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
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They were heroes, everyone
And tho' sometimes to his neighbors His tales became a joke
All his buddies listened For they knew where of he spoke
But we'll hear his tales no longer For old Bob has passed away
And the world's a little poorer For a soldier died today
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No, he won't be mourned by many Just his children and his wife
For he lived an ordinary Very quiet sort of life
He held a job and raised a family Quietly going on his way
And the world won't note his passing Tho' a soldier died today
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When politicians leave this earth Their bodies lie in state
While 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 unnoticed and unsung
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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
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The politician's stipend And the style in which he lives
Are sometimes disproportionate To the services that he gives
While the ordinary soldier Who offered up his all
Is paid off with a medal And perhaps a pension small
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It's so easy to forget them For it was so long ago
That our Bobs and Jims and Johnnys 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
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Should you find yourself in danger With your enemies at hand
Would you really want some cop-out With his ever waffling stand?
Or would you want 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 life again
![](doughboystwinstars.jpg) 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 the paper that might say
Our country is in mourning For a soldier died today
Author *A. Lawrence Vaincourt* WWII RCAF Veteran
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