[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 12075-12076]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               IN MEMORY OF SERGEANT LEWIS (LOUIE) ANNEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE ROGERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 14, 2004

  Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, recently, a poem was given to me 
in fond memory of Sergeant Lewis (Louie) Annear of the 9th Infantry 
Division, I ask these moving words be included in the Record:

       Last night I had a vision tho my mind was quite awake; A 
     vision born of sadness, of memories I could not shake. In 
     retrospect the years passed by, and uncasing life's review; A 
     boy I loved sat my side, his life I lived anew. I saw him as 
     a baby, I held him in my arms; I prayed the good ALL Father 
     to keep him safe from harm. I saw him as a tow-head, his 
     blond hair all awry. His blue eyes kind and gentle, and heard 
     his happy cry. I saw him fishing on the lake when first he 
     learned to cast; I saw him land his first great fish as 
     whitecaps hurried past. I saw him on the football field, 
     elusive as a ghost.

[[Page 12076]]

     His shifting hips and racing feet seemed to fairly float. I 
     saw him in the house of God, devout, sincere and true; I 
     think the angels gathered there when he was passing through. 
     I saw him in his much loved home alive and always kind; The 
     family sort of worshipful when he was on their mind. I saw 
     him in the workshop when soil begrimed his hand; But, even 
     grandeur proclaimed him every bit a man. I saw him in his 
     uniform when he heard his country's call And despairing of 
     God's mercy, I saw him in his fall. I followed him from ship 
     to beach on Africa's dark shore; I lived with him at 
     Kasserine Pass, Bizerte and far more. I saw his wound and 
     felt his pain when he wrote of how they fought; And prayed to 
     God they would send him home, that was my only thought. I saw 
     my prayers unanswered as from England came the word; This 
     soldier boy was listed for D-Day's most dangerous work. I 
     lived with him for D-Day, felt suspense and honest fear; For 
     only fools, not angels, sought then to give us cheer. Then 
     came the fateful hour, the supreme test was at hand; Poised 
     on the foremost troop ship, I saw him proudly stand. I saw 
     his well trained muscles, twitching there beneath his gear; 
     But, his head was high, his eyes were clear, he was master of 
     all fear. I saw the sea as it tossed on high and heard the 
     grinding waves; And then the roar of guns, and bombs, as 
     night gave way to day. I saw him land, one of the first, his 
     face was to the front; And I prayed to God to save this boy 
     who was always moving up. I lived with him again, those days 
     when death rode every wave; Scant rest or food, just fighting 
     on, for us our homes to save. For days on end, I trudged with 
     him, my mind, his body torn; He would not stop, from dawn to 
     dusk, and yet on until morn. I felt despair, I was sick at 
     heart, it seemed no God or man; Could ask so much of just a 
     boy nor wield such a high command. And when at last he came 
     to rest, it seemed a welcome lair; On foreign soil, at break 
     of day, I saw him lying there. The command to halt had come 
     at last, sweet peace and rest were his; And then I took my 
     weary soul and stole into the mist. My soul seemed dead, my 
     mind a blank, I could not reason why; So great a task was 
     asked of him, or why he had to die. For days I pondered, lost 
     in doubt, just a asking why; And, then at last, the mist 
     broke out, again I saw the sky. I saw the face of God look 
     down, His staff was raised on high; And at His side, with 
     hand in hand, I saw our soldier boy. And there my soul worn 
     vision found its answer as to why; This soldier boy of ours 
     had lived and why he had to die. His life had been all 
     goodness, and glorious his deed; God too, has use for 
     soldiers, very special are His needs. Tis the good who die to 
     glory, and for us left here behind; their noble lives remind 
     us we too should be their kind. The light he burned so 
     brightly, in home or far afield; Will light our steps upward 
     in God's commanded zeal. Encouraged by his example, 
     strengthened by his unfaltering faith, We too may leave the 
     battle, to rest in God's grace. And, so my vision ended, with 
     God and Louie, too; I now resume my journey, as he would have 
     me do.

  So, Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to rise to recognize Staff Sergeant 
Lewis Annear for his service, dedication, and ultimate sacrifice to our 
great country. As we dedicate the new National World War II Memorial, I 
call on my colleagues to join with me in recognizing this brave 
American as he gave his life to ensure the freedom that America enjoys 
today.

                          ____________________