[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 16789]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING CORPORAL JOSHUA ``J.B.'' KERNS

  (Mr. GRIFFITH of Virginia asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GRIFFITH of Virginia. Ladies and gentlemen of the House, I rise 
today, as we approach Veterans Day, to honor Corporal Joshua ``J.B.'' 
Kerns. Corporal Kerns, from Ararat, Virginia, in Patrick County, served 
in the United States Marine Corps in the 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 
3rd Platoon. And one day in Afghanistan he, unfortunately, was hit with 
an IED explosion. This brave young man lost both legs and one arm.
  One of the volunteers who worked with him as he recovered, Bert 
Caswell, working with Wounded Warriors, wrote a poem on his behalf, 
which I will put into the Record, but I would like to read just a small 
piece of it. It's entitled ``What I've Learned.''
  ``And yet, you're only 21. But from you, Joshua, so much more I've 
learned, more than all my years under the sun! And that as long as we 
have such sons like you, and such families too, then our Nation will 
stand, yes, that old Red, White and Blue. And in our future, there's 
even more to learn from you!''
  Thank you, Joshua ``J.B.'' Kerns, and all of our soldiers who serve 
our Nation.

                           What I've Learned

                           (By Bert Caswell)


 CORPORAL JOSHUA B. KERNS, 2ND COMBAT ENGINEERS BATTALION, THE UNITED 
                             STATES MARINES

     WHAT I'VE LEARNED
     What . . .
     What I've learned!
     That in this our Country Tis of Thee, there are such most 
           splendid souls as these!
     Such Magnificent Men of Might, America's Bravest of all sons 
           so bright like you J.B.!
     United States Marines, who all so shine . . . all in their 
           most Splendid Shades of Green!
     As this is what I've learned!
     And that a strong young courageous man, with his Brothers In 
           Arms will go off to war . . . To Stand!
     All for our Country Tis of Thee, will himself so ignore!
     All for The Price of Freedom To So Insure!
     And will so heroically walk through the valley of death, with 
           but his own most sacred life so pledged!
     And that his Brother In Arms will run straight into death, to 
           get help for him . . . his most sacred gift to bless!
     As did SST Rogers . . . who on that day, for you J. B. our 
           world so left!
     While, even when so close to death . . . with but only one 
           arm left, I've learned!
     That somehow still, you could summon up The Courage, The 
           Strength, and The Iron Will!
     To so cheat death, all with what was within your fine heart 
           as etched!
     With such power and might, and faith . . . to new heights to 
           so teach us on each new day!
     And that against all odds J.B., somehow you rose up to walk 
           again . . . this most brilliant sight!
     With but tears in your eyes, as your new life had begun . . . 
           all on this most memorable night!
     Is that not what Heaven is so for my son?
     As this is What I've Learned!
     That arms and legs, yea we all need . . . but we can survive!
     But, without a magnificent heart like yours J. B's . . . we 
           will so surely die!
     And that, men who are armed with such courage and faith . . . 
           can even make The Angel's cry!
     No matter how dark each new day, with hearts of courage full 
           . . . move onward, as do they!
     To somehow! Someway! To rise up again, all out on their most 
           heroic ways!
     And, all of those magnificent families who so bare such 
           heartache and pain . . .
     Watching their loved ones courage, and will to live . . . as 
           on their knees with tears they pray!
     Will but in the darkest of all nights and days, will stand by 
           them each hour will they!
     For them too, one day Heaven so hold's a place . . . And I've 
           learned that some men, are put upon this earth!
     To So Teach Us, All In Their Fine True Worth!
     As to my soul J. B., you've taught me what comes first!
     And if I ever have a son, I wish he could shine as bright as 
           you JB, this one!
     One of Virginia's, most gallant of all sons!
     As I cry, as I watch from where your great heart has so come!
     Running to recovery, all up to new heights . . . all in what 
           you have so done!
     As you make me so weep my son!
     Whenever, I so think of . . . those valleys, from which 
           you've come!
     As I watch all of those mountains so high, that you've 
           climbed . . . As Thy Will Be Done!
     As all of those promises to your fine soul, that you so made 
           and kept my son!
     As you Did Not Give Up! Did Not Give In! Did Not Moan, or Beg 
           My Friend!
     While, from a death bed, to a wheel chair . . . until those 
           first steps, standing there!
     As your precious Mother's tears did run!
     As you walked again, as we've all learned so much from you JB 
           . . . That, you are More Than A Man!
     And, that you are a Marine's Marine . . . one of The Best Dam 
           Things This Country Has Ever Seen!
     Hoo . . . rah Jarhead . . . all in your Most Magnificent 
           Shades of Green!
     And yet, you're only twenty one . . . but from you Joshua so 
           much more I've learned!
     More, than all of my years under the sun!
     And that as long as we have such sons like you, and such so 
           families too!
     Then, our Nation Will Stand . . . yes, That old Red, White 
           and Blue!
     And in the future, there's even more to learn from you!

                          ____________________