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Gramps use’ta say
©R.L.King2012 #M-12

About: Military Service
(Serving with Honor)

 “From the beginning of mankind,
there is one commonality
between each & every one of us,,,

alive or dead, we all have a past,,,
the benchmark by which
each shall be judged.”

Make it count for something.

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CLOSE TO THE FIRE
©Copyright 2013 Richard Lee King

The year is Nineteen Sixty-Three, they’re fighting in Vietnam.
He’s standing close to the fire awaiting a call from Uncle Sam

They’re pulling people’s numbers, who’ll be the next to go,
each drawing we all stand by; will it be someone we know?

 He’s in his first year of college, seeking a better life,
working on building a home, a place for his soon-to-be wife.

By Sixty-Five they’re married, still worried about his fate
and though still attending classes, he’s now working for the State.

She says we’re having a baby, soon his first son will arrive.
If they call him off to war, how will they ever survive?

Soon they’ll draw more numbers, it’s called the draft lottery.
If they should pull his number Vietnam is where he’ll likely be

Some head for the Canadian border.  Others,,, possibly to Mexico,
but if his number is called, to Uncle Sam is where he’ll go.

It’s not about being brave, though that might be debated,
it’s more about facing obligations, which can never be overstated.

This is our country and we find it extremely nice,
but it wouldn’t be that way had not our forefathers paid the price.

Both his dad and oldest brother spent time with Uncle Sam
and the lessons they both taught helped him to become a man.

He’ll not volunteer likely his body won’t pass the tests,
but if his uncle calls, he’ll offer his very best.

Just as his dad in Forty-Four and his brother in Fifty-Three
when Uncle Sam calls, he’ll answer to the need.

In 44 when his dad was drafted, it was to be “the last world war.”
He had 5 kids and a wife at the ripe old age of 34.

When his brother turned 18, they were fighting in Korea
He signed up and told his parents, “When it’s over I’ll be back to see ya.”

Nearly 40 years later, with another war to be won,
his son joined the army and learned to carry a gun.

He wanted to go to college, but it’s 91 and we’re fighting in Iraq.
He enlists in the 4-year program thinking school could wait til he got back.

With each new generation’s war Uncle Sam might make that call
and another family member may be asked to give their all.

Standing close to the fire, facing the stress and strife,
for each new generation, seems it’s been our way of life.

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Gramps use’ta say
©R.L.King2012 #M-9

About: Military Service
(Basic Training)

“You can never over prepare”

THE PRESIDENTS

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WOUNDED WARRIORS
© Copyright 2013 Richard Lee King

They’re now back on the home front, but their pain is far from done,
for many wounded warriors, the battle may never be won.

They played the hand dealt them, guess it wasn’t in the cards.
Yet, we call them the lucky ones; death took many of their pards.

They’ve endured incredible pain, though the worst is yet to come,
living with all the memories returns with the rising sun.

Still, the evening may be worse, when they finally fall asleep
nightmares again will hound them, as ‘mind scars’ begin to creep.

Everywhere they go they feel that same old stare.
Just once more to be ‘normal’ that’s all about which they care.

Missing arms, legs, or for some their sight gone,
although their war is over, their battle goes on and on..

We can help to heal them, at least the obvious wound,
but it’s those dreaded ‘mind scars,’ from whence their demons loom.

Life goes on around them, smiles on most every face,
they’d like to get up and join in, to leave that awful place.

Being a soldier was their calling, they never sought acclaim,
as they fought beside their buddies, many of whom were slain.  

They begged for mercy, throughout the dreadful pain,
praying for strength, in those with whom they’d lain.

They now own purple hearts and distinguished service awards
but have put away their uniforms, and stowed away their swords.

Eventually, they will sleep, until once more the horrors begin,
they will face the hated enemy, time and time again.

They may be back on the home front, but their pain is far from done….
They continue to fight a battle that, for many, will never be won.

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Gramps use’ta say
©R.L.King2012 #M-23

About: MILITARY SERVICE

“A soldier may leave the military,
but the military never truly leaves a soldier.”

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JUST ‘CAUSE THE CAUSE IS JUST
© Copyright 2013 Richard Lee King

We need to support our troops, that really seems to be a must.
The only reason they are there, is just ‘cause the cause is just.

We need to be more vocal, in defending what is right.
Squeaky wheels get noticed, we should squeak, with all our might.

We have lots of vocal fanatics, spouting all sorts of crap,
but last time I checked; USA was still atop my country’s map.

We need more people standing up for what they know is right.
We need to show the enemy, they just can’t win this fight.

We need to show more resolve, stop talking about pulling out.
Remember 9-11? That’s what it’s really all about!

I’m not political, but I know that right is right
 and knowing that the troops are there, helps me sleep at night.

For over two hundred years, we kept foreign battles from our shores,
but ever since 9-11, we can’t say that anymore.

Yes, we fought amongst ourselves, when we fought that civil war,
but that was a 150 years ago, we shouldn’t fight ourselves anymore.

Our soldiers all salute our flag, they’ve all shared the costs.
Once they’ve worn the uniform, seems, that respect is never lost.

We can’t right all the wrongs, but we need to do the proper thing,
when they play our National Anthem, we all need to stand and sing.

To those who are too embarrassed, or who just don’t feel the pride,
there are borders north and south, we should offer them a free ride.

It’s not about religion, but if it is, that religion just can’t be right.
The flag’s been there since 1776, we already fought & won that fight.

I don’t have the answers, but I know we all need to unite,
and I know this talk of pulling out, doesn’t increase our soldiers might.

“We need to support our troops, that really seems to be a must.
The only reason they are there, is just ‘cause the cause is just.”

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Gramps use’ta say
R.L.King2012  #M-2

About: Military Service
(All Branches)

“All gave some.
Some, gave all…

********

PAYING THE PRICE
© Copyright 2013 Richard Lee King

The country was at war, we were fighting in Vietnam.
Should he become a soldier, enlist with Uncle Sam?

His number hadn’t been called, she thought that he should wait,
“At least til after the baby’s born, let’s just trust our fate.”

He was going to the university, trying to improve his knowledge.
She said, “If you enlist now, you’ll probably never finish college.”

“Maybe by the time they call, you’ll have gotten your degree,
rather than enlist, why don’t we wait and see?”

He believes in the military, as did his dad and older brother.
He thinks that he’d have joined, were she not becoming a mother.

His first son was born in 66, the same year he graduated,
his second in 68, and they were happy they had waited.

He never did get called, not even for the physical,
but he’s lived with a lot of guilt, sometimes he feels it still.

He’s always had problems with his back, and his feet were always flat.
Seems, in the end, he tried to believe he’d never pass with that.

In our country’s time of need, he never stepped to the fore.
Isn’t that a young man’s duty when his country is at war?

So many paid the price, while others dodged the draft,
while friends slept in foxholes, he was busy perfecting his craft.

Never did he run, but neither did he enlist,
she wanted him to stay, and he never did insist.

Now, all these years later he pays a different kind of price,
wishing he had just enlisted, without even thinking twice.