[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 6625-6626]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING STAFF SERGEANT TRAVIS MILLS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 5, 2011, the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. King) is recognized for 
60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.
  Mr. KING of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, it's always my privilege and honor to 
address you here on the floor of the United States House of 
Representatives.
  Today, I come before you with a humble heart and an appreciation for 
a young American whom I believe this Congress needs to honor. I will be 
reading into the Record a poem in honor of an American hero, Staff 
Sergeant Travis Mills, Bravo Troop 4, 73rd Cav, 82nd Airborne, United 
States Army, North Carolina.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor this remarkable young man, Staff 
Sergeant Travis Mills. On April 10, 2012, while out on patrol with his 
troops in Mialand province, Afghanistan, Staff Sergeant Mills almost 
lost his life during an IED explosion.
  He is known for leading his men in combat. Where they go, he goes. 
After the explosion, while being airlifted on the bird, an 
extraordinary moment was noted by the medic onboard. While bravely 
wounded, he did not shed even a tear, and he asked how his men were 
doing, who were also wounded. He then smiled at them, gave them a wink 
to reassure them--this is a man who lost four limbs, Mr. Speaker. It 
was impressive, to say the least.
  Staff Sergeant Travis Mills lost three of those limbs initially and 
later a fourth limb. In two short weeks, already his progress and 
courage was an inspiration, to say the least. And now he embarks upon 
his recovery. It's clear that nothing is going to slow his recovery 
down.

                              {time}  1520

  I will now read a poem, penned by Albert Caswell, titled: ``They'll 
Not Take That From You.''

     And what can these, our brief lives so make?
     All out upon our life's wait?
     All within these, our short lives await . . .
     So then which steps must we all so take?
     All in our times worth, not to forsake . . .
     All in which we so create . . .
     For the path is straight my friend . . .
     And our journey is but a long and hard one, so then!
     For its all in our hearts depends . . .
     If its up in Heaven we wish to wake . . .
     Travis, no they'll not take that from you!
     They may take your strong arms and         legs . . .
     They may even make you cry out in pain, as do they!
     Until, it's for death you beg!
     But there are a few most magnificent things, Travis,
     so they . . .
     That, they'll not so take from you . . .
     All because of what you so gave!
     The word of hero,
     now comes before, and after, your fine name this day!
     And Heaven for you Travis one day, awaits!
     As from you, this they'll not so take!
     They'll not take that from you!
     For it's that most splendid word, of ``Honor'' . . .
     That which so courses all through your magnificent veins!
     For you were one of those most gallant ones of all . . .
     Who, like all of those other fine souls before you,
     who so stood tall!
     Who so selflessly marched off to war,
     to hear that clarion call!
     Leaving behind all that they so loved . . .
     All of your most precious loves,
     who you held so very high above . . .
     All for The Greater Good!
     With tears all in your most magnificent eyes,
     as you so left and so said your last goodbyes . . .
     With your heart of gold comprised,
     marching off to war so ready to die . . .
     Travis, no they'll not take that from you!
     With all your most splendid valor, and grace . . .
     With all of your most magnificent courage so all in place,
     as you so heroically stared all in death's face!
     As with smell of death upon you so wafted,
     and yet with each new step somehow you still kept pace!
     As such heartache upon your fine soul was placed . . .
     As all for your Brothers In Arms You So Led The Way!
     As so boldly you so stood all there in uniform . . .
     As why now you so hold such a special place!
     All in our hearts so very warm . . .
     All in this our human race.
     No . . . No . . . They will not take that from you!
     For Travis,
     yours will always be a heart of such honor and faith!
     One of such most splendid grace!
     As we so look upon your magnificent face . . .
     And so see what you so gave . . .
     As there we all so find such a fine soul as comprised . . .
     Who above all others we must now so place . . .
     With but your most heroic will,
     as Travis you climbed mountains and so climbed hills . . .
     As your own blood was so spilled,
     and still you did not lose pace!
     And now your new battle has just begun!
     As your fine heart,
     now so shines all like that morning sun!
     As you rebuild with each new step, all one by one!
     No Fine One,
     You're Airborne and They'll not take that from you!
     For it was you,
     who so chose to answer freedom's most noble call . . .
     As our Lord God your great valor saw . . .
     They'll Not Take That From You!
     For in these, our most troubled times,
     all in these our most shortest of all lives . . .
     Only, but one thing so lives on . . . so shines's!
     As not so gone, as out into eternity so survives!
     As is what we so do upon this earth!
     Do we in the darkness so reside?
     Or is it with our goodness,
     that we so make even the Angels too cry?
     For if all in our most noble deeds,
     that we so succeed to fight evil's needs . . .
     Then, it's Heaven we shall all so see.
     For these are such things,
     that which only our magnificence can so bring!

[[Page 6626]]

     And that no one else can so take from you Travis . . . sing!
     No Travis, They Will Never So Take That From You!
     And now the time has so come!
     To mount up Cav, my son!
     To go Airborne to recovery, to get up and run!
     To win one more battle,
     like all of those other ones you've won!
     Because, Travis you are Army Strong!
     You Are America's Heart and Son!
     They may have taken your strong arms and legs!
     But, your fine heart and soul they can not so touch,
     can they!
     And that's what you run with this very day . . .
     Bravo my son, you are Airborne in every way!
     As once again, you are out on point leading the way!
     For Travis, SSG Mills you have so many lives to touch!
     So many hearts to fill as such!
     And so many years from now,
     Heaven is yours one day so don't rush!
     And your family and this world,
     so needs men like you as such!
     Travis, They'll Not Take That From You!

  I yield back the balance of my time.

                          ____________________