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One Not To Forget

While only in Nam a short while

He was one all could count on and had style

He was a friend to all he met

And I miss him even yet.

A fine young officer and family man

Always had time to stop and lend a hand.

Arrived in Nam in sixty seven

Less than six months he was on his way to heaven.

Leaving behind two young daughters and a wife

Many friends and family to deal with the strife.

Not enough time for a good bye or a letter home

Never again would he be allowed with his family to roam.

Leading his men into a combat situation

Finding an enemy waiting in ambush from a different nation.

Directing their fight with leadership and courage

Outnumbered he didnt show his discourage.

Over his head death did loom

In a place called Kontum.

The twenty second of June nineteen sixty seven

A husband, father, and my friend was winging his way to heaven.

His name might be important to you

But to his family and me he was one of the best men we ever knew.

First Lieutenant Ervin L. Jake Burns

A true hero at ever turn.

So if you will help me remember him and what he did

For like so many others he received little and going home he was forbid.

Like many others for you Im sure

He left a nagging pain for which there is no cure.

© David R. Alexander

December 14, 2002

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Another Christmas Without Him

A daughter left behind

A daughter of a friend of mine

No neglect on his part

She was a big piece of his heart.

A daughter of only seven years old

A daughter in need of someone to hold

Not for me as it turns out

For I couldnt find her no matter how loud I would shout.

My friend was KIA in Vietnam

A mixture of bullets and a bomb

A request of me before he died

And a promise to keep how I tried and tried.

For over thirty years of searching and wonder

When finding her she was a wonderful mother

Too old for me too comfort and to hold

But young enough of her father to be told.

Her dad loved her, her mom and her sister

And dont say a word against him mister.

He was my friend and good soldier too

Its just he gave his life for me and for you.

One fell swoop took him away

And the angels must have cried on that day.

He had a heart of pure gold

So the Lord must have needed him in his heavenly fold.

This is such a small tribute

And little else can I contribute

Except to say now that I have found his daughter

I will spend whatever time it takes to tell her of her father.

Just a verse by an unworthy hand

To let all know about this man

Lt. Ervin L. "Jake" Burns on this Christmas will have been gone for 35 years

His family, friends and me have shed 35 million tears.

©David R. Alexander
December 15, 2002

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                   Remembrance Parade

                                                  Parade, ATTEN-SHUN!

                                                 To the front, SALUTE!

                                               and the clicking eyeballs,

                                                 the snapping of air

                             as thousands of hands and arms moved as one

                                              was heard in heaven

                                              and the wind sighed.

                                       glistening eyes heralded the rain

                                               ©Anthony W. Pahl
                                                16 December 2002

Marching By

Here they come momma

Here come the soldiers

Look momma look

They sure are sharp in their uniforms

Here they come momma

Here come the flags at the front

Look momma look

They are all stepping at the same time.

Here they come momma

Here come the soldiers with their rifles

Look momma look

Ive never seen so many guns in my life.

Here they come momma

Here come, oh wait, they are old

Look momma look

They cant be soldiers, so old and gray.

Here they come Johnny

They are soldiers ,son, and they are veterans

Look Johnny look

Those are the men that fought and kept us free.

Here they come Johnny

Those are men to be respected by you and me

Look Johnny look

See how proud they are and how much they gave for our country.

Here they come everyone

So proud everyone, veterans and todays soldiers alike

Look everyone look

Doesnt everyones heart now swell with gratitude and pride?

There they go momma

One is in a wheel chair another is being led because he is blind

Look momma look

When I grow up I will thank them for you and me.

© David Alexander

December 15,2002

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Standing Together

There is one thing that holds us together

Never mind the hardships and the weather,

A time when we fought and depended on each other to survive

And that is the cord that helped us stay alive.

Regardless if we were enlisted or officer rank

We only had each other to thank.

For the most part the world didnt give a damn

For those of us that were sent to Vietnam

Now that we have grown older and see with different eyes

For the most part we agree that the governments were full of lies.

We werent political, nor maybe should we have been

So we only depended on each other and each was more than a friend.

With each passing year I am reminded of each and every one

Some are still with us and others war is done.

With each passing year we must remember all

Because we are all getting closer to the Masters call.

