PLEASURE TO SERVE

A couple of days before Remembrance Day, 2006, I was watching an interview with Dick Hartwick, my wife's grandfather. He was revisiting the battlegrounds and cemeteries of Italy where he had fought during the Second World War. His stories of personal sacrifices and hardships, and his experiences the horrors of war were very gripping. I was a bit intimidated, to say the least, by the thought of writing a song that would do him justice--I can only hope it has. I salute you, Sergeant Hartwick.

He was bigger than life to all that he knew
And his word was as good as you could get
His honour was as thick as the shell of his tank
And on that your very life you could bet

He left behind his bride and went off to fight the war
Said goodbye to a son he’d hardly seen
Gave up five long years for his country
And stood up for what he believed

Chorus

He was a soldier of war, a soldier of life
And he led with a calm steel nerve
His words they chiseled in stone when he died
To you all it was a pleasure to serve

He never counted himself a hero
Never doubted the job he had to do
He was proud to do his duty and proud to do it well
Every order that they gave, he’d carried through

He said I’m not sure why I made it out of my tank alive
When I visit the graves of my men
I guess faith plays a part in all of our lives
For that I’m thankful to God and them

Chorus

I heard him say it was worth every minute
All the scars and all the sacrifice
Just to know his family had their freedom
Would not trade that at any price

Chorus

Words by Harley Carmen. Music by Harley Carmen / Roy CodeIntro instrumental music by Ben Karlstrom.
Copyright © 2007 Harley Carmen / Roy Code (Socan) Ben Karlstrom (SOCAN).