"A SOLDIER DIED TODAY" - Aircraft of World War II

ToughOmbre · 11-01-2009, 01:24 PM

My sister sent me this poem today; don't know if it has been posted here in the past, but even so, I thought it is worth repeating.

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 Johnnys,
Went to battle, but we know,

It is not the politicians
With theircompromise 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 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 simply headline
In the paper that might say:

"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."

TO

Njaco · 11-01-2009, 01:54 PM

I'm speechless.

Fantastic, great post TO.

Lucky13 · 11-01-2009, 01:58 PM

Aaron Brooks Wolters · 11-01-2009, 02:01 PM

Thank you TO.

jamierd · 11-01-2009, 02:21 PM

brilliant thank you Tough ombre

Airframes · 11-01-2009, 07:27 PM

Beautiful, thanks TO.

B-17engineer · 11-01-2009, 07:31 PM

Thanks for sharing !

Vassili Zaitzev · 11-01-2009, 09:15 PM

RabidAlien · 11-01-2009, 10:45 PM

FLYBOYJ · 11-01-2009, 11:48 PM

Wayne Little · 11-02-2009, 07:18 AM

Crimea_River · 11-02-2009, 10:13 PM

What a poignant verse.

As we approach Remebrance Day here in Canada, I will be sure to share this with my wife and teenage kids. My wife and I have both ensured that our kids grow up understanding our veterans' sacrifices of the past and to pay them the respects they deserve. On Novemebr 11 we will once again remember.

Thanks for sharing this.

Njaco · 11-03-2009, 04:51 PM

Amen to that!

Wurger · 11-03-2009, 05:01 PM

Gnomey · 11-03-2009, 05:26 PM

11-01-2009, 01:24 PM	#1
ToughOmbre Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 3,233	"A SOLDIER DIED TODAY" My sister sent me this poem today; don't know if it has been posted here in the past, but even so, I thought it is worth repeating. 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 Johnnys, Went to battle, but we know, It is not the politicians With theircompromise 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 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 simply headline In the paper that might say: "OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, A SOLDIER DIED TODAY." TO __________________ *“Let's get Enterprise* and Hornet turned into the wind."**

11-01-2009, 01:54 PM	#2
Njaco The Pop-Tart Whisperer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: South Jersey, United States Posts: 10,237	I'm speechless. Fantastic, great post TO. __________________ "If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it's English, thank a soldier!" http://www.njcacoa.org/

11-01-2009, 01:58 PM	#3
Lucky13 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: A Swede living in Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 15,149	__________________ JAN "Felicis Tredecim" "I´m going back to the front to relax" "THE BLACK CATS FLIES TONIGHT" "Find your enemy and shoot him down - everything else is unimportant!" "When you're out of F-8's... You're out of fighters!"

11-01-2009, 02:01 PM	#4
Aaron Brooks Wolters Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Abingdon, VA. Posts: 2,300	Thank you TO. __________________

11-01-2009, 02:21 PM	#5
jamierd Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Glenrothes Scotland Posts: 292	brilliant thank you Tough ombre __________________ "It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom -- for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself." The Declaration of Arbroath C1320

11-01-2009, 07:27 PM	#6
Airframes Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 9,072	Beautiful, thanks TO. __________________

11-01-2009, 07:31 PM	#7
B-17engineer Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,693	Thanks for sharing ! __________________ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe36UMRkRbk

11-01-2009, 09:15 PM	#8
Vassili Zaitzev Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Stafford Springs, Connecticut Posts: 2,221	__________________ "Never was so much owed by so many to so few"- Winston Churchill.

11-01-2009, 10:45 PM	#9
RabidAlien Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Hurst, Texas Posts: 2,827	__________________ Pillage, then burn. Argue not with dragons, for thou art crunchy and go well on toast.

11-01-2009, 11:48 PM	#10
FLYBOYJ IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 16,051	__________________ "IF ITS RED OR DUSTY, DON'T TOUCH IT"

11-02-2009, 07:18 AM	#11
Wayne Little Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Adelaide Sth. Aust. Posts: 12,525	__________________

11-02-2009, 10:13 PM	#12
Crimea_River Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Calgary Posts: 389	What a poignant verse. As we approach Remebrance Day here in Canada, I will be sure to share this with my wife and teenage kids. My wife and I have both ensured that our kids grow up understanding our veterans' sacrifices of the past and to pay them the respects they deserve. On Novemebr 11 we will once again remember. Thanks for sharing this.

11-03-2009, 04:51 PM	#13
Njaco The Pop-Tart Whisperer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: South Jersey, United States Posts: 10,237	Amen to that! __________________ "If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it's English, thank a soldier!" http://www.njcacoa.org/

11-03-2009, 05:01 PM	#14
Wurger Siggy Master Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Poland Posts: 13,974	__________________

11-03-2009, 05:26 PM	#15
Gnomey "World Traveller" Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Royal Deeside/St Andrews, Scotland, UK Posts: 15,229	__________________ "Success is not Final, Failure is not Fatal, it is the Courage to Continue that Counts" Sir Winston Churchill "To him the People of the World Largely owe the Freedom and Liberties they Enjoy Today" Enscription on Hugh Dowding's (AOC Fighter Command 1936-40) statue in London WW2 Talk: A WW2 Discussion Forum My Photo Collections on Flickr

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode