GOODBYE
Well, I have been asked by a friend to say a few words on the loss of an American Soldier. I usually leave this kind of thing to the Padre because I am woefully under qualified for this and I do not wish to offend. However, as a soldier I can tell you how I feel.
I have seen death and destruction. I have been close to death myself on more than one occasion and I can tell you that no one wants to die.
But being rather old for a sergeant, I can tell you that there are many ways to die. You can die of old age in your bed with Alzheimer’s, not knowing who you are. You could die in a car accident or fall off your ladder working on your house. All I know is that you ARE going to die. The Supreme Commander in Chief does not let us pick the way of our passing.
This young person died fighting terrorists that are as bad as any enemy we have ever seen. They are on a par with Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Castro, Pol Pot and hundreds of other despots throughout the history of the world. The fascist Muslim terrorists want nothing more than world domination.
Domination with no religious freedom and no freedom at all except what they say you can have. They claim their “religion” gives them the right to kill, maim and slaughter innocent women and children using ANY weapon they get their hands on. They are an evil blight on this planet that must be exterminated if we do not want our children and grand children living under this kind of regime.
This Soldier died fighting terrorism and he died trying to give freedom to an oppressed people. Since the foundation of our country, this has been our way. I personally believe that God intended this be our path. To free the oppressed and to help the weak. Can you imagine what this world would have been like if the United States had never existed?
Now, I know there is nothing I can say to the family of this Soldier that will lessen their pain and anguish. Only God can do that. But as a Soldier, I can say that of the many ways to die, fighting for your God, your Country and Freedom, has to be better than most.
And as the Padre is so fond of saying, I also believe that the Lord has a special place in His heart for Soldiers. They suffer, bleed and die for their fellow man. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” I believe that a soldier NEVER dies alone. In my heart I know that the Lord is right there, holding their hand—easing their passing.
Yes. War is hell and it should never be committed too lightly. But as someone once said:
War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things:
The decayed and degraded state of moral thinking,
which thinks NOTHING is worth war, is much worse.
a man who has NOTHING for which he is willing to fight
and NOTHING he values more than his own personal
safety is a miserable creature who will never be free
unless made and kept so by the efforts of better men
than himself.
The United States have given tens of thousands of it’s sons and daughters to the cause of freedom throughout our history. What pain we have endured. But what glory FREEDOM It really is God’s gift to mankind. It is when evil raises its snake like head that men and women of valor must do what has to be done.
As I said, I can give no comfort to the family and friends of this fallen hero, except to say what a gift he has given us. As our ancestors sacrificed their lives for future generations, so it seems every generation must water the flower of freedom with blood.
So. If you would please take your hats off and stand for a minute of silence to honor a SOLDIER.
Pappy bowed his head. Son, I know your watching. God bless you and your family and friends. We will see you soon and until then: I SALUTE YOU.
Goodbye Kid.
Pappy
The Old Sergeant is fictional
Edited by Jeff and Maria Edwards
Footnote:
American Revolution (1775–1783) Total servicemembers 217,000 Battle deaths 4,435 Nonmortal woundings 6,188 War of 1812 (1812–1815) Total servicemembers 286,730 Battle deaths 2,260 Nonmortal woundings 4,505 Indian Wars (approx. 1817–1898) Total servicemembers 106,0001 Battle deaths 1,0001 Mexican War (1846–1848) Total servicemembers 78,718 Battle deaths 1,733 Other deaths in service (nontheater) 11,550 Nonmortal woundings 4,152 Civil War (1861–1865) Total servicemembers (Union) 2,213,363 Battle deaths (Union) 140,414 Other deaths in service (nontheater) (Union) 224,097 Nonmortal woundings (Union) 281,881 Total servicemembers (Conf.) 1,050,000 Battle deaths (Conf.) 74,524 Other deaths in service (nontheater) (Conf.) 59,2972 Nonmortal woundings (Conf.) unknown Spanish-American War (1898–1902) Total servicemembers 306,760 Battle deaths 385 Other deaths in service (nontheater) 2,061 Nonmortal woundings 1,662 World War I (1917–1918)3 Total servicemembers 4,734,991 Battle deaths 53,402 Other deaths in service (nontheater) 63,114 Nonmortal woundings 204,002 Living veterans fewer than 500 World War II (1940–1945)3 Total servicemembers 16,112,566 Battle deaths 291,557 Other deaths in service (nontheater) 113,842 Nonmortal woundings 671,846 Living veterans 4,762,0001 Korean War (1950–1953) Total servicemembers 5,720,000 Serving in-theater 1,789,000 Battle deaths 33,741 Other deaths in service (theater) 2,827 Other deaths in service (nontheater) 17,730 Nonmortal woundings 103,284 Living veterans 3,734,0001 Vietnam War (1964–1975) Total servicemembers 8,744,000 Serving in-theater 3,403,000 Battle deaths 47,410 Other deaths in service (theater) 10,789 Other deaths in service (nontheater) 32,000 Nonmortal woundings 153,303 Living veterans 8,295,0001 Gulf War (1990–1991) Total servicemembers 2,225,000 Serving in-theater 665,476 Battle deaths 147 Other deaths in service (theater) 382 Other deaths in service (nontheater) 1,565 Nonmortal woundings 467 Living veterans 1,852,0001 America's Wars Total Military service during war 42,348,460 Battle deaths 651,008 Other deaths in service (theater) 13,998 Other deaths in service (nontheater) 525,256 Nonmortal woundings 1,431,290 Living war veterans 17,578,5004 Living veterans 25,038,459
VERY SPECIAL "OLD SERGEANT" GOODBYE
