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Just another soldier...

Posted by Smokey Stover on December 08, 2007

In Reply to: Just another soldier... posted by Judi Stiles on December 07, 2007

: Searching for origin of this phrase, "And when he gets to Heaven, to St Peter he will tell: "Just another soldier reporting Sir - I've served my time in hell!"

This epitaph exists in two versions. The Wikipedia reports this one.

And when he gets to Heaven,
To St. Peter he will tell:
One more soldier reporting sir,
I've served my time in Hell.

An epitaph on the Grave of the Unknown Soldier in Guadalcanal.

Another substitutes "Marine" for "soldier." It has been attributed to Sgt. James A. Donahue, United States Marine Corps. It commemorates one of the fiercest engagements in the effort to wrest Guadalcanal Island (in the Solomon Island chain) from the Japanese and hold it. See, for the attribution,

www.guadalcanaljournal.com/

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