Category: Poems

Our Country
by Belinda L McCormick

Our flag gracefully sways in the breeze at half mast,
The Eagle symbol of America freedom weeps,
Terrorist have stormed our gates giving us reflections of fear,
We stand at attention strong one union steadfast.

We will mourn our dead who gave their life for freedom,
And tend to our wounded but we will never surrender!
The stars and stripes will long wave overhead in proud glory,
Our soldiers brave and fearless, will fight and never be tiresome. read more

Sgt. Grit:
Enjoy your newsletters very much. My father enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1915 and was a seagoing Marine aboard the USS Oregon. He then saw service with the 4th marines in the Santa Domingo, Haiti and then went on to France during WWI. He finished out his foreign service in China, Guam and the PI’s and ended his career as a recruiter in San Francisco. I have a few things from his service including his medals, discharges (Sheep Skin) and a scrapbook he kept during his time in the Marines. I thought I would share a poem from his scrapbook from the period before going to France to fight. read more

Our Brother The Marine
by Omie Johnson

I found your web site about 6 months ago and purchased some t’s from you. My brother LCpl. Leon Deraps was killed in action on May 6th 2006, in Iraq. He was 19 years old. He was a baby of 6. I would like to see if you would put the poem I wrote to him when he was home for Christmas in your Newsletter. Take care!
~Omie Johnson
“In loving memory of LCpl. Leon Deraps ~ beloved brother & hero” read more

The Other Wall
R.A. Gannon

It does not stand in Washington
By others of its kind
In prominence and dignity
With mission clear defined.
It does not list the men who died
That tyranny should cease
But speaks in silent eloquence
Of those who came in peace.
This Other Wall is solemn white
And cut in simple lines
And it nestles in the splendor
Of the Carolina pines.
And on this wall there are the names
Of men who once had gone
In friendship’s name to offer aid
To Beirut, Lebanon.
They did not go as conquerors
To bring a nation down
Or for honor or for glory read more

“The Other Half”

I sit up at night, alone in my bed
Constant images run through my head
Happy times, sad timesthe memories are there
Happy tears, sad tearsthe tears that I fear.
I hold his sweatshirt, so close to my heart-
Breathe in; breathe outnot much, but a start.
I sleep with his picture in my bed at night
It’s the next best thing I have to hold tight.
The pillows lay sideways; I swear he’s there
They don’t squeeze back; this isn’t fair.
I toss and I turn, I sit up and lay down
I’m exhausted, I’m hurting, and I can’t sleep sound.
My eyes are swollenthey burn like hell
The makeup don’t workyou can still tell.
Finally asleep, still alone, but don’t know it
He’s in my dreamsI see him, I love it!
“He grabs my hand and turns me around,
We stop, we dancealthough there’s no sound.
He holds me close, and starts to sing
About love, about life, about everything
He lifts my chin and looks into my eyes,
He tells me he loves me, its no surprise.
He kisses my head, puts it to his heart
It’s then that I know, we’re not far apart.”
The alarm is sounding; wipe the sleep from my eyes
It’s another day gone, another sunrise.
I’ll continue my journey, until the very end
And wait for my lovemy very best friend. read more

ONLY THE FEW
Murl D. Long

Let me provide you a small glimpse of real life
Of a man preparing for coming strife
It begins with training unsurpassed
Compared to all others, far outclassed

It begins at 4 AM with the ‘Devil’ pounding a stick on a garbage can
We sit up straight in our bunks, to a man
Without question, for sure you are awake, to the head you run
Shower, shave, dress, police your area, the day has begun read more

Once A Marine, Always A Marine
by Jennifer Smith-Percy

Once a marine always a marine
I see it in the graying photo
A young Marine on his way;
On his way to Vietnam;
Stoic, loyal, brave
Seen in the tightness of the jaw
The slight rise of the chin.
Ready to fight, not for a medal
Not for glory or for parades.
Ready to fight for the freedom of
A man, woman or child he?s not met;
Except, in the eyes of
His father, mother or girlfriend.
Once a marine Always a Marine
I see it in the face of an older man
Still the same tightness in the jaw,
The slight rise of the chin,
And something in the eyes unexplainable
To those not blessed with the honor to know a marine.
Once a Marine Always a Marine
I see it in the older man that stands beside me as I battle illness
The same tightness of the jaw
Slight rise of the chin
And absolute strength in the eyes.
The eyes that look at my daughter with something other than pride,
other than bravery ?
Once a Marine Always a Marine
I see it in his eyes, LOVE. read more

Once a Marine Always a Marine
by Jennifer Smith-Percy

Once a marine always a marine
I see it in the graying photo
A young Marine on his way;
On his way to Vietnam;
Stoic, loyal, brave
Seen in the tightness of the jaw
The slight rise of the chin.
Ready to fight, not for a medal
Not for glory or for parades.
Ready to fight for the freedom of
A man, woman or child he?s not met;
Except, in the eyes of
His father, mother or girlfriend.
Once a marine Always a Marine
I see it in the face of an older man
Still the same tightness in the jaw,
The slight rise of the chin,
And something in the eyes unexplainable
To those not blessed with the honor to know a marine.
Once a Marine Always a Marine
I see it in the older man that stands beside me as I battle illness
The same tightness of the jaw
Slight rise of the chin
And absolute strength in the eyes.
The eyes that look at my daughter with something other than pride,
other than bravery ?
Once a Marine Always a Marine
I see it in his eyes, LOVE. read more

Operation Iraqi Freedom
by Esther M.

Sgt Grit,
I wrote this poem after reading A Table In The Presence, by Chaplain Carey H. Cash of the United States Marines.
Esther M.

A tribute to the men of the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment

There was a cause,
The cause was just;
For freedom twas,
And fight they must. read more

Ode to a Marine
Submitted by John Wear

In a crowd you’re bound to spot him,
He’s standing so very tall
Not too much impresses him;
He’s seen and done it all.
His hair is short, his eyes are sharp,
But his smile’s a little blue.
It’s the only indication
Of the hell that he’s gone through.
He belongs to a sacred brotherhood,
Always Faithful ’til the end.
He has walked right into battle
And walked back out again.
Many people think him foolish
For having no regrets
About having lived through many times
Others would forget.
He’s the first to go and last to know,
But never questions why,
On whether it is right or wrong,
But only do or die.
He walks a path most won’t take
And has lost much along the way,
But he thinks a lot of freedom,
It’s a small price to pay.
Yes, he has chosen to live a life
Off the beaten track,
Knowing well each time he’s called,
He might not make it back.
So, next time you see a Devil Dog
Standing proud and true,
Be grateful for all he’s given;
He’s given it for you.
Don’t go up and ask him
What’s it’s like to be in war;
Just thank God that it’s your country
He’s always fighting for.
And thank him too for all the hell
He’s seen in that shade of green,
Thank him for having the guts
To be a United States Marine read more