Ode to an Ordinary Soldier
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I was an Ordinary Soldier
There are lots like me
Now I am much older
But I used to dress like a tree
I served in Australia
I served overseas
I never failed ya
Now I got bad knees
I was nothing special
I didn’t write a book
I didn’t cover my face
I didn’t have the look
I retired without a trace
I got no extra gongs
I’m not seen on TV
I haven’t written no songs
Nor do I have a city key
Some of us are dead
Some of us are hurt
Some of us are not right in the head
I trained at High Range
I trained in Shoalwater Bay
I suffered on Pucka Range
I trained day after day
I was an Ordinary Soldier
Not all of us deployed
I thought I told ya
We were ready to use our toys
Cadets Chocos then ARA
I’ve been all the way
I got shot at
I got rocketed
I donned my hard hat
But couldn’t fire back
I went outside the wire
I was scared the first time
After a while the fear lost its fire
I was resigned to the fact
The troop was good at their job
I knew I would be backed
I really miss that mob
Now I battle each day with pain and no sleep
I try not to wake the misses
By not making a peep
I fight DVA now like too many others
These obstructionist public servant fat cats
Have no idea what it’s like to serve with brothers
My local RSL as well is controlled by a bunch of rats
Some of my mates have been killed by the enemy
Some of my mates have killed themselves
Some of my mates have lost their family
Some are not even mates at all
But they are still my family
I think of the great men who trained me
I think of the lads I trained and still see
More than one now is a cop
I hope I did a good job to bring them home in one piece
I know I lost one named “Pop”
May he rest in peace
I whinge about my foot
I go on about my knees
I grumble about the ringing in my ears
I complain about the pain in my back
But I’ve got all my parts to enjoy for years
Unlike the young bloke who was blown up in Irac
He’s blind
Mates for Mates got his back
On ANZAC Day they look at my chest
I don’t wear all those badges
To see if I’ve been put to the test
They don’t understand it’s not the number or type of medals we wear
It’s about the old mates that we care
Together forever Brothers-in-Arms
By Peter Rewko
25 January 2016
Dedicated to Ordinary Soldiers and all my long suffering English Teachers.
Peter Rewko spent 33 years in the Regular and Reserve Army, and deployed overseas on exercises and operations, including Iraq in 2008. He was in the Cavalry for the majority of that time. He is still married after 25 years, with two adult sons. He lives in Beaudesert, Queensland.
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