As the former State Commander of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), one of my sacred responsibilities is to pay my last respects to my fallen comrades. In the last two years of my tenure as State Commander, I have paid my respects with all the dignity and honor that these veterans have earned by their valiant military service.
Many of these veterans, who have passed, I have known and personally worked with such as Paul Heidel and Clarence Jones, World War II vets, Cecil Dozier, a Korean War vet; Larry Mustard, a Vietnam War vet, and Terry Keene, an Iraq and Afghanistan War vet.
Many veterans, I have never met like Michael Meisner, of Cincinnati, and Michael Crabtree, of Portsmouth, but they were still my brothers-in-arms.
Every time I pay my last respects to a veteran, I always think of the poem written in 1987 by a Canadian veteran, A. Lawrence Vaincourt, entitled, “A Common Soldier.” This poem has meaning for everyone who has ever served in the military and their survivors, who remember them.
This poem can be adapted for every Soldier, Sailor, Air Force, Marine or Coast Guard Veteran, who has served.
On July 4, 2008, this poem was carved into a marble monument at West Point, New York, the home of the United States Military Academy.
I would like to share this poem with you. “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 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.”
My Opinion: Please thank a veteran for his or her service while they are still living and with us. And a special thanks to A. Lawrence Vaincourt for putting in words, the feelings that my heart only knows for our veterans.
John Plahovinsak has served for two (2) years (2019-2021) as State Commander of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV). He is also currently serving as the Adjutant of DAV Chapter #63 (Clermont County).