The Soldier's Way

When my son was small he and his friends loved to play marines A brown eyed soldier dressed up in his helmet and his jeans I asked him why he always died whenever they would play He just said “I saved my friends, ‘cause that’s the soldier’s way” As he grew up his Mom and I always wondered what he’d be When he reached high school he enrolled in their ROTC Once he had finished high school he enlisted without delay I should have known it all along, ‘cause that’s the soldier’s way When he had finished training and became a full marine I was the proudest father that anyone had ever seen A brown eyed soldier in full dress not a thread in disarray Stood proudly there before me, ‘cause that’s the soldier’s way He eventually got married to a beautiful young wife And I asked if she was ready for a military life She just smiled and hugged me tight as she fondly did convey That nothing could make her prouder, ‘cause that’s the soldier’s way One day he told us he must leave for a war had broken out He wasn’t sure what started it or what it was about His mother asked if there was any way that he could stay He told her “Mom, it’s my duty”, ‘cause that’s the soldier’s way She said “Son, it’s very dangerous, you could be killed you know” He said “Mom, if we all stayed home there’d be no one left to go” “Dad,” he said “If this war is right it’s not for me to say” But I have to follow orders, ‘cause that’s the soldier’s way Just recently his wife received a visit and a letter Our son had died in combat and that there was not a better Leader in all their company, and that on that fateful day He’d bravely saved all of his friends, ‘cause that’s the soldier’s way He left behind a sweet young wife and beautiful little son We all are very proud of him and everything he’s done My son did his duty and he is coming home today In a flag draped wooden coffin, ‘cause that’s the soldier’s way Some have asked if I’m angry that my only son had to die I simply smile and shake my head and here is my reply My friend take a look at all you have around you here this day You have all of these lovely things, ‘cause that’s the soldier’s way My grandson looks just like his Dad in his helmet and his jeans As he plays out with his buddies, pretending they’re marines And when he falls and pretends to die, then I know right away That he has just saved all his friends, ‘cause that’s the soldier’s way For William J. Holder In memory of Jon R. "Sonny" Holder Died during the Vietnam conflict