"A Soldier, His Prayer"

[chunga 31]

This poem was read aloud at a WWII Veteran's funeral I recently attended at the request of the deceased. The reader served with and remained friends with the man who passed away. I was so moved that I requested a copy and the Gentleman happily complied. It contains hand-written notes and must be preserved. I uploaded it to scribd for others to download and print. Share it with a Vet. You might make someone's day.

 

"A Soldier, His Prayer"

 

 

Stay with me God. The night is dark.

the night is cold; my little spark

of Courage dies. The night is long;

Be with me God and make me strong.

 

I love a game; I love a fight.

I hate the dark; I love the light.

I love my child; I love my wife.

I am no coward. I love life.

 

Life with its changes of mood and shade

I want to live. I am not afraid

But me and mine are hard to part.

Oh! Unknown God, lift up my heart.

 

You stilled the waters at Dunkirk

And save your servants. All your work

Is wonderful, Dear God. You strode

Before us down that dreadful road.

 

We were alone and hope had fled.

We love our country and our dead

And we could not shame them; so we stayed

The course, and were not afraid.

 

Dear God; that nightmare road, then

That sea; we got there-we were men

My eyes were blind, my feet were torn,

My soul sang like a bird at dawn.

 

I know that death is but a door.

I know what we are fighting for.

Peace for our kids our brothers freed,

A kinder world, a loving creed.

 

I but the son my Mother bore.

A simple man and nothing more.

But-God of strength and gentleness

Be pleased and nothing less.

 

Help me God, when death is near

To mock the haggard face of fear.

That when I fall, if fall I must,

My soul may triumph in the dust.

Chaplain Oran Zaebst

1940

102^nd Cavalry Regiment

“Essex Troup”

 

The file is too large to upload here or I would. I'm a grown man and don't spend much time crying. But I'll tell you - there wasn't a dry eye in the Church. Three uniformed soldiers folding Our Nation's Flag, taps in the background, then this poem...it was really special. I don't necessarily support the wars they are sent to fight but I do support the Men and Women who serve and sacrifice in our Armed Forces.

 

http://www.scribd.co...dier-His-Prayer

 

William Ahrens Lake (April 12, 1918 - October 9, 2011)

 

http://www.scribd.co...iam-Ahrens-Lake

 

I wish I had gotten to know him better. A special man indeed.

[iarneau 44]

Not that I knew him, but God bless him and all of those who serve all of us.

[Paulyski 2,227]

Beautiful indeed.

As the last of the greatest generation leave us, those who have stared into the evil eyes of tyranny & seen the fruits of its labor first hand are forever lost, their memories & warnings to us fade into the realm of obscurity.

It pains me to realize that the latter generations seek to repeat the hideous transgressions of the past.

 

Thank you for posting.

 

Paul

[MT Predator 2,294]

Thanks for sharing. Not many of those guys left. I've heard stories from plenty of WWII vets including Brits, Germans, Hungarians, and French while I was stationed in Europe. Both my Grandfathers fought in WWII, one in the European theater and the other in the Pacific. Cool stories from them too. Truly a great generation regardless which country they served in. They had a drive and sense of service that can not be matched today. Closest thing nowadays was the patriotism and surge of recruits after September 11, 2001.

[chunga 31]

My wife bought some parchment paper. Today I have to drive by the local VFW. I'm going to print a copy and drop it off.