On the morning of June 15, 1943, the men of Charlie Company, 708th Amphibian Tank Battalion stood at the rail of the mother ship waiting for the order to load out for the invasion of Saipan. Their Amphibian tanks were to “move out and draw fire” for the main landing force. As the men eyeballed the horizon and beyond, each wondered if he would see the end of the day and prayed whatever time he had left would be lived well. A soldier offered a prayer:

“Oh God of the hidden purpose
Let this departure be
The prayer of brave men asking
Not to be safe, but free”

Once we draw that first breath of life we are in debt to the Almighty for one death. Indeed, it is what we do between first and last breaths that mark us on earth and in the eyes of heaven.

Lieutenant Colonel David John “Dave” Lemelin Jr. (Retired) came into life to be a soldier and leader. As a kid he spent many hours playing “Army” with his friends. Not “Navy” because no kid ever said, “Let’s play Navy.”

He did not get an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point on his first try and enrolled in the Prep School, securing an appointment the following year. After graduation, Second Lieutenant Lemelin attended the Infantry Officer Basic Course and Airborne School en route to his first assignment as Second Platoon Leader, A Company (Mad Dog), 1/187 IN of the 193rd Infantry Brigade, Fort Davis, Republic of Panama. Eyeballing the professional horizon, Dave set his sights on a specialty platoon and “for his sins” (and demonstrated potential) he was assigned to the battalion support platoon, a thankless job in a light infantry battalion. One day, while rummaging through a CONNEX, Dave found some camouflage netting which he issued to like-minded (knucklehead) lieutenants. The net was stretched over issue World Ward II-era steel pots (1960’s TV series “Combat” style). The Sgt. Saunders/Vic Morrow affectation did not survive first contact with the battalion commander, who would not suffer lieutenant nitwittery.

That Dave Lemelin’s penchant for nostalgia was born from a keen sense of history, trivia, wit and humor was not lost on his family, friends and colleagues. As a boy, his mom would prepare a list of trivia questions for extended car trips. Dave’s younger sister, frustrated with Dave’s know-it-all attitude, challenged him with the Girl Scout oath. From the back seat Dave raised his right hand “On my honor, I will not sell a cookie before its time.”

While Dave loved the Infantry, he was a tanker at heart and longed for the heavy metal of the armor corps. As a captain fresh out of the Advanced Course, he was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division, where he landed a company in 1/32 Armor and commanded in combat (Desert Storm) with distinction. Once again for his sins (and exemplary leadership), Dave was selected to be the division commander’s aide-de-camp. For time served Dave was offered his choice of assignment: Instead he opted for a branch transfer to Armor. The transfer was approved, and Dave ranked himself among one of the very few tankers who sported the coveted Combat Infantryman Badge.

A lifelong warrior, Colonel Lemelin moved to the sound of the guns and did his service to the republic he loved and believed in. He led a company in combat during the first Gulf War and was in the Pentagon when American Airlines Flight 77 slammed into the western side on September 11, 2001. Following retirement from the Army, Dave worked in defense contracting until he returned to his calling, teaching. Dave entered the civilian profession of education with the aim of teaching high school history, but the school needed math and science teachers. So, the selfless soldier stepped up to the plate to teach middle school science. Dave’s students did not miss out on history as Dave weaved military vignettes into the curriculum. In the lead up to Memorial Day, he treated the kids to the D-Day segment of Band of Brothers, which included some colorful martial language, necessitating preemptive damage mitigation with administrators and parents.

So Dave Lemelin filled those years between first and last breaths with more living than most will see in a lifetime. He has now retired from life’s field of battle to a heavenly cantonment, where he has taken his place in the ranks of those who have gone before.

Where no mothers cry and no children weep
We will stand and guard though the angels sleep
All through the ages safely keep
The Mansions of the Lord

From the Hymn “The Mansions of the Lord” by Randal Wallace

So congratulations, Colonel Lemelin, for getting about the life you wanted, for being a fierce warrior, intrepid soldier, officer and gentleman, dedicated teacher, loving father/husband/son/sibling, steadfast friend and steward to a couple of damn good dogs.

Among the many words that might be said for Dave, he would have preferred a simple soldier’s prayer, that perhaps crossed his mind as he stood at life’s rail eyeballing the horizon and beyond not knowing what the future holds, praying only to live the next few moments well…

“Oh God of the hidden purpose
Let this departure be
The prayer of a brave man asking
Not to be safe but free.”

— LTC (R) Taylor V. Beattie, Special Forces