BURY ME WITH SOLDIERS
Msgr. Charles Fink, formerly
Sgt., 199^th Lt. Inf. Brigade, Vietnam (1969-70)

I’ve played a lot of roles in life;

I’ve met a lot of men;

I’ve done some things I’d like to think

I wouldn’t do again.

And though I’m young, I’m old enough

To know someday I’ll die,

And think about what lies beyond,

Beside whom I would lie.

Perhaps it doesn’t matter much;

Still, if I had my choice,

I’d want a grave ‘mongst soldiers

When at last death quells my voice.

I’m sick of the hypocrisy

Of lectures by the wise.

I’ll take the man, with all his flaws,

Who goes, though scared, and dies.

The troops I knew were commonplace;

They didn’t want the war.

They fought because their fathers and

Their fathers had before.

They cursed and killed and wept—God knows

They’re easy to deride—

But bury me with men like these;

They faced the guns and died.

It’s funny, when you think of it,

The way we got along.

We’d come from different worlds,

To live in one no one belongs.

I didn’t even like them all;

I’m sure they’d all agree.

Yet I would give my life for them.

I know some did for me.

So bury me with soldiers, please,

Though much maligned they be.

Yes, bury me with soldiers, for

I miss their company.

We’ll not soon see their like again;

We’ve had our fill of war.

But bury me with men like them

Till someone else does more.