A Soldier Died Today

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - A Soldier Died Today

Posted: 10/7/2003 7:44:01 AM EDT

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 everyone.
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 he has passed away;
And the world's a little poorer, for a soldier died today.
He'll 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,
And thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great.
Newspapers tell their life stories, from the time that they were young.
But, the passing of a simple Soldier goes unnoticed and unsung.
Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land,
A person who breaks 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 his life?
It's so easy to forget them, for it was so long ago,
That the soldiers of our country went to battle, but we know,
It was not the politicians, with their promises and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom that our Country now enjoys.
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 the troubles, that others often start.
If we cannot give 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 a simple notice, in the paper that would say,
"Our country is in mourning, cause a Soldier passed away today."

To my father - Patrick DeWane
January 11, 1928 ~ October 7, 2003

Posted: 10/7/2003 7:50:18 AM EDT

[#1]

Sorry to here about your father. My father was born in 1922 and he is getting up there also. He also spent three years in the WII to hear his stories it is amazing that he survived. My mother passed when I was 11 yeras old. Still miss her. Be strong brother.

Posted: 10/7/2003 7:51:22 AM EDT

[#2]

Our prayers and condolances to you and your family WILSON.
Another warrior goes to his brothers in arms.

BTW: thats a darn fine poem.

Posted: 10/7/2003 7:56:15 AM EDT

[#3]

My condolences and prayers to the DeWane family. The Greatest Generation has lost another hero.

Mike

Posted: 10/7/2003 8:10:49 AM EDT

[#4]

a prayer for your dad.
The country is honored that he walked here.

Posted: 10/7/2003 8:11:51 AM EDT

[#5]

I am sorry for your loss.
He lives on in your memories.

Posted: 10/7/2003 8:14:40 AM EDT

[#6]

Prayers for peace for you and yours.

RIP

Posted: 10/7/2003 8:17:03 AM EDT

[#7]

I am sorry about your Dad, Wilson.
It is always hard to say goodbye, but very hard to say goodbye to the good ones.
Our deepest condolences.

Posted: 10/7/2003 8:22:56 AM EDT

[#8]

Sincerest condolences to you and your family.

Posted: 10/7/2003 8:26:20 AM EDT

[#9]

Condolences to you and your family.

Posted: 10/7/2003 8:28:05 AM EDT

[#10]

Wilson, my deepest condolences on the passing of your Father......

Rest in peace old soldier. The torch is passed.

Posted: 10/7/2003 8:30:17 AM EDT

[#11]

My condolences and prayers are with you and your family.

Posted: 10/7/2003 8:33:00 AM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:
My condolences and prayers to the DeWane family. The Greatest Generation has lost another hero.

Mike

I second that, Sorry for your and our country's loss. I'm afraid of when that generation is all gone. I admire the WWII generation very much. They all have great morals and enormous pride and loyalty for our country. I hope TAPS is played to honor him.

COZ

Posted: 10/7/2003 8:36:25 AM EDT

[#13]

i wish there was something i could say that would help. all i can say is that i have been there, i know it hurts, but you will move on, as i have.

if you need to talk, send me an IM..

Posted: 10/7/2003 8:40:18 AM EDT

[#14]

Posted: 10/7/2003 9:15:08 AM EDT

[#15]

sorry to hear of your loss, my family and I extend our condolances to you

Posted: 10/7/2003 9:40:43 AM EDT

[#16]

Be assured your father is in my prayers tonight. My deepest sympathies to you and your family. That poem really hit me hard.
I'm embarrased to ask this, but if you wouldn't mind, I would like to share this poem with some of my family. If you would prefer I don't I truly understand.
My condolences for your loss.

Posted: 10/7/2003 9:48:12 AM EDT

[#17]

I'm very sorry to hear about your father. He was a good man for serving his country.

Posted: 10/7/2003 9:59:56 AM EDT

[#18]

Wilson,

I'm so sorry, your family is in my prayers

Dan

Posted: 10/7/2003 10:00:24 AM EDT

[#19]

My condolences.

Posted: 10/7/2003 10:59:05 AM EDT

[#20]

Wilson,

My prayers are with you. Another of our nation's finest has passed.

Rest easy, soldier.

Posted: 10/7/2003 11:11:31 AM EDT

[#21]

So sorry to hear the news, Wilson. You have my deepest sympathy.

Posted: 10/7/2003 11:16:13 AM EDT

[#22]

Wilson,
I am so sorry to hear of your loss! My Dad served in WW2 and his health is failing faster every day, so I will join the same ranks as you have some day.

Hang tough, and know that the world will not be the same without him.

