[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 7213]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO SERGEANT CHARLES HARRIS

 Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, today I wish to honor an American 
hero--SGT Charles Harris of the U.S. Army 2nd Infantry 3rd Brigade. 
This May 30, just 3 days after our Nation's Memorial Day salute to 
America's fallen heroes, Sergeant Harris will observe the 1-year 
anniversary of his ``Alive Day.'' That is the inspiring way our wounded 
warriors describe the day they were injured--wounded but alive, they 
celebrate their second chance at life.
  It was on May 30, 2012, that Sergeant Harris lost his legs and almost 
his life in an IED explosion in Afghanistan. And over the past year, he 
has come so far and so fast in his recovery at Walter Reed Army 
Hospital, where I first met him. With the help of his family and his 
devoted mother Lisa, who has been at his side throughout his recovery, 
he has come back from the dead. Family and loved ones are the unsung 
heroes in all of America's wars--and the best medicine for a faster 
recovery.
  Charles has a dream, and it is coming true: He is building a home in 
West Virginia, and he will live the rest of his life there, in what he 
calls almost Heaven. We are honored that such a great American has 
chosen to make his home in our beautiful State. He will be welcomed 
warmly to one of the most patriotic States in our Nation.
  To celebrate Sergeant Harris's ``coming home'' to a place he has 
never been before and to honor his heroism, sacrifice, and 
determination, I ask that a poem written by Albert Caswell of West 
Virginia be printed in the Record.
  Mr. President, I urge all my Senate colleagues to take time to read 
this warm tribute to such an inspiring hero and to congratulate him on 
the anniversary of his ``Alive Day.''
  And may God grant him, his mother, and all of his friends many more 
anniversaries in the years ahead.
  There being no objection, the material was printed in the Record, as 
follows:

                              2nd TO NONE

     2nd . . .
     2nd to none . . .
     The 2nd Infantry are how our wars 
           are won . . .
     2nd ID, Men of iron and might,
     who all out in times of war their fine souls do so ignite!
     But for The Greater Good,
     all in what they so could!
     Who so lock and load,
     and so live by such a code!
     Of Strength In Honor,
     as do all of those!
     The 2nd Infantry,
     as they so make history!
     Wherever they so go!
     The ones who love our Nation so!
     With Boots on the ground!
     As they kick all of those doors down!
     As their most valiant hearts so explode!
     One fine fighting machine!
     Who so heroically come upon the battle scene!
     With Boots on the ground!
     As where they will be found!
     As one and all,
     as their brave hearts so sound!
     As we hear their great hearts pound!
     The grunts on the ground!
     Who shall not let our Nation down!
     Where would this our Nation so be,
     if but not for all of these?
     And one such fine son of liberty,
     his name is Sargent Charles Harris . . . he!
     Is part of that magnificent 2nd Infantry!
     From that golden state,
     when he could not so wait to serve his Country Tis of Thee!
     As it was out on patrol,
     as when we almost lost this brave soul . . .
     While, in an IED blast . . .
     it looked like he would not so last . . .
     Losing his two legs,
     as he so cheated death on that day!
     But with his light,
     as he so came out of all of that darkness someway!
     To recovery . . .
     For when he so awoke,
     and so saw that all that he so had left was but hope!
     His fine to heart to him so spoke!
     Of being, The Being The Best!
     All in what he must now so invoke,
     all on this his future quest!
     With what he now has so left!
     And with your devoted Mother Lisa by your side,
     helping you so pass that test!
     For already Charles in your short life,
     you have scaled to the highest of all heights!
     To places where few of us will sight!
     As with your courage our Nation you have so blessed!
     To So Teach Us!
     To So Beseech Us!
     To So Reach Us,
     all in your most magnificent quest!
     For you are 2nd to none!
     And you are one of America's most brightest of all sons!
     As you so make the Angels tears so run!
     As your heart would so crest!
     Moments are that we so have!
     To change the world,
     to hearts so grab!
     To make a difference with it all!
     For men of honor like Charles,
     who so hear that most noble call!
     And so go off to war!
     All of our freedoms so insure!
     Who are 2nd to none,
     now that is so for sure!
     As up ahead but lies so much more!
     Because, your going almost to Heaven soon!
     to West Virginia to live the rest of your life as you like to 
           so croon!
     To live a long and happy live,
     as there you are shooting for the moon!
     And without such inspirational men as you,
     heroes like Charles from of 2nd ID where would we all so be?
     For one thing is so true,
     there 2nd to none!

                          ____________________