When your country sent its young men out to face A fearsome test of courage and of nerve, A true professional, you
never shirked You volunteered, not once, but twice to serve. The enemy you faced in Vietnam Fought long
and hard against you, but you knew This was an enemy you could respect Soldiers doing their duty, just like you.
Back home you found a different enemy Dark pinstriped suits the uniform they wore; You fought them in the
corridors of power You fought them in a new and dirty war. They were the bureaucrats and politicians And
lawyers representing corporate bosses Who smile while gloating over paper profits Never caring to count human losses.
You took them on, although the odds were great, Always believing right was on your side; For you were
only seeking out the truth Uncovering what they tried so hard to hide. Your body wracked with pain from battle
wounds, Cruel cancer weakening your will to live; The spirit of the Anzacs drove you on To fight - until you
had no more to give. For an N.C.O. must take care of his men That message had become your lifelong creed;
The Anzac spirit - look after your mates No matter who the foe, or what the need. In life you found no
comfort from the pain And so you sought to find your own release; But no-one could have fought a better fight The
war is over mate, now rest in peace. Lachlan Irvine
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