A few weeks back I was talking with a young man who thought there was never a need to fight let alone go to war.\u00a0 A slightly frame with soft and fragile hands.<\/p>\n
I quoted Orwell’s \u201cPeople sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.\u201d\u00a0 He responded, “I sleep fine, nobody needs to do violence for me.”<\/p>\n
I realized in that moment that it’s not my time anymore.\u00a0 It is his time, a time of peace and soft things that makes him unaware.\u00a0 \u00a0The wolves had never been to this young mans door.<\/p>\n
I remembered something that was penned by one of our long time contributors here.\u00a0 I asked if I could share:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\nThe Sheepdogs<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n
Most humans truly are like sheep<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
Wanting nothing more than peace to keep<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
To graze, grow fat and raise their young,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
Sweet taste of clover on the tongue.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
Their lives serene upon Life\u2019s farm,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
They sense no threat nor fear no harm.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
On verdant meadows, they forage free<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
With naught to fear, with naught to flee.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
They pay their sheepdogs little heed<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
For there is no threat; there is no need.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
To the flock, sheepdog\u2019s are mysteries,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
Roaming watchful round the peripheries.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
These fang-toothed creatures bark, they roar<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
With the fetid reek of the carnivore,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
Too like the wolf of legends told,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
To be amongst our docile fold.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
Who needs sheepdogs? What good are they?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
They have no use, not in this day.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
Lock them away, out of our sight<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
We have no need of their fierce might.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
But sudden in their midst a beast<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
Has come to kill, has come to feast<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
The wolves attack; they give no warning<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
Upon that calm September morning<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
They slash and kill with frenzied glee<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
Their passive helpless enemy<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
Who had no clue the wolves were there<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
Far roaming from their Eastern lair.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
Then from the carnage, from the rout,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
Comes the cry, \u201cTurn the sheepdogs out!\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
Thus is our nature but too our plight<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
To keep our dogs on leashes tight<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
And live a life of illusive bliss<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
Hearing not the beast, his growl, his hiss.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
Until he has us by the throat,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
We pay no heed; we take no note.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
Not until he strikes us at our core<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
Will we unleash the Dogs of War<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
Only having felt the wolf pack\u2019s wrath<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
Do we loose the sheepdogs on its path.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
And the wolves will learn what we\u2019ve shown before;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
We love our sheep, we Dogs of War.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Russ Vaughn<\/em><\/p>\n
2d Bn, 327th Parachute Infantry Regiment<\/em><\/p>\n
101st Airborne Division<\/em><\/p>\n