Michelle Malkin » Bill Faith, R.I.P.

Bill Faith, R.I.P.

By Michelle Malkin • January 17, 2009 03:45 PM

I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of blogger Bill Faith. He died of a heart attack and had been in ill health.

Bill ran the blog Small Town Veteran and founded/contributed to Old War Dogs. I linked to his work many times over the years. He was also a valuable commenter here at mm.com. A Vietnam veteran, Bill was a stalwart defender of our armed forces and, as you can see from his blog, a man who loved his family. He described himself as “Baby boomer, nerdy kid, Viet Nam veteran, engineer, daddy, grandpa. Politically incorrect. Proud anti-idiotarian.” The epigram at the top of his personal blog:

“For those who have fought for it, freedom has a taste the protected will never know.”

In addition to his own passionate and patriotic blogging, Bill featured the moving poetry of fellow veteran Russ Vaughn. One of those pieces, Sheepdogs, was inspired by a post at milblog Blackfive.

The Sheepdogs

Most humans truly are like sheep
Wanting nothing more than peace to keep
To graze, grow fat and raise their young,
Sweet taste of clover on the tongue.
Their lives serene upon Life’s farm,
They sense no threat nor fear no harm.
On verdant meadows, they forage free
With naught to fear, with naught to flee.
They pay their sheepdogs little heed
For there is no threat; there is no need.

To the flock, sheepdog’s are mysteries,
Roaming watchful round the peripheries.
These fang-toothed creatures bark, they roar
With the fetid reek of the carnivore,
Too like the wolf of legends told,
To be amongst our docile fold.
Who needs sheepdogs? What good are they?
They have no use, not in this day.
Lock them away, out of our sight
We have no need of their fierce might.

But sudden in their midst a beast
Has come to kill, has come to feast
The wolves attack; they give no warning
Upon that calm September morning
They slash and kill with frenzied glee
Their passive helpless enemy
Who had no clue the wolves were there
Far roaming from their Eastern lair.
Then from the carnage, from the rout,
Comes the cry, “Turn the sheepdogs out!”

Thus is our nature but too our plight
To keep our dogs on leashes tight
And live a life of illusive bliss
Hearing not the beast, his growl, his hiss.
Until he has us by the throat,
We pay no heed; we take no note.
Not until he strikes us at our core
Will we unleash the Dogs of War
Only having felt the wolf pack’s wrath
Do we loose the sheepdogs on its path.

And the wolves will learn what we’ve shown before;
We love our sheep, we Dogs of War.

Russ Vaughn
2d Bn, 327th Parachute Infantry Regiment
101st Airborne Division
Vietnam 65-66

Bill Faith was a treasured sheepdog in the blogosphere. I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to tell him before he passed. I hope his family will know how much his work meant to us.

R.I.P.

Posted in: Blogosphere, Veterans

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#594158

On January 17th, 2009 at 3:53 pm, jangar said:

God bless this veteran who proudly served The United States of America!
#594159

On January 17th, 2009 at 3:54 pm, verogolfer said:

Another courageous, honorable man gone. We can’t lose too many individuals like this…or we lose civilization.
Hope he was in heaven 30 minutes before the devil knew he was dead.
#594160

On January 17th, 2009 at 3:59 pm, Marie said:

I’m in tears…..
#594178

On January 17th, 2009 at 4:21 pm, Radiopatriot said:

Bill’s work here is done. He was a man possessed of moral courage. Heaven’s gain, our loss.

“Moral courage is the most valuable and usually the most absent characteristic in men.”
- General George S. Patton, Jr

Prayers and condolences to his family and friends.

Andrea Shea King
#594184

On January 17th, 2009 at 4:28 pm, Maggie45 said:

To Bill’s family, whom he loved more than anything or anyone on this earth….my deepest condolences. May God hold you in the palm of His hand and grant you comfort.

To Bill… I know God has you wrapped in His loving arms, and that you are being greeted by all the other brave men and women who went before you. Thank you so much for all you’ve done.
#594186

On January 17th, 2009 at 4:34 pm, huhwhat said:

Rest in peace brother warrior.
#594187

On January 17th, 2009 at 4:36 pm, Texhoma said:

You will be missed.
#594192

On January 17th, 2009 at 4:41 pm, JHSII said:

Godspeed, Bill Faith.
#594205

On January 17th, 2009 at 4:51 pm, rightisright said:

I’m saddened with the loss of this American hero…who gave his all to his God. Country and Family.
R.I.P. Bill Faith
#594258

On January 17th, 2009 at 5:32 pm, Laree said:

God Speed, and now your time has finally come to lay your burden down.
#594270

On January 17th, 2009 at 5:41 pm, BobK said:

Bill and I have exchanged many emails over the past 2 years. I have only had the oportunity to talk to him once via phone.

He was truly a great American who loved this country. Rest in peace my friend. May God watch over you and your family.

