after 9/11 when all of a sudden everyday American's realized how important we are to their liberty. Thanks to the liberal left in this country my feelings towards average civilians could best be described by the following poem:

Tommy

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!

By Rudyard Kipling
Born 1865

Now I am a veteran who's been proud to serve his country, but I haven't always taken pride in its people if you know what I mean. Please feel free to share this poem with your priest, tell him to substitute the word "GI" for "Tommy" and he'll get the gist of it.