Where you are take a minute to recall

We are all in the same boat big or small

I now render a hand salute to each with humble heart

And to each my brotherly love and gratitude I impart.

© David R. Alexander

December 16, 2002

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Restless Night

"it's just us, sarge" (...laughter) "go back to bed" (...more soft laughter) It is never a dream....anymore. First...it was one. then another... three, now four. A pale moon A cold breeze A walk at 3 AM. Never a dream anymore. "go back to bed sarge!" "it's just us!" ...................................................................... ............. The crows are calling the dawn as they carry the restless night, ...home once more. 'Old Soldier' things they carry, .....across the sky. Voices!.. .....laughter! ...night things upon their wings. ...................................................................... ........................... And never far behind are moments, riding beneath the slapping blades of an old 'steel bird', dreaming itself ..an LZ called home. The day is waiting upon the promise of sundown. Sunset! ...and voices, restless again, for another night. "Its just us, Sarge!" ©LJKlaiber 12182002 (RedCowboy)

For A Departing Warrior

There are still vacant seats

waiting in the great halls of Valhalla

from which are told brave feats.

One by one these are filled now

by the valiant warriors we have known.

Gallantly they served their nation.

Their names are written there

and they are awaited in celebration

for the honor of their presence.

Goblets are filled and ready to be raised.

Let their memory be praised.

Their fanfare is our tears

and the sounds of our good byes

©Faye Sizemore

December 18, 2002

The Legacy of a Veteran

He walked upon earth with peace and freedom in his heart
and smiled the smile of grace until from his mortal life did part.

He left behind a solemn gift for the entire the world to know;
that the seeds of freedom bloom, nurtured by those who sow.

He knew the agony and pain of war, in his body, mind and soul
and steadfastly resolved that love and honour must be told.

As his body succumbed to the need to pass from mortal life,
a candle flickered softly, and exposed his gift of love to light.

©Anthony W. Pahl

19 December 2002

Drifting

For more years than I care to remember

My memories have kept me company January through December.

For those that came home but didnt survive

Those that lived but were not alive.

Many coasted through day by day

Never letting anyone get in their way.

Not letting anyone in

They would never get that close to anyone again.

Seeing death with its finality

Feeling loss because of familiarity

Brothers dropping like drops of rain

No more, no more never again.

Their lives were never the same as before

Because of death, carnage and gore.

Shutting out the world around them was an escape

Letting memories their lives shape.

When finally leaving this world

Only brothers understood why their lives were so furled.

So in passing we stand and stare

Only another warrior could understand or maybe even care.

As one brother passes to heaven above

Remember him with understanding and love

For on this earth he never understood

We were always there if he had let us in if only he could.

Drifting from memory to benediction

This was his only conviction.

Say a prayer for this lonesome soul

That now he will find peace and once again be made whole.

©David R. Alexander
December 19, 2002

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Will Anyone Remember?

In say fifty years or so

When you and I are either dead or very old

Will anyone remember the war in which we fought?

Or will anyone care about the freedom we sought?

Will wars of future years our memories obscure?

Will the youth and soldiers of that time hearts be pure?

Maybe their wars will be different from ours

Will they still fight for the stripes and stars?

Will the government still be the same?

Fighting wars and its always someone else to blame.

Will our Grandchildren and theirs still be going off to be killed?

Or will the earth be a place of happiness and with love be filled?

Something for which to ponder

As you and I cross over yonder.

Will anyone still remember you and I and our fight?

I dont suppose it really matters after we say our last good night.

©David R. Alexander

December 19, 2002

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My Worst Nightmare

In the summer of 1967 in a place called Vietnam

My worse memory happened and shapes some of what I am.

This is the first time I have put on paper the story of that night,

Because of the tragedy and the horrible loss of life.

About this time of year I seem to remember so much more,

The brothers in this battle and those later and before.

As I start to tell this story that happens to be true

For those of you that read it, it will mean something to.

After being in the boonies for neigh onto two weeks,

Food and water dropped in and with very little sleep.

I as acting Company Commander was glad to get the news

Move into the Artillery compound, for rest, food and snooze.

We arrived around noon on that faithful day

Took over for another company that had a three-day stay.

