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Open Poetry #35
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A SOLDIER'S SOLDIER - David Hackworth
| Open Poetry #35 |
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A SOLDIER'S SOLDIER - David Hackworth |
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Abe Senior Member
since 2003-05-28
Posts 694Looks like Vero Beach, FL until the end! 
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A SOLDIER'S SOLDIER David H. Hackworth 1930 - 2005 In Nineteen hundred, thirty Born on Armistice Day Both parents died before year one And Grandmother showed him the way. Raised on tales of the Revolution The Old West and Depression Shined Soldier's shoes in Santa Monica And began his Army Lessons. They adopted him as mascot And had a Uniform made to suit At age ten, "knew my destiny" The youngest Army recruit. At fourteen a Merchant Marine Near the end of World War Two At fifteen, joined the Army Knew what he wanted to do. Trained by the tough non-coms Who'd fought that War and won Taught him to party all night long Then fall out, in shape, at dawn. Twenty-six years he served With seven in Combat On a level with York and Murphy Was where this Hero sat. Two DSCs, ten Silver Stars Eight Bronze and eight Purple Hearts Three apps for the Medal Of Honor And an Infantry Badge for starts. A Battlefield Commission During the Korean War The youngest Army Captain He knew what "rank" was for. Then the youngest Bird Colonel In the rice paddies of Nam He was always out in front And was never an "also-ran". He led by his great example As a fighting machine And his Men readily followed When they saw what they had seen. He was a profile in courage With a call sign of "Steel Six" He turned the hopeless 4/39 To the "Hardcore Battalion" with his tricks. At first they thought, "this lifer Is out to get us all killed." They put a price on his head Before his mission was fulfilled. With a Battlefield reputation To be reckoned with and heard He spoke out against Vietnam A "bad" War was his word. He spent five years in-country And he knew what he spoke about He said that, "it can't be won" And "we need to get out." A critic of incompetence In the Military High Command But was endeared to the Troops As an advocate for the Enlisted Man. He retired from the Army To a farm down in Australia Won the U.N. Medal of Peace To add to his Military regalia. A much honored Journalist And an entrepreneur Successful at all he did And he gave his all for sure. He returned to the States To marry his one Great Love And all who saw them together Said he thought her sent from above. They were the driving Force Behind Military Reform "Soldiers For The Truth" An org way beyond the norm. They defend the ordinary Soldier And strive to update our Battle Plan Focused on bringing them home safely Down to each fighting Woman and Man. But Vietnam finally killed him With Cancer from "Agent Blue" Which the Pentagon will deny Just like they always seem to do. His Mission may be over At leasthere, in this World But his legacy will Live on After the Flag he Loved is furled. A Memorial Service for Colonel David H. "Hack" Hackworth, Infantry, United States Army (Retired), will commence on Tuesday, 31 May, at 11:00am EDT at the Main (new) Chapel, Ft. Myer, Arlington, Virginia. for more about Hack http://www.hackworth.com/ 11 May 05 Del "Abe" Jones |
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| © Copyright 2005 Del - All Rights Reserved | |||
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Nice writing...for a soldier's soldier...James |
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Juju Member Elite
since 2003-12-29
Posts 3429In your dreams |
What a lovely poem. Juju - 1.) a magic charm or fetish 2.)Magic 3.)A taboo connected woth the use of magic |
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Startime55 Member Elite
since 2003-04-05
Posts 2148Alberta, Canada |
A poem to touch the heart of all who serve and have served their country...Thank you, so much for sharing it... |
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