[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13882]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE SESTAK

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 3, 2009

  Mr. SESTAK. Madam Speaker,

                          A Corpsman's Lament

            (By HM3 Mike Hall, 5th Marine Division Iwo Jima)

     I remember fair-haired dreamers,
     Full of themselves, going off to war.
     We went willing with visions of heroism in our head.
     We felt prepared for what was to come.
     Then they opened the door to let reality in;
     Fear, blood, and the smell of death.
     All around us were the cries for ``Doc!''
     Who should we help?
     I tend to the first, second, and third:
     Bandages, Morphine, plasma, and more.
     No time for me to feel or think
     Keep moving, keep helping; don't sleep.
     Then they bring him all battered, near death;
     I can't save him.
     I look into his eyes and want to cry.
     ``Doc it's okay, let me go.''
     I ignore his words; I try.
     This man who looks like me . . . he dies.
     Tears flow down my cheeks.
     No time to grieve, five others lay at my feet.
     That day stays with me still.
     I shall never forget his words.
     ``It's okay, Doc.
     Let me go.''
     With his last breath,
     He comforted me.

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