I Am An American Soldier!

Fighting For One More Cause!

(Played to a slow, solemn, military drum-roll beat.)

They didn't ask for pity - they didn't ask for praise!

They didn't ask for medals - or military parade!

They didn't ask for sorrow - when we laid them in their graves!

And they didn't ask to be hero's - but that's what they became,

When Johnny, came marching home!

(Played to the music of: "When Johnny Came Marching Home", on piccolo and solemn military drum-roll.)

When Johnny came marching home that day, "OO-RAH"! "OO-RAH"!

They gave him NO hearty welcome then, "OO-RAH"! "OO-RAH"!

Yes some men did shout and women spat, and the boys with clout, they all turned out,

They were ALL so brave then, when Johnny came marching home!

But those who spat and the boys with clout did not know what they spoke about, but they all came out to blame Johnny for marching home!

They all came out to blame Johnny for coming home!

Yes, they were ALL, SO BRAVE, when Johnny came marching home on crutches with just one leg that day!

"OO-RAH" SOLDIER!

All they ever wanted was to come home from war,

Be with their families once more, marry a wife, raise a family, grow old together and live the American life

Still, some pay a debt they never owed,

To those they left behind and those they laid to rest,

To those we say, you did your best,

You have all passed that test!

I took an oath when I was young, and no one told me mt duty was done, just because that war was won!

Not on my watch my friend! As long as I can stand, I will still defend!

Oh we said we'd do a lot for them, those who didn't die,

But then we took it all away, as promises turned to lies,

Somehow those noble words, like one old soldier said,

Don't die, they just fade away!

Which one of you would have held a dying friend, all through that God-less night, bleeding, crying, dying after another firefight!

Trying the best you could to call in a Huey, and get him on a medi-vac flight at dawns early light!

Which one of you would have pick-up that fallen soldiers gun and just kept going on?

Which one of you would have fought again, until the battles won!

Instead we built a wall of stone / for those who never came home / then carved their names upon it, and sadly called that welcome home!

They didn't ask for pity and they didn't ask for praise.
And they didn't ask to be called heroes, but that's what they became!

Now they're just old soldiers, fighting for one more cause!
Sometimes this life is cruel and some play by their own rules,
For those who answered their countries call, let us say this much was true,
They were American soldiers, who fought for the red, white and blue,

They were all American soldiers, who fought for the red, white and YOU!

Now their grand-kids are far-away from home, fighting for one more cause,
And it doesn't seem fair for them to be there, when they thought this all was done!

And now, in the winter of their lives, the old soldiers and their wives,

As the family waits with pride, see, they just got word, only two more days, for their soldiers "wake-up", as we used to say back then, and he'd be coming home soon.

Then at the door, two soldiers stood in the shadow of twilight's glow,

It seemed so surreal, but also apropos.
With folded flag, of the stars and stripes in hand, at attention they did stand.

Then, with solemn grace and dignity said the words all families dread!
"On behalf of a grateful nation, he fought the bravest fight"!

But with deepest sympathy, your soldier-son, won't be coming home tonight!

Their hearts still filled with pride, as their eyes now filled with tears,
Their brave young man had died, as the old soldier and his family cried!

They didn't ask for pity - they didn't ask for praise!

They didn't ask to be hero's - but that's what they became!

Their all American hero's, our daughters and our son's, their "ALL" American soldiers, still fighting for freedom for everyone!

Remember each and everyone, their fighting for the red white and blue, their still fighting for the red, white and "YOU"!

T.R. Collins, (C) 2015

Dedicated to my brother, Sergeant, Lawrence J. Collins, U.S. Army, Co. "B", "2nd Battalion", 1st Cavalry Division-Air-mobile, Vietnam combat veteran and Bronze Star recipient, (1969-1970). He still stands steady today, on guard, for his fallen brothers and all veterans, still alive, or laid to rest in the Mansions of the Lord. Hold on, dear brother, hold on to me!

"OO-RAH"! You done good Brother!