Sgt Grit is a place where Marines can come and meet other Marines, share tattoos and stories, keep up with Marine Corps news, or shop for USMC gear.
One day I took the bus to Ocean Side
I walked on the boardwalk to the end
The ocean water was in at high tide
I prayed GOD Happiness will he send
At the top of old Smokey I stood to say
Yes I made it all the way up to here
This was the effort of my pride today
With his mighty hand I had no fear
Every decision made is the result of a choice, sometimes mine, sometimes yours. It was my choice to join. It was your choice what I was to be. God did not make the Warrior, man did. In the life we live, the Warrior is a necessity. It is the responsibility of the Warrior to protect and defend the freedom of others, no matter how high the cost. The color of freedom is red.
Grieve the Warrior, You.
Ever vigilant, ever keen
These eyes have seen . . .
Babies being born,
The agony of pain.
Ever vigilant, ever keen
These eyes have seen . . .
The beauty of a hillside,
After a gentle summer’s rain.
Ever vigilant, ever keen
These eyes have seen . . .
The barrenness of a hillside,
When the napalm begins to fall.
IT WAS A TIME WHEN THE CLAXONS OF WAR WERE SOUNDING
AND HIS COUNTRY WAS CALLING,
THAT THIS YOUNG BOY FROM OKLAHOMA TOOK UP ARMS AND BOARDED THAT TRAIN.
TO THE PACIFIC HE WENT, SURROUNDED BY WAR.
IT WAS HIS VALUES AND OLD WAYS GIVEN TO HIM AS A YOUNG BOY,
THAT FORGED THE YOUNG MAN HE BECAME.
Her hair was way up in a pony tail,
her favorite dress tied with a bow.
Today was Daddy?s Day at school,
and she couldn?t wait to go.
But her mommy tried to tell her,
that hshe probably should stay home.
Why the kids might not understand,
if she went to school alone.
But she was not afraid;
she knew just what to say.
What to tell her classmates
of why he wasn?t there today.
But still her mother worried,
for her to face this day alone.
And that was why once again,
she tried to keep her daughter home.
But the little girl went to school
eager to tell them all.
About a dad she never sees
a dad who never calls.
There were daddies along the wall in back,
for everyone to meet.
Children squirming impatiently,
anxious in their seats
One by one the teacher called
a student from the class
To introduce their daddy,
as seconds slowly passed
At last the teacher called her name,
every child turned to stare.
Each of them was searching,
a man who wasn?t there.
?Where?s her daddy at??
She heard a boy call out.
?She probably doesn?t have one.?
Another student dared to shout.
And from somewhere near the back,
she heard a daddy say,
?Looks like another deadbeat dad,
too busy to waste his day.?
The words did not offend her,
as she smiled up at her mom.
And looked back at her teacher,
who told her to go on.
And with hands behind her back.
Slowly she began to speak.
And out of the mouth of a child,
came words incredibly unique.
?My daddy couldn?t be here,
because he lives so far away.
But I know he wishes he could be,
since this is such a special day.
And though you cannot meet him,
I wanted you to know,
All about my daddy,
and how he loves me so.
He loved to tell me stories
he taught me to ride my bike.
He surprised me with pink roses,
and taught me to fly a kite.
We used to share fudge sundaes,
and ice cream in a cone.
And though you cannot see him,
I?m not standing here alone.
?Cause my daddy?s always with me,
even though we?re apart
I know because he told me,
he?ll forever be in my heart.?
With that, her little hand reached up,
and lay across her chest.
Feeling her own heartbeat,
beneath her favorite dress.
And from somewhere there in the crowd of dad,
her mother stood in tears.
Proudly watching her daughter,
who was wise beyond her years.
For she stood up for the love
of a man not in her life.
Doing what was best for her,
doing what was right.
And when she dropped her hand back down,
staring straight into the crowd.
She finished with a voice so soft,
but it?s message clear and loud.
?I love my daddy very much,
he?s my shining star.
And if he could, he?d be here,
but heaven?s just too far.
You see he?s a Marine
and died just this past year
when a roadside bomb hit his convoy
and taught Americans to fear.
But sometimes when I close my eyes,
it?s like he never went away.?
And then she closed her eyes,
and saw him there that day.
And to her mother?s amazement,
she witnessed a surprise.
A room full of daddy?s and children,
all starting to close their eyes.
Who knows what they saw before them,
who knows what they felt inside.
Perhaps for merely a second,
they saw him at her side.
?I know you?re with me daddy,?
to the silence she called out.
And what happened next made believers,
of those once filled with doubt.
Not one in that room could explain it,
for each of their eyes had been closed.
But there on the desk beside her,
was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.
And a child was blessed,
if only for a moment,
by the love of her shining star.
And given the gift of believing
that heaven is never too far.
Here are a few of the poems on my CD titled Semper Fi Marines. Please feel free to share these with others. As you may know November 10th is the Marine Corps Birthday so Marines everywhere will be celebrating the same:
1) A BOY'S DREAM
WHEN I WAS JUST A YOUNG BOY
SOMETIMES I'D SIT ALONE
AND DREAM ABOUT ADVENTURES
IN PLACES FAR FROM HOME
I'D BE A TALL, STRONG HERO
AND WITH OTHERS OF MY ILK
FIGHT FOR RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS
OF LADIES DRESSED IN SILK
AND ALSO FOR THEIR CHILDREN
THAT LOOKED ALOT LIKE ME
SITTING ON BIG PORCHES
CAUGHT UP IN THEIR DREAMS
The Cream Of The Crop
The United States Marine Corps
We the few, the proud, the Marines. Hated by the other branches, with the exception of Seabees and Hospital Core Men and Amphibious Ready Groups, and lately Special Op’s of the other branches, we are superb. We did our thing at Bellow Wood, Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal and numerous other battle fields.
Forty years have come to pass since my Country called,
And I was proud it was my time.
So, I chose the Corps, or maybe a Voice guided me that fateful day,
For it was my time.
For when, at last, I was asked to Stand to Post,
I knew I could.
Lance Cpl. Jeffrey Adam Bishop
A hero to all who knew him
He loved all, but Family the best
He excelled in everything he did
Until he passed this final test.
He gave all for his Country
A true Patriot, that’s true
With three tours of duty
Trying to do all he could do.
Sgt.Grit,
I am a writer coming off the back side of a long dry spell. I have received two of your news letters now and as I read I have received more inspiration than I have for a long time. So here it is; in the words of a newcomer to the Grit Circle. I hope you all get as much from this as I did writing it at 3:30am. Hooorah!