114th AvnCo Assoc. - Archive - Just A Common Soldier

114th Aviation Company Association

"Archive"

Just a Common Soldier

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 where of he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer, for old Bill has passed away;
And the worlds 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 the serve his country and offers up his life?

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 compromises 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 all the troubles that others often start.
If we can not 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 a paper that would say,
Our country is in mourning, for a soldier died today.

Written in 1985 by: A. Lawrence Vaincourt
WWII Air Force Veteran

The above poem appeared in the Nov 11th edition of the Brantford Expositor,
Brantford, Ontario.