Posted: 10/7/2003 12:05:15 PM EDT

[#23]

My prayers are with you and yours.

Posted: 10/7/2003 12:06:46 PM EDT

[#24]

Quoted:
That poem really hit me hard.
I'm embarrased to ask this, but if you wouldn't mind, I would like to share this poem with some of my family.

It's not mine, I don't even know who wrote it (half a dozen people claim to have authored it), just reminded me of him.
He forged his father's signature to get into the army in WWII but Europe was calming down by the time he got there. The army got even with him though, he caught every bit of the Korean war.
Guess he got bored outa his mind in the late 50s because he volunteered for "special training" in Ft. Benning.
He was sent to Viet Nam a long time before we were "there" (early December 1962). He stayed until we were were invited out by the locals in 1973.

Guess the 5th Army wasn't hard enough for him though, he's been a Chicago Bear's fan living in Green Bay, Wisconsin for the last 30 years!

Posted: 10/7/2003 12:06:48 PM EDT

[#25]

Quoted:
Our prayers and condolances to you and your family WILSON.
Another warrior goes to his brothers in arms.

BTW: thats a darn fine poem.

Amen, ditto, etc., in ALL respects...

Posted: 10/7/2003 12:32:36 PM EDT

[#26]

Please accept my condolences.

Posted: 10/7/2003 12:49:50 PM EDT

[#27]

I'm very sorry for your loss.

A Bear fan in Green Bay!!!!

Posted: 10/7/2003 1:30:57 PM EDT

[#28]

I'm truly sorry to hear about your dad.

Damn I hate these threads. They remind me of how quickly we are losing the Greatest Generation.

Posted: 10/7/2003 1:50:51 PM EDT

[#29]

Samuel

Posted: 10/7/2003 1:53:19 PM EDT

[#30]

Sorry for your loss, I still miss my dad and it has been eight years now.

RIP Soldier

Posted: 10/7/2003 2:05:16 PM EDT

[#31]

I, too, offer my condolences. My Dad was born in '17. His was the first generation born in the US. Joined the Horse Cav in the late '30s. When WWII happened, they sent him to the Pacific and left his horse at Camp Reiley, Kansas.

He retired after 22 years on Feb, 1, 1967. He died at age 53 on Christmas Day, 1970, at home with his family. After the war, he and Mom were stationed at the Chem Weapons Depot at Tooele, UT. I guess they were there too long. Both of them died of cancer at age 53. Mom was born in '21. She was just the second generation born in the US.

Those people have always seemed like giants to me. When I was a little kid, many of the WWII vets were still in there 30s. Now, they are all late 70s or into their 80s.

It wasn't just the war, either. Both of them were Kansans. They survived the Dust Bowl and then the Depression. While Dad was in the Pacific, Mom was working at Lake City making .30 and .50 ammo. After a while, she went to work for Pratt and Whitney. I think she was at the NAA Plant near KC, MO working on B-25s.

They were people of outstanding character. Both died when I was a teenager. My wife met my Mom once, while Mom was wasting away. None of my kids ever knew them, of course.

Dad has been gone for 1/3 of a century. I miss him still. Mom's been gone 28 years. I can barely remember the sounds of their voices.

I look forward to being with them, my son, and the nice people who raised me some day.

May the Lord bless you keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and give you and your family peace.

Mahatma

Posted: 10/7/2003 2:19:49 PM EDT

[#32]

My Condolences to you and your family in this time of sadness. My prays are with you all. Thankyou for sharing your dads story with us. God bless

Posted: 10/7/2003 3:39:38 PM EDT

[#33]

My condolences to you and your family Wilson.

Posted: 12/24/2003 9:44:11 PM EDT

[#34]

... God bless your pop [b]WILSON[/b], for he was proud of you.

Posted: 12/24/2003 10:12:30 PM EDT

[#35]

Quoted:
I'm very sorry for your loss.

A Bear fan in Green Bay!!!!

View Quote

I'll raise you one (very excited) Cowboys fan in Milwaukee...

Here's to Green Bay being 11 guys watching the Cowboys play in the Super Bowl on a locker room TV... You never know, it COULD happen (AGAIN) this year...

Back to the original thread topic, my condolences to Wilson... And I hope that this country will continue to produce men like his father, as there will allways be a need...

Posted: 12/25/2003 4:45:40 AM EDT

[#36]

Thanks for sharing that poem. It rings loud with truth. My thoughts and prayers go out to you at the loss of your Dad. I lost mine when I was really young. You live with it but never get over it.
Dave C

Posted: 12/25/2003 5:59:01 AM EDT

[#37]

A prayer for your Father, and thanks for his giving to our Freedom.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - A Soldier Died Today

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