Just a Common Soldier Died Today

828, 25 May 2015

Found this over on the RAFINCO website. While it has some aspects one might call political, I agree with Harry Miller that this still hits home for a lot of us.

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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 of where he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer, For ol' Joe 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, Some jerk who breaks his promise;

To the welfare of our land, 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 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 likes 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 simple headline, In the paper that might say:

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

And Jim Reeves provided this video to the same subject:

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