[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17421]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       RECOGNITION OF CPL. LARRY A. DRAUGHN, JR. OF DAYTON, OHIO

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL R. TURNER

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 29, 2010

  Mr. TURNER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a real American 
hero, United States Marine Cpl. Larry A. Draughn Jr. of Dayton, Ohio. 
On May 30th, 2009, while out on patrol in Afghanistan, Cpl. Draught 
lost both legs and nearly lost his life during an IED explosion. I 
would like to thank him for his service to his country and place this 
poem, penned in honor of him by Albert Carey Caswell, in the 
Congressional Record.

                           O . . . HI . . . O

     O . . . HI . . . O
     Are, all of those men who into the face of hell must go!
     Marines, like Larry . . . whose courage upon battlefields of 
           honor shows!
     Shows us all, how high . . . to what new heights a soul can 
           grow!
     Who stand, so very high as do all of those!

     For from this great Buckeye State, have but come such Marines 
           with names so great!
     Like the Right Stuff, John Glenn . . . Lima Company . . . all 
           of those magnificent men who await!
     Men, who go where Angels so fear to tread . . . who all for 
           our nation have so died
     And bled . . .
     As upon battlefields of honor, their brilliant blood ran red!
     Strength In Honor, Uhraaah Jar Head!

     For Cpl. Draughn, for us you went into that valley of death. 
           . . .
     All for God and Country, as was your fine life was so 
           pledged!
     And on that morning when you awoke, and found your loss . . . 
           as to you it spoke!
     With your two fine legs gone, all that you had left was but 
           your faith and hope!

     As on the edge of death, your fine life lie barely left. . . 
           .
     As once again, you began a new most heroic quest!
     To rebuild somehow, where none lies left!
     Day by Day . . . Step by Step . . . as defeat you Marine, 
           would not accept!

     For you've got a life to lead and live . . . as you got up. . 
           . . As gained speed!
     For Marines Do . . . For Marines Succeed!
     And for each other, they will so sacredly live, die and 
           bleed!
     As to new heights on this day Larry, all of us you so lead!

     Teaching Us . . . Beseeching Us So . . . O . . . Hi . . . O, 
           Larry high are you so!
     As all in one short year, your strength . . . your courage, 
           has so appeared!
     For you are the kind of Son, any father would endear!
     Showing us all how high, and far a heart can go . . .
     Yes, Maximus . . . you are O . . . HI . . . O!

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