All were so tired and grateful for the rest

Took over the perimeter and settled in for sleep and food at best.

The little compound had all the comforts that one could expect

Food, showers but sleep was our main object.

When dawn began to fall late in the day

Guard duty assigned and everyone grateful for a short stay.

Off in the distance a strange and eerie sound

Horns no trumpets blasting as if to surround.

Strange and distant as they were

A feeling of uncertainty and fear was what they inferred.

Made a call to Battalion to inquire as to the cause

No information on the meaning and that gave us pause.

The sounds got louder and seemed to be on the move

Called to ask for Chopper support our state of mind to improve.

Rain and fog had moved in and the choppers were grounded

And they assured us that our fears were unfounded.

For hours the blast became closer and louder

Our nerves were on edge, but each man I couldnt have been prouder.

About midnight with the rain pounding down

The blasting of the horns stopped and a mortar round hit the ground.

All of a sudden the perimeter lit up as the flares were tripped.

Gunfire, grenades and screams through the night did rip.

The artillery searchlight on the hill lit the area all around

What seemed like thousands of enemy crawling on the ground

We opened up with fire and all that we had,

Too close for the Artillery that made it bad.

Told the RTO to call for help as the enemy strength had been shown

Due to the weather, hold what youve got tonight you are on your own.

Shortly after that the light was shot out

Then the enemy began with deafening sound began to shout.

Fighting sometimes hand to hand

My men and brothers made a heroic stand.

We kept closing the perimeter and in size it did shrink

Screams in the night, what an awful sound, but not one brother did blink.

Almost six hours later the enemy broke contact and the rain began to subside

Those of us left were in one trench when the sun rose on those that had died.

The choppers came, but too late for over a half of our men were lying dead

Oh, we held the ground and fought the good fight but the earth was blood red.

I suppose no one was at fault or so they said,

But for those that lost their lives they are still just as dead.

The Artillery site didnt even have a name, nothing for us to recall,

The next week I heard they moved the site, the one where so many gave theyre all.

Those of us left simply call it No Name Hill

You wont find a written story about this still
As we were left there to defend on our own

But those that died there were some of the bravest men I have ever known.

©David R. Alexander

December 21, 2002

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Happy Birthday Jesus

Walking along the path

A stone walk flanked by a concrete birdbath

To a garden of flowers and streams

It suddenly came to me that God is what it means.

Hearing about many exploits and deeds of valor and lore

Many in their graves to breath no more.

Those still living a life of self-doubt and pity for themselves

Seems like the hero is as elusive as an elf.

But there is one that gave his all and all he could be

He gave his life on this earth just for you and me.

Hero or savior all is one in the same for him

Giving his life was planned and not on a whim.

Jesus came to earth as a man

Not to judge mankind but to give a saving hand.

So when searching for a hero ore the earthen sod

Look up to heaven and give your thanks to God.

Christmas is Jesus birthday as I have been told

Now he is with our heavenly Father sitting on a throne of gold.

More than a hero, more than a saint, much more by a lot.

Happy Birthday Jesus from one man for a hero I am not.

© David Alexander

December 21, 2002

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Spirit

The spirit of all veterans
Is not measured by something seen.

But the spirit of veterans

Is something that has lingered as memories become pristine.

An old soldier may become stiff and sore

But the spirit of a veteran never wanes

As age may make him unable to fight anymore

But the wiliness and know how still runs through his veins.

While watching a parade and the flag comes slowly by

He will be the first and sometimes the only one to stand and salute

His spirit will assure us all that the flay will always fly.

A veteran may become too old to fight but never too old to shoot.

When the country faces an enemy here or on a distant land

Never have a doubt that the veterans spirit will never let you down.

His spirit will be with each soldier in the jungle, or in the foreign sand.

I wager each of you know one, at least one from your hometown.

The spirit of an ole soldier now known as a civic pride

Will always be present and support his country at every turn.

He will be there for you and never will you see him run and hide.

So young soldiers listen well to his stories and well you may learn.

Because the spirit of all soldiers young and old is what keeps us free

It is better to stand tall and fight when you must than hide your pride

Then you become no better than a coward and for your own life plea

Listen to those with this spirit because many of their brothers, for you and me have died.

© David Alexander

December 23, 2002

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