Soldier

by George L. Skypeck

I was that which others did not want to be.
I went where others feared to go,
And did what others failed to do.

I asked nothing from those who gave nothing,
And reluctantly accepted the thought of eternal loneliness should I fail.

I have seen the face of terror, felt the stinging cold of fear;
and enjoyed the sweet taste of a moment’s love.

I have, cried, pained and hoped, but most of all,
I have lived times others would say were best forgotten.

At least someday I will be able to say
that I was proud of what I was…A Soldier.

“By permission of author GEORGE L.SKYPECK,
Reg US Trademark,Copyright, All Rights reserved”

About the Author
GEORGE L. SKYPECK® ©

Military Historical Artist

GEORGE L. SKYPECK® is one of America’s most prominent military-historical commemorative artists. Among nations and places displaying his original artworks and prints are the French Airborne Museum at Ste-Mer-Eglise, Normandy; the Pentagon in Washington; the Korean War Veterans Commission and Ministry of Defense in Seoul, Republic of Korea; Luxembourg; Canberra, Australia, Returned Servicemen’s League Headquarters; the U.S. Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, West Point; the Soldier & Sailors Museum, Buffalo, NY; Arlington National Cemetery; and many military stations at home and abroad. His famous poem “Soldier” graces several state monuments to honor veterans of all wars and conflicts. His latest painting, “Assured Victory…A 09-11-2001 Memorial” was loaned for display at Arlington National Cemetery since December, 2001, in honor of the American sacrifices on that day at the Pentagon and New York City World Trade Center terrorists attacks and the “War on Terrorism” in Afghanistan, Iraq and worldwide by U.S. military and civilian forces.

GEORGE L. SKYPECK® has received several awards and commendations for his military service, and for his artwork from various public, private and governmental sectors, the most prestigious being the award of the Military Order of the Purple Heart’s George Washington Medallion of Merit, joining such recipients as Presidents Johnson, Reagan, George Bush Senior, Senator Bob Dole and actor Bob Hope.

GEORGE L. SKYPECK® is a combat-wounded and disabled Vietnam Veteran having risen to the rank of Captain from Private in the U.S. Army and holds the coveted Combat Infantryman’s Badge, two Bronze Stars, three Air Medals, Purple Heart and several foreign awards to include the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry medal, Wound medal and Honor medal (First Class). He Served two combat tours as a special warfare and senior intelligence advisor from 1967-71 in isolated outposts. During the “Tet Offensive of 1968” battle in Ben-Tre, his outpost coined the famous quote “We had to destroy the town to save it..!” His last assignment on active duty with the Army Recruiting Command in Boston, Massachusetts, was to design and conduct John Wayne’s internationally famous arrival into Harvard Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts, atop an M-113 armored personnel carrier as a public support event with the Harvard’s Lampoon and Hasty Pudding Club. After release from active duty, he attended the University of Massachusetts at Boston and Amherst earning a Bachelor in Political Science and a Master in Public Administration and attended MIT for special graduate studies in Arms Control and Defense Planning. He studied art at the Corcoran Museum in Washington and had a studio in the Stars & Stripes newspaper building. He is the creator of the Coors Combat Art collection, co-creator of the Coors Scholarship Fund for veterans dependents and the newly published Coors book of his artworks,“The Defenders Of Freedom”. His name is a registered trademark. He is a native of Massachusetts.