WORLD WAR II - CHAPLAIN, AUS, ULMER SMITH BIRD - Coke County, TX

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Submitted by Mary Love Berryman - marylove@tyler.net
23 Sep 2000
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The Observer/Enterprise, 10 Dec 1999, Robert Lee, TX

Chaplain, AUS Ulmer Smith Bird

Chaplain, AUS Ulmer Bird served from February 7 1944 to June 6, 1946
in England, France, Luxembourg, Germany and Belgium.

The Battle of the Bulge and Battle of Germany, terminal promotion as
Major.

He served as Chaplain, at Brooke General Hospital in Fort Sam Houston,
Texas, from 1947-1948.

Ulmer and his Battalion were at Scwarzenberg Castle when the end of 
WWII came.

OPEN WINDOW by Ulmer Bird

The last long convoy has brought us
Out of the last campaign.
As deft as a boat on the Danube
Peace moves like an old refrain.

Open the castle window.
Roll up the curtains of gloom,
Let light flow out in the twilight
From this stately and gracious room.

Full throated and youthful voices
Come up from the woodland near.
Over the stone wall, music,
Release from Tension and fear.

After the storm and the scramble,
When the prophets of hate have fled,
The roar and the whine and the shamble,
Pitiful things of the dead.

Out where the lilacs are blooming,
And pines climb high up the hill,
Youth will walk on the wood paths.
With a heart that's for singing still.

Broad is my castle window.
The world has its quota of sin.
Let the blackout of hearts be lifted
And the light of the stars come in.

Germany, May 16, 1945

Permission granted by Enterpriser/Observer for publication in the
Coke County TXGenWeb Archives