The quiet man spoke

Just words and a memory.

                        The quiet man spoke

My mentor, my friend. 

You drank till you could no-more. Five D.W.I's, left you walking and I was blessed to able to know you. You were a 35 year Veteran who never complained. You took care of us soldiers. You saved me twice before I befriended you.

I drove you to work and back for one year. The whiskey dry-rotten your stomach and the Army forced you out. Even with death near. You loved to laugh and get me in deep trouble.

We shared your last five month at the Seaside bowling and dancing club. Always surrounded by the girls and the old soldiers. We loved the Sergeant Major who fought in the Korea and Vietnam war. Never once did you discuss the war. I remembered he told me. "Johnnie, old soldiers must teach the soldiers right. No mistakes in war. You fight to win and you will lose your soul. Train them boys hard. Hard trained soldiers can survive my friend."

I was called at work. He died surrounded by his dear friends. My friend left instructions. Sergeant C. will do my final business. He left a Will. A thousand dollar for Sergeant C., 1/2 the money to my niece and 1/2 to the Red Cross.

500 people stood at the Sergeant Major final walk. Tears fell for the kind man. I remembered his face, I remembered him singing Hank Williams songs at the tavern. I remembered his last words to me. "Thank you Johnnie, my good friend. You have accepted my good days and my bad days. You have been my friend. We shall have few people who will walk the final walk with you. You and my kind friends did. I want you to take care of my girls at the bar. They were my daughters, I didn't have. Johnnie, don't be sad for me. I lived a wonderful life. I was a soldier and I wouldn't trade one day. Please Johnnie, quit the service before the blood kill the leftover good in you."

He left little. His small apartment had his ribbons and many photos. Many photos of him, when he was young. I wrapped them in a box and I send them to his niece. I remember he thanks me often and he told the girls. Be kind to each other. Life is too hard already.

                                                Coyote

Author's Note

Just words.

Reviews

[Neville]

Fine words, mighty fine memories.. and no greater love have any man for any man he calls a friend and brother.. the sharing of life's bitter, sweet and sour seals that bond, and may it last forever.. Fine words, mighty fine memories my good poet, friend and brother... N

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Neville. Remembered a old friend.

[Neville]

and very well remembered too..

[Kelly Scheppers]

I love the quote you wrote here, Nev...how "no greater love have any man for any man he calls a friend and brother".

[Neville]

why thank you Kelly, how very kind of you to mention that..

[Wild Rose]

No not just words
Words saying about kindness to an old friend
One who served without complaint, did his duty for his country and paid the price

wish their could be more like him

[Coyote Poetry]

Many like him. Old soldiers do their duty and never complain. Thank you Wild Rose for reading and the comment.

[Patricia Wedel]

Yes, and in the end, we laugh and pray that heaven is like a day when friends would stay and listen to Hank Williams 🎶 sing, I’m walking the Shore over you... truly, Pat

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Pat. I appreciate the kind words.

[Patricia Wedel]

dear John... in heaven there must be a Shore... I know Hank’s song says walking the Floor. Perhaps Hank, Sr. Would approve.

[Jon Roggie]

A fine remembrance, and let us lift a glass to the Sergeant Major. He will surely go to heaven, because he has spent his time in hell.

[Coyote Poetry]

I believe he went to a better place. Thank you Jon for reading and the comment my friend.

[Cherrie Palmer]

Not just words, a powerful story

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Cherrie.

[john l smith]

A moving tribute
certainly life is difficult enough without trying to make it more so
Thanks for sharing
Dave

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Dave. Certain holidays brought back the memories of the good days when youth was my wealth.

[Ana Papaya]

I love how you capture a memory with so much feeling.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Ana. Good friend missed.

[Kelly Scheppers]

These words should strike a nerve in us all. I love what Neville said below, and I think it applies abundantly here. "No greater love have any man for any man he calls a friend and brother." What a beautiful read this is, John. Bless you.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you dear Kelly. I appreciate your kind words.

[Kelly Scheppers]

Forgive me, John, for not acknowledging the video, "Band the Drum Slowly". The enormity of it truly overwhelmed me, more than I can say.

[Paul Bell]

The dead are amongst us.
The living below.
Soldiers we once knew.
Now Soldiers no more.

Medals and photos.
Always the epitaph to our heroes.

[Coyote Poetry]

You are right my friend. Medals and photos. What soldier own at death. Thank you Paul for reading and the comment.