Persoal tribute to a fallen soldier...
It's really bizarre that I saw this today. Yesterday they buried my friends uncle Allan Wetzel at Arlington National Cemetary. He passed away on May 9, 2006 at age 67 - there is a 4 week wait to be buried at Arlington.
Allan was retired from the Army and was the most decorated Viet Nam soldier. He was awarded the Distringuished Service Cross, Silver Star, Medal of Honor, a couple Bronze Stars and 7 Purple Hearts. A modest man, most people including family members were not aware of all of his accomplishments and prestigious assignments. Allan began his army career at West Point and prior to retiring 40 years later,spent several years at the Pentagon (The Army Reserve reported to him) as well serving as the Dean of Boys at the Naval Academdy during an exchange program.
A couple of years ago Allan started the Junior ROTC program in Upperland Cumberland Tenn. The program was a hugh success and now has more than 100 participants. To launch the program he agreed to serve as the program's instructor and work salary-free for one year. Allan enjoyed working with the area youth and because he could see how much difference the ROTC program made in the lives of the students he continued as the instructor until last December when he became ill from a staph infection contracted from improper treatment of a broken toe.
Allan was a highly respected and loved by all that knew him and will be truely missed.
....
He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast, he sat around the Legion telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he once fought, the deeds that he had done, and of his exploits with his buddies they were HEROES, every one.
And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors, his tales became a joke, all his buddies listened quietly for they knew where of he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer, for he has passed away, and the world's a litttle poorer for a SOLDIER died today.
He won't be mourned by many, just his children, family, and his wife. For he lived an ordinary, quiet sort of life.
He held a job and raised a family, going quietly on his way and the world won't note his passing, tho a SOLDIER died today.
When politicians leave this earth their bodies lie in state, whle thousands note their passing, and proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell of their life stories from the time that they were young. But, the passing of a SOLDIER goes unoticed and unsung.
Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land, some jerk who breaks his promise 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?
The politician's stipend and the style in which they live, are often 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, our Bobs and Jims and Joes, to forget the battles they have won. So let me remind you how the real story goes.
It's not the politicians with their compromise and ploys, who won for us in freedom that out country now enjoys.
Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand, would you really want some cop-out, with his every waffling stand?
Or would you want a SOLDIER -his home,his county, his kin. Just a common soldier who would fight until the very 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, 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 ending of his days..
Perhaps just simply a headline in the paper that might say "OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."
Allan was retired from the Army and was the most decorated Viet Nam soldier. He was awarded the Distringuished Service Cross, Silver Star, Medal of Honor, a couple Bronze Stars and 7 Purple Hearts. A modest man, most people including family members were not aware of all of his accomplishments and prestigious assignments. Allan began his army career at West Point and prior to retiring 40 years later,spent several years at the Pentagon (The Army Reserve reported to him) as well serving as the Dean of Boys at the Naval Academdy during an exchange program.
A couple of years ago Allan started the Junior ROTC program in Upperland Cumberland Tenn. The program was a hugh success and now has more than 100 participants. To launch the program he agreed to serve as the program's instructor and work salary-free for one year. Allan enjoyed working with the area youth and because he could see how much difference the ROTC program made in the lives of the students he continued as the instructor until last December when he became ill from a staph infection contracted from improper treatment of a broken toe.
Allan was a highly respected and loved by all that knew him and will be truely missed.
....
He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast, he sat around the Legion telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he once fought, the deeds that he had done, and of his exploits with his buddies they were HEROES, every one.
And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors, his tales became a joke, all his buddies listened quietly for they knew where of he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer, for he has passed away, and the world's a litttle poorer for a SOLDIER died today.
He won't be mourned by many, just his children, family, and his wife. For he lived an ordinary, quiet sort of life.
He held a job and raised a family, going quietly on his way and the world won't note his passing, tho a SOLDIER died today.
When politicians leave this earth their bodies lie in state, whle thousands note their passing, and proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell of their life stories from the time that they were young. But, the passing of a SOLDIER goes unoticed and unsung.
Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land, some jerk who breaks his promise 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?
The politician's stipend and the style in which they live, are often 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, our Bobs and Jims and Joes, to forget the battles they have won. So let me remind you how the real story goes.
It's not the politicians with their compromise and ploys, who won for us in freedom that out country now enjoys.
Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand, would you really want some cop-out, with his every waffling stand?
Or would you want a SOLDIER -his home,his county, his kin. Just a common soldier who would fight until the very 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, 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 ending of his days..
Perhaps just simply a headline in the paper that might say "OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."