THANKS TO ALL THE VETS WHO SERVED AND ARE SERVING

We owe you, who were so young, so much, to your brothers in arms who will forever remain  young in your memories and to your families.  Thank you, in so many languages, and over so many years and conflicts, thank you to those who served and are serving.

 

CARENTAN OH CARENTAN    

Trees in the old days used to stand 

And shape a shady lane

Where lovers wandered hand in hand

Who came from Carentan

this was the shining green canal

where we came two by two

walking at combat-interval

Such trees we never knew.

The day way early June, the ground

was soft and bright with dew.

Far away the guns did sound,

But here the sky was blue.

The Sky was blue, but there was smoke

Hung still above the sea

Where ships together spoke 

                                 to towns that we could not see.

Could you have seen us through a glass

You would have said a walk

of farmers out to turn the grass.

Each with his own hay-fork.

The watchers in their leopard suits

waited till it was time,

And amined between the belt and boot

And let the barrel climb.

 

I must lie down at once, there is

A hammer at my knee.

And callit death or cowardice,

Don't count again on me.

Everything's all right, Mother,
Everyone gets the same
At one time or another.
It's all in the game  

I never strolled, nor ever shall,

Down such a leay lane.

I never drank in a canal, 

nor ever shall again.

There is a whistling in the leaves
And it is not the wind,
The twigs are falling from the knives
That cut men to the ground.

Tell me, Master-Sergeant,
The way to turn and shoot.
But the Sergeant's silent
That taught me how to do it.

O Captain, show us quickly
Our place upon the map.
But the Captain's sickly
And taking a long nap.

Lieutenant, what's my duty,
My place in the platoon?
He too's a sleeping beauty,
Charmed by that strange tune.

Carentan O Carentan
Before we met with you
We never yet had lost a man
Or known what death could do.

--Louis Simpson--

Served with the 101st Airborne Division, WWII