[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24389]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING TRAVIS WEBB

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TIMOTHY WALBERG

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 19, 2008

  Mr. WALBERG. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Corporal Travis 
Webb from Adrian, Michigan who was injured in an improvised explosive 
device (IED) blast in Mosul, Iraq on January 22, 2007. He lost both 
legs and his best friend Nicholas Brown died in his arms after the 
blast. The following poem is dedicated to a true American hero, Travis 
Webb.

                           A Soldier's Story

     Throughout our Nation's history
     Such magnificent men of honor and glory, have so been seen
     Who so went, where angel's feared to tread
     Who went off to war
     All for us, the ones who so lived and died and so bled
     All so we could be here!
     As this is a soldier's story!
     All about Heartbreak, Faith and Glory
     All about life and death
     As he put himself in harm's way, as his best friend died in 
           his arms that day
     When courage comes to crest!
     All about a young man from Michigan . . . Travis, and his 
           heroic stand
     As all of us, he would so bless
     Who came out of such hell and fury!
     A Hero from The 2-7 Cav . . . 11 Bravo, Corporal Webb, his 
           soldier's story
     A fighting force to be feared, who gave all he had so very 
           clear
     A Soldier's Story
     Who, into that valley of death . . . so walked
     All with his two fine legs, as was our freedom bought!
     His charge, his thought's
     The life of Travis Webb, so much to all has taught
     All about courage and faith
     As this mighty Michigander makes his way
     As no other's could so take his place
     As throughout his young life, his flow and ebb
     Through the good and bad!
     A work of art, to be said!
     As it all began
     With a young man with no direction
     Until, he found his life's true passion . . . his reflection
     Reaching, his greatest introspection
     His fine reflection, in a Uniform
     As A Soldier's Heart and soul, so proud and bold . . . so 
           very warm
     All for his country 'tis a thee
     As a future Hero was born, as we would see
     While, on battlefields of honor and death and gore
     Charging bravely so, so ever . . . ever forth!
     When, Looking down
     As there it was he so found, no more
     His two strong fine legs, which made up this most valiant 
           force
     While, there in that moment of truth
     As in that moment we find the answer, the proof
     All about what courage, and a magnificent heart can do!
     To build where none lie left
     To climb the highest of all mountains, no less
     To Teach Us all . . . to so bless
     To Reach Us . . . to so Beseech Us, all no less
     To But Be The Best
     When, Courage comes to Crest
     Day by Day
     Night after Night
     To win the battle, to win that fight!
     As he will not give up, will not rest!
     As is this soldier's story, our hearts have blessed
     As we watch him grow
     For he has a life to live
     And to this our world, so much more to give!
     Could such faith and courage, we so know? Possess?
     And, if I ever have a son
     I, but hope and pray . . . that he could so be like this fine 
           one!
     Shining, all in Faith's True Son
     A Soldier's Story, Travis Webb our hearts have won!
     All in our Lord's Heart, that will be done
     Amen!
     --Albert Carey Caswell

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