20170823 slowwalker
I found a poem in my computer.
It was taken into the photo for several months ago when I had visited a war memorial far away from Seoul.
It is one of my hobby to look around the museum and the historical sites. At that time that poem was very impressive, so I took a photo.
Here I typed that poem.
The Death of A Friend
-omitted-
The Sergeant told us to leave as we could no longer hold
We made a dash to Paul’s hill our movement were fast and bold
As we climbed the hill under fire looking for a route to escape
I spied a soldier in a foxhole and he was wearing Paul’s smiling face
We smiled and shook hands and in the ribs we gave each other a poke
I had one Philip Morris cigarette that I broke in half for us to smoke
But soon we saw the mortar shells getting closer with each round
We leaped from that foxhole to seek safety on higher ground
We started shooting immediately as we saw the enemy reach the crest
In the flash of a moment Paul was mortally wounded
In the head and in the chest
What a nightmare to see my friend dying such a horrible death
Oh Father
why did I have to suffer through this awful gruesome test
For I was there from the start to his dying and tearful end
I hugged my dearest buddy my companion and closer friend
His ashen face took on the mask of death
I was there when my dearest friend took his final dying breath
Oh paul, my dearest friend
if I could sit down with you and drink a toast I would touch you glass
and know that never again to a man would I ever be as close
But one thing I’ll do for you that I promised after that fight
I’ll pray for you forever my friend as long as God gives me the night.
This poem was written in memory of author’s dearest friend Paul Larson, who died in the first combat in Korean War on July 5 1950.
Joseph A. Langone, Paul’s friend, wrote this poem in June 1995 nearly 45 years later.
When I read this poem in the museum, some kinds of strong feeling seemed to hit me on my head. I know 34000 US soldiers were Killed in Action in Korean war. But I had known that numbers as the numbers.
While reading a poem, the numbers came into my mind not as a number but as a life that had suffered pain of death in the war.
There was a monument outside of the museum in memory of the first combat of US army in
Korea.
The name of the battle was a Chukmiryeong battle where one infantry battalion, known as Smith Task Force, had engaged in. General MacArthur sent them to stop the communist military attack to gain times to establish the defense line in Nackdong River.
Some history book had wrote that they were defeated in the Chukmuryeong battle.
They couldn’t stop the enemy attack, the size of all most infantry Division. To stop the offense of the Division with a battalion is not normal order. In this order, I could read General MacArthur’s strong will, with the sacrifice of a battalion to attain time to deploy the main force from US across the sea. So it was an impossible mission at very beginning. But Smith Task Force had resisted more than 12 hours in the Chukmiryeonееg battle at the cost of the soldiers’ sacrifice.
What did Paul think at his last moment ? Parents were waiting for his homecoming. He might be teenager. In the hometown, his girlfriend was supposed to be waiting for him.
Joseph A. Langone who wrote that poem, must’ve remembered the moment of a death of his friend’s.
There were the inscription around the monument.
I heard that there was an original monument cross the road.
The original monument was a humble one.
On my way home, Paul’s death in Korean war made me think that history of Korea was composed of so many incidents including the strangers’ miserable sacrifices.
I was so sorry to Paul and his family.
I have a son 21 years old. I could understand the feeling that Paul's parents felt.
We are standing on that sacrifices.
a death of a friend.... I know the feeling about that pain. When I was 12 years old, my best and only friend dies during a hole in the heart. one day come that they told me that he is gone. I was not be able to go the funeral, to hard and to shocking for me. after that it was a hard tie coming, I had no friends in my classes... never mind. nice poem, which remember me again on that time. upvoted
https://steemit.com/dtube/@roviellyon/motivate-yourself. Upvotes for upvotes... Promise to up vote ur latest steem.... Lets start
That is so sad. It is like you were in the hole with him watching him die. What a great piece of poetry. He told the story well.
woudl love to visit the DPRK , after the kim regime..
Saya sangat mengerti apa yang mereka rasakan ketika berada di dalam perang, karena sering melihat film kisah nyata tentang perperangan.
Memang sangat menyakitkan ketika sedang sekarat dan melihat teman sekarat
Poems that touch the hearts and hearts of people who read them, Poems written with heart, and must be read with the eyes of the heart.
Continue to write beautiful works
Nice to meet You
@iskandarpcc
Follow And upvote
Very true!!!
