[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 70 (Friday, May 17, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E695-E696]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 THE DEEPEST OF THE DEEP IN HONOR OF AN AMERICAN HERO SSG TRAVIS MILLS 
     BRAVO TROOP 4/73 CAVALRY 82ND AIRBORNE THE UNITED STATES ARMY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TIM WALBERG

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 17, 2013

  Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor to recognize SSG 
Travis Mills of Bravo Troop 4/73 Cavalry 82nd Airborne, of The United 
States Army. An American hero if ever there was one. On April 10, 2012, 
while out on patrol with his troops in Mialand Province Afghanistan he 
almost lost his life during an IED explosion. Travis is the fourth 
Wounded Warrior to lose all of his limbs. He is known for leading his 
men in combat, where they go he goes! And since arriving at Walter Reed 
Hospital, he has inspired all of his fellow wounded warriors, spending 
many hours up on the ward and throughout the complex leading them to 
recovery. His can do attitude and great sense of humor makes you proud 
to be an American. Any parent would be proud to call him his or her 
son. Also his wonderful wife Kelsey, who adds new meaning to that song 
``Stand by your man''. And their beautiful child Chloe, have given 
Travis so much to live for! I submit this poem penned in his honor by 
Albert Carey Caswell.

                        The Deepest of The Deep

     The . . .
     The Deepest . . .
     The Deepest of The Deep!
     And on that morning Travis when you awoke . . .
     Oh what to you, your fine heart so spoke . . .
     While, lying there without much hope!
     As when you so realized,
     that this was not a bad dream . . .
     and somehow you must so find a way to so cope!
     As the tears rolled down upon your most
     courageous face,
     as the Angels up in Heaven so too cried and prayed . . .
     and to you so spoke!
     As somehow all in that darkness of most evil war,
     Travis you so found the hope!
     All with but your most amazing grace,
     to somehow to someway so cope!
     And to so accept God's Will,
     as the tears ran down your most brilliant face!
     As it was your faith Travis,
     that which you so invoked!
     As you so came to such a place!
     Where only,
     but The Deepest of The Deep can so face!
     And for all of them BRAVO,
     one day heaven so awaits!
     That which,
     so helped you to wipe all of those tears away . . .
     as you so began your most heroic climb on that day!
     All in what your fine heart and soul,
     so had to say!
     All in what Travis,
     you so gave!
     The Deepest of The Deep!
     To so fight on,
     but to so live another day!
     As all around you we'd so weep!
     As we so looked upon your most courageous face,
     and into your most beautiful of all eyes so very deep!
     As there we so saw something,
     something so very precious and oh so very sweet!
     Something,
     that to this day wise men still so seek!
     Was but,
     The Deepest!
     Was But The Deepest of The Deep!
     All in what so comes from within ones heart,
     that which so heroically so beats!
     And all within ones soul,
     so very deep!
     Is but The Deepest of The Deep!
     As it was there Travis,
     that you so chose to live or die!
     As it was there Travis,
     all in that hospital bed as you so lie . . .
     As your fine wife so began to cry!
     As your family so asked why?
     As when,
     your soul so took flight!
     As you were Airborne,
     2nd to none!
     To so lift us all up,
     and cast your most heroic light!
     As once before Travis,
     you so stood so tall before us almost like a God!
     As now without arms and legs,
     an even greater person we now saw!
     As we so began to cry!
     Get up or give in,
     for only this you could so decide!
     As Travis you so dug in deep!
     To so become one of,
     The Deepest of The Deep!
     As somehow Travis you so kept hope alive!
     All on your most heroic path,
     as you so began your climb!
     As soon,
     we all so realized . . .
     that you were now more than a man!
     As this battle you would so win!
     Uncommon Courage,
     something so very brilliant that can only come from so deep 
           within!
     Is but The Deepest of The Deep My Friends!
     As Travis you so chose life,
     as all around us you'd so cast your light!
     As all for Chloe your most beautiful little child,
     and Kelsey your most devoted loving wife . . .
     As you would take that hill!
     As you would so win that fight!
     For you Travis,
     you are Pure!
     Pure Michigan,
     for that's so for sure!
     As day by day . . .
     And night by night!
     Upon, this world you would so cast your light!
     As the mountains you would so climb!
     For we all have valleys,
     into which we may fall!
     But, all in that moment of truth . . .
     will we so be the ones so standing tall?
     To somehow rise up above it all!
     And come out of all of that darkness,
     to become a true champion and so answer courage's call!
     When against all odd's,
     upon our hearts it all so depends!
     As you Travis so remind us all,
     of that one fine thing!
     Of what The Deepest of The Deep Can So Bring!
     But, what so lies all in our such hearts of courage full!
     Would we so be the ones to so find such strength,
     all in such darkness to so stand tall?
     All in these our darkest of days of nights,
     to so bring such tears to the Angels eyes!
     Bravo!
     As Travis,
     your fine heart went Airborne!

[[Page E696]]

     As up in Heaven your valor,
     so too made our Lord cry!
     As you so taught us all,
     that anything is possible when hearts decide!
     Yea Travis,
     you are Pure!
     Pure Michigan,
     and that's for sure!
     As a leader of men,
     who so gallantly marched off to war!
     And came back home,
     and yet to us all gave so much more!
     Whose heart and soul, and body and mind . . .
     are but now all of folklore!
     As Travis,
     your courage makes us all so weep!
     As we will follow,
     as you lead!
     As into the future,
     as up with you we will all so try to keep!
     For you are pure Michigan,
     For you are Travis,
     are but The Deepest of The Deep!
     And so is your fine wife Kelsey,
     so very sweet!
     For Travis,
     men like you up in Heaven our Lord shall keep!
     And . . .
     And On . . .
     That Morning When You Woke!
     As to you your fine heart so spoke!
     As The Deep . . .
     The Deepest of The Deep!
     By Albert Carey Caswell.

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