Another Veteran Died Today

Ted Folkert

April 4, 2015

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Hite died a couple of days ago. He was one of the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders pilots, 80 men who flew B-25 bombers to strike Tokyo in 1942. Eight of them were captured, three executed and several others died at sea. Hite was captured and held prisoner for 40 months, losing 100 pounds of his body weight during captivity. He was liberated in 1945.

But that experience didn’t deter Hite from doing his perceived duty again. He returned to activity duty in 1951 during the Korean War. Hite obviously demonstrated his bravery, patriotism, and willingness to give his life for his country, traits perhaps not appreciated enough by those of us who never faced the enemy in battle. May this brave soul rest in peace with the memory that he did all he could to protect our freedom and safety.

This, of course, reminds me of poem which you may have read, but one worth repeating every time a veteran dies:

 Veteran Died Today

 He was getting old and paunchy, And his hair was falling fast,

And he sat around the Legion, Telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he once fought in, And the deeds that he had done,

In his exploits with his buddies; They were heroes, every one.

 And ‘tho sometimes to his neighbors, His tales became a joke,

All his buddies listened quietly, For they knew where of he spoke.

 But we’ll hear his tales no longer, For ol’ Joe has passed away,

And the world’s a little poorer, For a Veteran died today.

 He won’t be mourned by many, Just his children and his wife.

For he lived an ordinary, Very quiet sort of life.

 He held a job and raised a family, Going quietly on his way;

And the world won’t note his passing, ‘Tho a Veteran died today.

 When politicians leave this earth, Their bodies lie in state,

While thousands note their passing, And proclaim that they were great.

 Papers tell of their life stories, From the time that they were young,

But the passing of a Veteran Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

 Is the greatest contribution, To the welfare of our land,

Some jerk who breaks his promise, And cons his fellow man?

 Or the ordinary fellow, Who in times of war and strife,

Goes off to serve his country, And offers up his life?

 The politician’s stipend, And the style in which he lives,

Are often disproportionate, To the service that he gives.

 While the ordinary Veteran, Who offered up his all,

Is paid off with a medal, And perhaps a pension, small.

 It is not the politicians, With their compromise and ploys,

Who won for us the freedom, That our country now enjoys.

 Should you find yourself in danger, With your enemies at hand,

Would you really want some cop-out, With his ever-waffling stand?

 Or would you want a Veteran, His home, his country, his kin,

Just a common Veteran, Who would fight until the end.

 He was just a common Veteran, And his ranks are growing thin,

But his presence should remind us, We may need his likes again.

 For when countries are in conflict, We find the Veteran’s part,

Is to clean up all the troubles, That the politicians start.

 If we cannot do him honor, While he’s here to hear the praise,

Then at least let’s give him homage, At the ending of his days.

 Perhaps just a simple headline, In the paper that might say:

“OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, A VETERAN DIED TODAY.”

 Author ‘Unknown’