At peace at last

A story for a good friend. Soldiers need to remember the old timers who taught us respect and how to lead.

  

                      At peace at last

























The Soldiers gave him a 21 gun salute.
Only young and old Soldiers came to say goodbye.
Old Sergeant Major finally drank himself to death.
35years a Soldier left him waiting for death to come.


I met him a early morning walking into the base.
He told me they take your license away with 5 DWI's.
I told him I come this way everyday from my girlfriend.
I would be honored to pick him up.


He told me "You are alright with me Sergeant C
I will meet you at the gate."
I answer no problem Sergeant Major.


He laughed.
Told me to call him Paul in private.
He slapped my back and smiled.
"I will call you John, my friend."


He got demoted to my company.
He told me in private.
"I'm glad the Army kept me around.
I have no place to go."


He was my First Sergeant now.
At the company picnic.
We partnered up and kick everyone a*s in horse shoes.
We sat and talks with me.
He told me. " I will be dead soon.
What will be left of me?
Will you remember me Sergeant C? "

I wrapped my arm around him.
I told him " You were with my father on the boat to Korea.
Us young Soldiers need to take care of the old one."
He smiled.


A young Soldier was going to lose everything.
First Sergeant asked what do you need?
The young Soldier told him too damn much.
He looked at me.
Handed me his checkbook.
Told me take him home and pay all his bills.


He told me write his name for him on the checks.
Add it up right.


He has close to $30, 000 in a checking account.
I paid the debts of the Soldiers.
The Soldier and the wife were very thankful.
I asked them never to say a word.
First Sergeant wants this to be private.


I drove him home now.
He was looking bad now.
The whiskey and beer would kill him soon.


I asked him to quit drinking for  a while.
He looked to the ocean in our view.
He tells me.
"Drinking blind me from the s**t I have seen.
Wasn't for you s**t head Soldiers.
I would have no purpose."


He drank at the bar around the corner from his small apartment.
I started to meet him there.
He had many friends.
Old Timers who had retire.
He loved to sing Hank William, Jr.


Karaoke was his favorite.
It was funny to see this 6 foot 4 inch man
sing and dance to the old music.
I would drink slow to ensure he would get home.


He told me in my truck.
"I'm being booted out.
Doctors told me liver and kidney are gone.
I reached my goal.
I will join my friends soon.
I drank myself to death."
He gave me a big Texas smile.
"Don't worry John.
I will save you a seat.
Soldiers must take care of Soldiers."


I became good friends with him.
We drank together till one day he told me.
"I can't walk anymore.
Need  a Soldier to do his duty.
Take care of a old Soldier."
 

I asked what did you need?
He smiled.
Told me.
"Bring me cold beer and whiskey to my home.
Don't ever pity me.
Soldier must die.
Some are lucky.
They died on the battlefield."


I sat with many old timers.
They came by to show respect.
We drank and laugh by the Sergeant Major bed.
He was content to be with Soldiers.


I got a call at work.
Old Sergeant Major was dead.
He left a note.
Sergeant C. will take care of my final desires in my Will.


He left me a letter with a thousand dollars.
"This is for your inconvenience.
My Will is simple.
Half my money to the Old Soldier home.
The other half to Red Cross."


At least 200 Soldier stood shoulder to shoulder.
Most of us were crying when Taps was played.
I smiled and thought what would the old Sergeant Major say.


He would tell us.
 Be good Soldiers.
Take care of each other in War and peace.


         Coyote
         22 January 2010  

Author's Note

Please advice me of mistakes. Never too old to learn.
Coyote

Reviews

[Linear]

Its all to much to see, wasted lives spread over many killing fields, drink may help to erase but cant vanquish the memories of deeds done.
then having survived, to be left, for no purpose, people shun you, dont wish to no, just want you to go.
Its all just to much for me.

heartfelt writing indeed

[The Tea Party Mouse.]

It's always important to respect those who came before you. I like how your work tends to lean towards these types of stories. Keep your old friends in your heart.

[Yesterday Today]

If you're quoting someone, you MUST use quotation marks, otherwise your message is this"

"He told me I will be dead soon."

What you're saying above is that your First Sargeant told you that YOU will be dead soon. What you meant is that HE will be dead soon, and to convey this properly, the line should be written as such:

He told me, "I will be dead soon". (that period might belong after the 'n' but I forget)

Be careful in writing poetry...your poems tend at times to sound more like stories than poems:

"He was my First Sergeant now.
At the company picnic.
We partner up and kick everyone a*s in horse shoes.
We sat and talks.
He told me I will be dead soon."

Now, IMO, that's too story-like--even though a poem is essentially a story, a poem should be more lyrical.

At the company picnic
We kicked a*s at horseshoes.
Later, he turned to me and said
"Soon I will be dead."

Here's what I imagine in reading your words: you're having fun, having a nice talk then he blurts out or shares that he's going to die. You've gotten close to this man--bonded--and here he is baring his soul to you. Make us feel that pain, Coyote.

Maybe keeping your sentences at a more even length will improve the flow of your words. Really long ones and short ones, to me, don't flow well. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule.

Any questions, want to run something by me...feel free to PM me!

[Rhonda]

i enjoyed it
thnx :D

[Georgia Gypsy]

You did a great job with telling this story. It is sad what has happened to so many of our hero's. I am so glad you shared this!

[emmajoy]

Can't say more than: TRAGIC STORY BUT, MAGNIFICENT IN ITS TELLING.

[Dia-EchoingWind]

This is a fantastic piece, I could feel the friendship taking place and with the words to the piece, It flowed to the message of the piece.Great work-Keep it up!!

[Tapsi]

wow...this is such an intense poem....i could actually visualize all this happening.. the way of your portrayal of a steadfast soldier's thoughts when his end is near is commendable....excellent.

[The Lone Wolf Prose]

This was very touching. It really hit home for me. I have a lot of my friends who are in the army/navy and just how so much seems inevitable.... I love the transition the almost rising and falling of the piece as you have someone young rising as the old are supposedly falling. A very poignant narrative that just shows the cyclical movement everyone interacts and lives in this life; that we must look after each other to the end and through the beginning. Very well written piece.

[Bud]

Your work always brings a welcomed humility to me. I need that from time to time, to remind me that my complaints are a spec of nothings nothing... Thank you, Coyote. Excellent.

[Theresa]

An emotional story. My eyes started burning up when I got to the part where he passed away. My grandfather was in the Korean War and some of his oldest friends were ones he stood beside in the war. I really enjoyed this. A sad story but when that should be told.