Rudyard Kipling"
“When you're left wounded on Afganistan's plains and
the women come out to cut up what remains, Just roll to your rifle
and blow out your brains,
And go to your God like a soldier”
General Douglas MacArthur"
“We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.”
“It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.” “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.
“The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and be the deepest wounds and scars of war.”
“May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't .” “The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.
“Nobody ever defended, there is only attack and attack and attack some more.
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
The Soldier stood and faced God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as bright as his brass
"Step forward you Soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint."
I've had to work on Sundays
And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep.
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep,
The Soldier squared his shoulders and said
And I never passed a cry for help
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here,
Lord, It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."
There was silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod
As the Soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, you Soldier,
You've borne your burden well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
(Military.com) More than 50 Navy SEALs accompanied the family of a fallen brother on Aug. 19 in Rockford, Iowa, standing near the casket of Petty Officer Jon Tumilson to offer words of remembrance or prayer.
Joining those next to the flag-draped casket throughout the entire service never was "Hawkeye," the fallen SEALs devoted pet – his "son" in the eyes of the Tumilson family, according to a report on ABC News.
"I couldn't not take take a picture" of the touching scene, said Lisa Pembleton, Tumilson's cousin. "It took several attempts since every time I wasn't crying and could focus on taking it, there was a SEAL at the microphone and I didn't want to take a picture with them for security and respect reasons."
Tumilson was one of 30 Americans who perished when their Chinook helicopter was downed by enemy fire Aug. 6 in Afghanistan.
Hawkeye is now being cared for by one of Tumilson's friends.
The identities of the SEALs at the service were not provided.
One of the speakers at the funeral said Tumilson had wanted to be part of the elite outfit "from a young age … [But] I didn't realize the depth of his desire until I stepped into his bedroom at his parent's house for the first time. His room was a shrine … pictures, paintings, books and videos all related to being a Navy SEAL."
One of Tumilson sisters noted that he was "the baby of the family," but that she always looked up to him. "You always showed so much strength, courage, determination and selfless love," she said.
"Jon was a Navy SEAL and he was proud to die this way -- for his country and for the people he loved so much," the family wrote in a statement released to the media. "We respect the nature of their jobs and the need to protect these men and women so they can continue to serve our nation; therefore, we will not provide details of Jon's military service." Hat tip: Eye On The World
