Unfurl the colours of those who’ve served
In times past and places far away
Unfurl those pennants and ensigns bright
Let us show them in proud array
Unfurl the colours of those who fought
And would do so again even today
Show off those banners of those who fell
So young and who shall never grow grey
Padre
“Remember, everything is possible as long as you have a positive attitude, and truly believe you will succeed. Rest assured, Lads, I am right here behind you!”
“Okay, Sir; so as long as we keep believing that we can climb out of our trench in the face of pre-sighted machine guns, cross one hundred yards of waist-deep mud, shell-holes, and broken wire, and then work our way through an additional fifty yard wide mine field before climbing their barbed wire obstacles, we should take their trench easy-peasey?” Private Grant asked.
“I think that sums it up pretty well, Lad,” the captain replied.
“Well, let’s give it a go then,” Grant said confidently.
You just have to appreciate our education system, the captain thought to himself as he lined the eager replacements up for the assault.
Padre
Conflict seems to be a situation that humanity has a hard time avoiding. Jesus said there would be wars and rumours of wars, and that is manifested again and again even in our “enlightened” modern era. What we have tried to do is negotiate resolutions to those conflicts and where necessary “help the process along.” I have friends that have been part of that process (whether for good or for bad) as “Peacekeepers.” They served in Beirut and in Bosnia respectively, and it seems the experience has left more of a mark on them, than they let on those lands.
There have been successes I am sure, but it is the struggles (if not failures) that capture our attention. Below are links to the trailers for three films in which the story of the “Peacekeepers” is given. While they may not be totally accurate in historical terms, they do give an insight.
The first is about the 1961 UN intervention in the Congo, which involved Irish (and other) UN troops.
The United Nations again intervened in the civil war and ethnic cleansing that followed the collapse of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s. It gives a representation of the trials of British UN Peacekeepers in that intervention.
The UN and later the US in support of the UN entered Somalia at approximately the same time as the events in Bosnia. Black Hawk Down tells some of that story.
Hopefully there will come a day when we don’t need military intervention to find “peace.”
Padre
Advancing forward
To the heavy beat
Steadily onward
No retreat
Watching your dressing
Holding firelocks waist high
Boldly marching
As the colours fly
Padre
I met a chief, grizzled and getting baldy
Long of tooth and extremely salty
A coffee cup in his claw-like grip
That remained horizontal
Despite the pitch of the ship
He strode the deck quite aloof
It was his Navy! And that’s the truth
Padre
I served just four years with the Corps
Then it was college that was in store
But an 0311 I’m proud to be
Taking pride in being infantry
That MOS has left a legacy
An iffy back, and even worse knee
But I’d do it again if it were called on me
To keep my friends and countrymen free
Padre
The military are masters of nomenclature. You do have to understand their unique world-view, however. Back in the ‘80s, our canned rations were replaced by MREs. In typical straight forward military-speak that was the acronym for “Meal Ready to Eat.” It was an accurate description I guess if what you mean by “ready to eat” is that it still requires the rehydration of various freeze-dried components such as shredded potato breakfast patties, also known as Styrofoam.
Padre
Lonely sentinel in the post-midnight chill
Darkness your world surrounds
Listening breathlessly to every sound
From beyond the perimeter measured
Was that snap a creature natural
By its nocturnal foraging made,
Or is an intruder sneaking up
To toss a hand granade?
The sound has passed, and so you breathe
Relieved that the threat has passed
And you await the moment when
You stand relieved at last
“No fire or disorder” to report
To your hooch you will crawl
And pray the next watch
Is uneventful
For tomorrow new duties will bring
As soon as it is light
After a near sleepless night
Devoid of any dreams
Padre
“Okay Marines, liberty is scheduled to commence at 1100. Unless this field day is finished, not a single one of you wastes of space is setting foot out of this barracks,” the sergeant snapped, before turning on his heel and heading back to his office.
“You heard him,” Corporal Chin said to his squad. “Meissner and Reece empty those shit cans. White and Cortez get this deck swabbed. Doc, you and Smitty get the head swabbed.”
The head was a daunting proposition, but Hospitalman Davis used Navy ingenuity, finishing on time by overflowing the toilets to speed the mopping.
Padre
Flash Fiction Challenge: Chores
A sadly semi-autobiographical tale.
They called it a hike, but it was more like a marathon while carrying bowling balls. Twelve miles with full pack, rifle, and helmet. Did I mention that it was raining and the red clay swallowed not only boots but legs to the knee. Hike indeed.
Hike of rain and mud
Burdened and wet to the sin
Twelve miles and then warmth
Padre
Padre's Ramblings 