Thank you
Very emotional post. Sacrifices never go in vain.
thx for sharing
Nice post bro full of feeling
Thank you
Very deep and touching poem, everybody gotta make sacrifices sometimes
Worthy of appreciation to you, indeed you are a person who loves history. As for what I really like when reading poetry in your post is I had one Philip Morris cigarette that I broke in half for us to smoke [Marlboro].
Great post @slowwalker
Thanks for sharing.
Have a nice day..^^
Thank you
It reminds me of the time of the first war that was in my city. My brother died at the age of 33 years and was terrible for his family. Good post friends.
I am so sorry for your loss
@slowwalker
very touching poem... wars are never good but human history is shaped by conflicts and was... thanks for sharing this...
Thank you for reading
welcome dear and find time to check out my posts
Steem on! @slowwalker
Thank you so much
@slowwalker,
That's a great story behind the great sculpture. A good example for the world made up with blood and sacrifices!
Thanks for sharing such amazing photography with great traveling experiences!
Cheers~
Thank you
Thats a good history brother @slowwalker keep great writing.. I like your post
Thank you so much
You are wlcome @slowwalker
Ohyeah... I have special design founder steemit face (ned)
Can you see that...
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Maybe.. Can iam design your username maybe in a pict.. For to be a partnert in steemit 😊
Really heart touching !
War never gave us peace it just gave bad memories .
" But soon we saw the mortar shells getting closer with each round
We leaped from that foxhole to seek safety on higher ground" are really touching lines for me.
Salute for the heroes and lets pray for peace forever.
I am sorry for them who were killed in the war
Unfortunately that's life..we have to make a lot of sacrifices...
The fewer, the better.
Thanks for sharing this. I just followed you. Upvote.
Thank you so much @galaxyandbeyond
simly great post liked and upvoted thank you
Thank you so much
I like your articles, I with impatience expect something new. thank you very much that by sharing this story here. Keep up the good work. :)
Sacrifices makes a nation great .
Absolutely right dear
And make people miserable
It's really very sad. My brother died at the age of 23 and it is horrible for our family. War is something vile.
So sad to hear
Hello my dear friend
Your account is being followed by me
This post was sent to my account and I supported you
I visit your account daily
Good luck, dear friend 🙏🏻 " @haji "
Oh god...jesus dont do dis to anyone..life is auspicious....
Great post .. thanks for sharing great history
Thank you so much
That's a great story
god bless everyone ! thanks your post !
nice comment
GOD bless every Human
Nice poem man, I like it. your writing is also very good. Keep it up.
very nice post ...
thanks for sharing...
upvoted and followed...!!
Thank you
A very nice story brother @slowwalker, long did not provide comments to your posts, the loss feels after reading an interesting postings like this without providing a good comment. I always love your posts with @slowwalker, helpful and also gives lessons on history, although it is not history that exists in our country, but I am glad I could always read the articles you brother, thank you for sharing. ;)
Thank you for your comment
This sacrifice always link in war time.
Sacrifices are in everyplace
Wow bauteful post I also like to take photo
Heart touching poem
Really like your post dude...keep posting
Join my autoblog! Interesting news&facts
I hope the state of korea remains safe, what do the north korea to ignite the war, hopefully not do, very many victims of every war, war is not the best way, peace is our desire all
Nice poem
Liked it very much. It gets in to you and makes you think. Thank you.
That poem really touched me..
I love this kind of stuffs..
What amazing poem.....we can see the past by going to museum. In my city, i could not find any museum like that...we have only one museum which is located in the province of Aceh and i have to take 8 yours to get there....Lol
hi @slowwaker Good I really like your post
wow. I'm deeply touched by this poem as well. I've had a friend who was in the army, and he said he saw his best friend pass away in front of him. I can only image how awful it is.
Thank you for sharing this poem.
hii @slowwalker am a newbie in steemit. i have follow you and upvote. why not you folback and upvote me. i am @abu.amann help me to learning
hii @slowwalker am a newbie in steemit. i have follow you and upvote. why not you folback and upvote me. i am @abu.amann help me to learning
Wow man. Interesting content in this post! Loving the pictures. What camera did you use?
Talk soon!
Sacrifice is the foundation of the future.
Very good I like this poem :) I hope you make more soon :)