I DON'T SEE ANYTHING TO THE FRONT OF ME
CAN'T HEAR MUCH COMING FROM BEHIND
I'M SURROUNDED BY NOISE, SMOKE AND DARKNESS.
NOT SURE OF HOW FAR I'VE RAN
HOW FAR I'VE GONE OR WHERE I'VE BEEN.
THE RUCK ON MY BACK, A 90 POUND STONE
IN MY SHOULDER, MY M-16 COMES ALIVE.
I LEFT BEHIND MY FAMILY, ALL ALONE AT HOME
BOUND BY HONOR, I ANSWERED THE CALL
ON MY LEFT BREAST, THE EMBLEM OF MY CALLING.
FOR GOD, CORPS AND COUNTRY, I OFFER MY ALL
THERE ARE MARINES ALL AROUND ME
THEIR FACES ARE DIRTY, EYES BURNING SO BRIGHT
THE COURAGE THEY SHOW IS WHAT STEELS MY HEART
AS I STAND AMONG THEM IN THE LINE OF FIRE.
I SEE THE FAMILIES OF THE FALLEN
CRADLING PICTURES OF THE HEROES LOST
HUDDLED TOGETHER WITHIN GARDENS OF STONE
THEIR HEROES SMILE DOWN UPON THEM
FROM A SKY FILLED WITH LIGHT
HEAVEN IS NOW THEIR NEW HOME
I FEEL THEIR ARMS WRAP AROUND ME
FEEL THEIR BLOOD AS IT MIXES WITH MINE
SILENTLY THEY STAND IN A FORMATION
WAITING FOR ME TO TAKE MY PLACE
AT THE RIGHT OF THEIR LINE.
-SSgt Tony Michael Storey
United States Marine Corps
Bellefontaine, OH