A Soldier’s Prayer

Medal of Honor recipient Col. Lewis Millett – who passed away this Saturday – wrote this poem in memory of soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrifice, especially his youngest son who was one of 248 soldiers killed while returning from a peacekeeping mission in Sinai, Egypt in 1985.

A SOLDIER’S PRAYER – by Col. Lewis L. Millett

I’ve fought when others feared to serve.
I’ve gone where many failed to go.
I’ve lost friends in war and strife, who valued duty over the love of life.
I’ve shared the comradeship of pain
I’ve searched these lands for men that we’ve lost.
I’ve sons who’ve served our land of liberty who’d fight to see that other lands are free.
I’ve seen the weak forsake humanity.
I’ve heard fakers praise our enemy.
I’ve seen challenged men stand ever bolder.
I’ve seen the duty, the honor, the sacrifice of the soldier.
Now, I understand the meaning of all lives,
The lives of comrades of not so long ago.
So to you who answered duties siren call, may
God bless you my son, may God bless you all.