Reprinted with permission from “Veterans’ Voices” Summer 2022 Vol. 70, No. 2, page 7
You were lean and green,
Fresh to our unit,
Brash, bold and bragging,
Pushing yourself to the limit.
We were Marines
With our own swagger.
You were FMF,
New to our banter.
You were against the war
And refused a weapon to carry.
Once we understood,
We knew you weren’t Navy.
You carried more med bags
And knew what to do.
We carried more ammo
To help get us all through.
You were with us
In the darkness of a firefight.
We were under siege,
Hoping our reactions were right.
You were injured more than once
With no one to render you aid.
We kept trying to kill,
While you continued to save.
You did the best you could;
Words won’t erase your pain.
A few marines didn’t make it
But you weren’t to blame.
Thanks, “Doc.”
