Heard Today . . .

The following two songs were performed or played at the funeral service of my friend and colleague Bob White, a U.S. Army Special Forces veteran, respected commercial Realtor, and principal broker at my office.

A courageous, short-term battle against cancer, borne with great dignity. Not surprising from an old SF soldier who played the hand he was dealt and fought the good fight . . . as best he could, to the end. His last mission, self-imposed, was to live until Christmas. He made it and then some, by a few days. A hero for his country, a hero at home, a hero in the office, Bob will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.

Today I witnessed an incredibly moving tribute, to a humble man who never asked anything of me except how he could help.

The Ballad of the Green Beret

Fighting soldiers from the sky
Fearless men who jump and die
Men who mean just what they say
The brave men of the Green Beret

Silver wings upon their chest
These are men, America's best
One hundred men will test today
But only three win the Green Beret

Trained to live off nature's land
Trained in combat, hand-to-hand
Men who fight by night and day
Courage peak from the Green Berets

Silver wings upon their chest
These are men, America's best
One hundred men will test today
But only three win the Green Beret

Back at home a young wife waits
Her Green Beret has met his fate
He has died for those oppressed
Leaving her his last request

Put silver wings on my son's chest
Make him one of America's best
He'll be a man they'll test one day
Have him win the Green Beret.

American Soldier

I'm just trying to be a father,

Raise a daughter and a son,

Be a lover to their mother,

Everything to everyone.

Up and at 'em bright and early,

I'm all business in my suit,

Yeah, I'm dressed for success from my head down to my boots,

I don't do it for money, there's still bills that I can't pay,

I don't do it for the glory, I just do it anyway,

Providing for our future's my responsibility,

Yeah I'm real good under pressure, being all that I can be,

And I can't call in sick on Mondays when the weekend's been too strong,

I just work straight through the holidays,

And sometimes all night long.

You can bet that I stand ready when the wolf growls at the door,

Hey, I'm solid, hey I'm steady, hey I'm true down to the core,

And I will always do my duty, no matter what the price,

I've counted up the cost, I know the sacrifice,

Oh, and I don't want to die for you,

But if dying's asked of me,

I'll bear that cross with an honor,

'Cause freedom don't come free.

I'm an American soldier, an American,

Beside my brothers and my sisters I will proudly take a stand,

When liberty's in jeopardy I will always do what's right,

I'm out here on the front lines, so sleep in peace tonight.

American soldier, I'm an American,

An American,

An American Soldier