Just A Common Soldier
(A Soldier Died Today)
By A. Lawrence Vaincourt
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?
A politician’s stipend and the style in which he lives
Are sometimes 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 was so long ago,
That the old Bills of our Country went to battle, but we know
It was 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 want a politician with his ever-shifting stand?
Or would you prefer a soldier, who has sworn to defend
His home, his kin and Country and 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, then 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 a paper that would say,
Our Country is in mourning, for a soldier died today.
I don’t often share poetry or quote songs, but this is one I’ve come to love that’s touched my heart. My grandfather fought in WWII. My uncle is a veteran of the Vietnam War. A lot of the men and women I work with, have come to know and love, have served in the military. And my husband, my best friend, is in Iraq right now. He’s risking his life and mine for this country. Soldiers and veterans deserve much more respect than they are given, especially veterans. The men and women that came home, more often than not they came home changed. Life is harder for them coming home than it would actually be staying at war. It’s harder than most people realize.
So if someone in your life is a veteran, even if you aren’t close to them, let them know you’re thankful for the sacrifices they made. You’ll never know what they lost to fight in a war. You’ll never know what they lost to come home. But try and brighten someone’s day, if you can. It could be your friend, your brother or sister, a cousin or an aunt. That uncle or grandfather that you’ve never thought of as a soldier is a survivor, and because of them you are too.
Thank you, to all the veterans in my life. You’ve made the life I live possible, and your sacrifices haven’t gone unnoticed.
Just A Common Soldier – Borrowed Poem by A. Lawrence Vaincourt
Posted in Life, Our World | 
Tags: America, Army, military, soldiers, the war in Iraq, things I love, veterans
wonderful poem, thank you for sharing and god bless all the men and women who fight for this country!
Reply
Jaime Reply:
November 11th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
:]
Reply
I loved that poem. It was perfect. My father in law fought in WWII and I thought of him as I read that.
Maven´s last blog ..Some Day No One Will March There At All
Reply
Jaime Reply:
November 11th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
I’m glad you liked it. It’s one of my favorites now.
Reply
That’s a great poem. And the men and women in the Armed Forces are true heroes. I hate how the word “hero” is thrown around so much these days.
Tell your husband that he’s def. my hero. My good friend is over there and another one of my friends has been there 3 times. And since I used to be in the Navy, I have loads of other friends that are either over there now, or just got back.
God Bless our troops.
Josh´s last blog ..Search Term Saturday, 11/7
Reply
Jaime Reply:
November 11th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
My husband is my hero too.
Reply
this is a great post, great poem.
Reply
Jaime Reply:
November 11th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Isn’t it? I want to frame it and hang it.
Reply
Thank you for the lovely poem! It rings very true. My grandfather also fought in WWII, and I have a handfull of friends in service right now.
Mckenzie´s last blog ..question to anyone with an opinion.
Reply
Jaime Reply:
November 12th, 2009 at 8:54 am
I hope you let them know how much you care!
Reply