An Old War Dog
#594301

On January 17th, 2009 at 6:13 pm, DesertLover said:

As a Viet Nam Vet myself I always feel a great sorrow when I hear that another of my comrades in arms has left this world …

May Bill Faith’s soul be blessed and his family find strength in his memory and may God grant them peace …
#594304

On January 17th, 2009 at 6:25 pm, Branden-in-escalon said:

Thank you, sir, for your sacrifice. As one of the protected, I do appreciate every day that you and other’s in the military fought for our freedoms. Thank you.
#594331

On January 17th, 2009 at 7:18 pm, ponsdorf said:

Was a member of Old War Dogs. I’ve contacted several of the other original members.

Saddens me greatly. I’ve been following his visit with the young one.

A genuine good guy. And a loss.
#594364

On January 17th, 2009 at 8:18 pm, Boomer said:

A sad day for America as we say goodbye to another one of its self sacraficing heroes. Rest in peace SSgt Faith you will be missed.

A humble salute from a once A1C Boomer, AFSC 60251 (Frieght Traffic Specalist), 62nd Aerial Port Squadron, McChord AFB, WA 1977-1978.
#594396

On January 17th, 2009 at 9:22 pm, Mooseman said:

Fair Winds and Following Seas, SSGT.
#594404

On January 17th, 2009 at 9:25 pm, ponsdorf said:

NB! If we can work out the raw technical details with Bill’s sister OWD will continue.

Michelle: I have little doubt that he’s smiling from ear-to-ear wherever he is.

Thank you.
#594417

On January 17th, 2009 at 9:44 pm, CyberCipher said:

All sheepdogs go to heaven.

My collie says:

**Salute!**
#594429

On January 17th, 2009 at 10:00 pm, zorro said:

May his Soul and all the Souls of the Faithfully departed Rest in Peace. And May God the Father Almighty, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob Bless and Comfort his family.
#594439

On January 17th, 2009 at 10:24 pm, amboytimes said:

What a beautiful tribute Michelle.
#594492

On January 18th, 2009 at 12:18 am, e-DigitalCameras said:

Wow, RIP Bill, you were one of the first few people I “met” (online) in the blogging world.

I started and ran a conservative blog a few years ago, for about a year, and Bill was one of the first few bloggers to link to me regularly (and I’d of course link back). Even though I never knew him personally, you could tell just from his tone and the little bit of his personal self he revealed on his site, what a great American and all around nice guy he was.

Pray for his family, who he clearly loved very much.
#594523

On January 18th, 2009 at 1:37 am, Jaded said:

What a beautiful poem and what a wonderful man I suppose in the scheme of things it would have probably killed him to see the wolf within over the next 4 years knowing that the leash would hold him back from doing anything about it!
#594559

On January 18th, 2009 at 8:39 am, Tennessee Dave said:

Having worked with Aerial Porters, I am quite sure SSgt Faith had his bags correctly packed for heaven. I hope St Peter has a K-Loader on hand to assist him. Rest in peace.
#594565

On January 18th, 2009 at 9:01 am, lottadawg said:

God bless you Billy D. Faith, and those you touched. You have mattered.
#594569

On January 18th, 2009 at 9:06 am, expat said:

God Bless SSGT Faith. God Bless his family and may He look over them and keep them safe until their time comes.
#594578

On January 18th, 2009 at 9:31 am, Flyoverman said:

Rest easy Staff Sergeant. Mission Accomplished.
#594579

On January 18th, 2009 at 9:33 am, MNUSMCDavid said:

SSGT Bill Faith

While you weren’t, in all probability, welcomed home as I wasn’t….. I and many of your brothers say sadly but proudly to you..”You are now home and peace is now yours”…. God speed God bless.Blessings and comfort to your family.

As Henry the V said ” We few….we band of brothers” have lost another.
#594604

On January 18th, 2009 at 10:47 am, greenfairie said:

How sad for his family. RIP.
#594655

On January 18th, 2009 at 11:39 am, pueblo1032 said:

To BILL’S family, may you only remember the good times, and chuckle at the bad times… BLESS YOU ALL…
#595109

On January 18th, 2009 at 8:53 pm, KVal57 said:

Rest well, warrior.
#595202

On January 19th, 2009 at 2:52 am, tuffy said:

Dang it. Cool guy. RIP, Bill.
#602161

On January 25th, 2009 at 9:17 pm, Scottie said:

A fellow Lizard and I from LGF went out to Bill’s last summer to give him a hand erecting a jungle gym for his grandchildren. He was a magnificent host, an honorable man, and one of the best this country has ever produced. God Bless you Bill from the Heartland Patriot and the Ornery Elephant.
#687345

On April 26th, 2009 at 5:10 pm, Vntnrse said:

Vntnrse, with a tear in the eye, stands and salutes.