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Monday, May 28, 2012

THE LAST CASUALTY

public domain photo of the World War II Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial in Saint-Avold, France.

The Last Casualty
 PSC / April 2010

He’s buried in Lorraine, France.
Imagine, if you will,
his mother’s pain
upon learning
her young soldier son
shot by a sniper unaware
peace had already been declared.



True story:  John Smyk, an uncle I never met, was shot by sniper fire several days after V-E Day (Victory in Europe) had been declared.  
He was barely 20 years old.  His body is buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery, Lorraine, France.  Rest in peace.  

photos by PSC


Photo credit:  Public domain photo from the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) web site per their copyright info:

Photo Licensing

Public domain This work is in the public domain in the United States because it is a work prepared by an officer or employee of the United States Government as part of that person’s official duties under the terms of Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105 of the US Code. See Copyright. Note: This only applies to original works of the Federal Government and not to the work of any individual U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, county, municipality, or any other subdivision. This template also does not apply to postage stamp designs published by the United States Postal Service since 1978. (See 206.02(b) of Compendium II: Copyright Office Practices). It also does not apply to certain US coins, see The US Mint Terms of Use.

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4 comments:

  1. How sad, Pam. This poem is a tribute, for sure. So glad you shared this here. Take care.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Patricia. It IS sad, and all the more so, I think, for being true. Thanks for stopping by & commenting. :-)

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  2. OH. My.Heart. Heavens, this packs a punch. Goodness. I feel as though the very wind has been knocked out of me. Can you imagine?
    Powerful stuff, Pamela.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, De. It breaks my heart whenever I recall the story. I can't imagine -- and don't want to. Thanks for stopping by and reading.

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