[skippy the wonder dog]

It's about what the lyrics say, nothing more, nothing less. Anything else just leads you on pointless trivia hunts or futile attempts to extract Gord Downie's biography from the lyrics.

Why would you think the guy is a soldier? Because of the words, "grunt work," alluding possibly to the common slang "grunt" for an infanteer, and the reference to duty?

Okay, then. I'd disagree, because "grunt work" is in common use without military connotations. But that's me.