I was down at the legion
Knocking back one or two
When in walked an old member
Who fought in World War Two
I got in line behind him
And when he ordered his brew
I made a signal to the barkeep
I paid for his too
He turned and said thank you
I'm on a pension as a vet
1100 dollars monthly
Is all the cash I get
I said to him "no, thank you"
I'm happy to buy your beer
I owe a lot to you
I owe you all that I hold dear
He said to me "t'was nothing"
"you would do the same"
"And I'd do it again"
"If the call ever came"
He looked round the room
And he sipped at his beer
Then he leaned in real close
So just I could hear
"Son, I'll be honest"
"And I don't make no bones'
"The kids of today"
"They just ain't got the stones"
"The stones to step forward"
"To get up and fight"
"To defend flag and country"
"To do what is right"
I said, in most cases
He'd hit the nail on the head
It's a battle at worst
To get a kid out of bed
The times are a'changing
It was different back then
It took a lot less
To turn boys into men
"A soldier's a cowboy
He's one for the books
There's not many in here
I can tell with one look"
"I just did my duty
No less and no more
War isn't a game
Where someone keeps score"
He sat back and his eyes closed
Said "the next one's on me"
"I don't drink that much
But, at most I have three"
I accepted his offer
And we talked a bit more
We talked baseball, and race cars
But not of the war
That was the past
And the past is long dead
Except for the pictures
He has in his head
I went up to the bar
And I set up an account
I would cover his tab
To a certain amount
What he did for our country
And what he did for me
Is worth a couple of beer
Or at least, each day....three