11-10-2010, 06:24 PM
Patch1stA POEM WORTH READING
(Author unknown)
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 whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For old 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,
Someone 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 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 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 simple headline
In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."
God Bless our Soldiers
God Bless the USA
11-10-2010, 06:26 PM
Moonbeam-ExpressA nice tribute. I'm wondering if all the sailors, soldiers, and airmen aren't going to expect the same
My Marine son is now safely home. He has left the Corp in favor of civilian life for now. Two tours of Iraq, several deadly firefights, an IED experience and the rigors of a Jarhead's daily life have left him 40% disabled for life. It's not a profession for everyone and the toll of war is seldom understood by the elite politicians that sponsor it. I'm extremely proud of all that serve, I will never forget!
Oo-Ho-Boo-XXX RAH to you all (pick the appropriate RAH)
11-11-2010, 01:27 AM
olroyThe Marine Corps Commandant's message rang my chimes with his reference to the USMC "Fire Brigade."
I was in the theater then, though not in Korea. That term was coined by the 8th U.S Army's Commanding General Walton H. Walker, & it referred specifically to the U.S. Army's 27th Infantry Regiment under the command of then Lt. Col. John Michaelis who was credited with halting the North Korean advance until reinforcements arrived. They were there on "fire brigade" duty when the first element of Marines came ashore on August 2, 1950.
Them's the facts. You can look 'em up.
I don't know how or why the Marine Corps expropriated that term for themselves. They have enough earned glory to not have to steal someone else's, but they've always had a great p.r. operation, too. The current commandant was 3 1/2 years old when those events took place, & is certainly no practitioner of historical accuracy. He should be ashamed of himself.
One of the curses of a long life is getting upset when historical revisionists take over the narrative of events you lived through personally.
Sixty years ago, the United States Marine Corps—as it has throughout our history—demonstrated its vital role as America’s Expeditionary Force in Readiness. Just weeks after North Korean Communist forces crossed the 38th Parallel, the First Marine Provisional Brigade landed in South Korea, forming the backbone of the perimeter around the city of Pusan. The efforts of the “Fire Brigade” at Pusan allowed for the daring amphibious landing at Inchon and set the stage for one of the most savage campaigns in our Corps’ history—the Chosin Reservoir. As we pause to celebrate our 235th Birthday, we pay special tribute to the Marines of the Korean War and recognize their contributions to our enduring legacy.
"StaRV II"