A soldier's prayer

Tall and straight he bore his weapon
With his boots in steady beat,
Stepping proudly with his unit
Down the sunlit city street.
Brave lad chanting with the footsteps,
Neither looking left or right,
Following the nation’s banner
Straight into the endless fight.

To a land of strife and battle
Far across the wide blue sea
He has gone to help the people
Who are struggling to be free.
In the sultry heat of swampland
In the insect-ridden mire
He has grown as tough as leather
And his heart is full of fire.

Now he sees his buddies falling
One by one they meet their doom;
While the rockets light the heavens
Sadness shrouds his heart with gloom.
Like an old man bent and weary
In the muddy foxhole there
Knelt the lad in noise of battle
As he offered up a prayer.

“Heavenly father, hear your child;
Why must people suffer so?
I’m so weary of this battle…
Surely father, you must know.
In your gentle way bring comfort
To my buddies lying there,
Ease their pain with all your mercy.
This, dear father, is my prayer.”

Then he raised his eyes to heaven
And a teardrop softly fell
As he mourned for all who suffer
In that burning battle hell.
As he rose to struggle onward
Silhouette against the sky,
One lone sniper raised his rifle
And ‘twas heard a pleading cry.

Oh so young to die in battle
Far from loved ones all alone;
His still face was turned to heaven
Waiting for his journey home.

~ Author unknown

May God bless and comfort the brave men and women of our U.S. military