When I was stationed at Davison Army Airfield we used to be on a duty rooster to be the widow's escort and be the officer for the funeral detail. A beautiful ceremony for a terrible event that we always stood tall for. After the ceremony was over I always to a bit to walk through the graves. Mostly trying to find an aviator I knew or even a class mate who died in my generation's war, Vietnam. I served there as a pilot for a year when I was twenty. I wrote this close to the end of my tour at DAAF. Some might be able to relate.
'Soldier's Cadence'
A father's pride, a mother's delight, life progresses
Elastic hugs, warming comfort, floating dark.
Dreamy days, muted sounds, soft caresses.
Pushing throbbing, urgent contracting, curious lights
Quickening beats, seeking release, shoving limbs
Resonant cries, hands grasping, wondrous sights
Holding arms, stroking hands, loving sighs
Caring bosom, tender embrace, comforting words
Always soft, ever near, sleepy lula-byes
School bells, teenage trials, boyhood done
Ball grounds, puppy love, evening gowns
Studies over, manhood near, an American son
Country calls, Army braid, bugle sounds
Barracks life, dusty trails, sweating strains
Parade grounds, graduation cheers, pride abounds.
Assignments given, War bound, stomach flutters
Nerves steeled, loved ones calmed, plane departs
Landing bounce, wings groan, prop shudders
Days blur, nights swelter, soldiers cope
Hellish sights, endless nights, chilling fear
Departure nears, date held dear, family's hope.
A rifle shot, a medic yells, a soldier falls.
Holding arms, hard embrace, fearfilled sighs.
Caring hands, calming voice, death calls.
Flag draped, uniform medaled, homeward bound.
Coffin lowers, salute rendered, flag offered
A mother's broken heart, a father's anguished sound.
by CW4 Gene Garrett
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