Marines

A MARINE BIRTHDAY (November 10) Eight years after they were formed At the end of the Revolutionary War All the Navy’s ships were sold Marines and Sailors were no more. Then, in Seventeen ninety-eight The Marines once more came to be And they fought Barbary pirates Along the “Shores of Tripoli”. During the War of Eighteen Twelve They defended Washington Along with many other Operations Before that War was done. They served in the Mexican War And among Battles that they fought One to the “Halls of Montezuma” Alongside General Winfield Scott. “Bull Run” during the Civil War And blockades at Cape Hatteras At New Orleans and Charleston And Fort Fisher toward the last. The Spanish-American War The Boxer Rebellion in China Fights in Cuba, Mexico, Haiti In Nicaragua and Panama. On the Battlefields of France The “Devil Dogs” earned their name And many thousands killed or wounded In World War One’s deadly game. And most of us know their stories About the Heroes of WWII There’s some seem impossible But we all know they’re true. During the War in Korea Twenty-five thousand gave their all Fighting many gallant battles Answering our Country’s call. “The Cold War” found them everywhere In countries all around the Earth Trying hard to keep the Peace And showing all their worth. In Sixty-Five they landed in Da Nang With eighty-five thousand “in country”

They served with Pride and Honor Although our Country would not see. On their Two Hundred Thirtieth Birthday We have them serving in Iraq As well as so many other places To try to hold the Terrorists back. Maybe someday there will be Peace And Good Will on Earth and more But until then lets all give Thanks We have the United States Marine Corps. Semper Fidelis On the tenth day of November In Seventeen seventy-five Two Battalions were formed And the Marine Corps came alive. The Continental Congress Had passed a resolution For a landing force for the fleet A new Navy Institution. Since that day so long ago Through all conflicts of our Nation They’ve fueled stories and folklore And stirred the imagination. They’re usually the first to go The “spearhead” of the fight Some who heard they were coming Have turned tail and took flight. They’ve offered up, gave their All And that continues to this day Standing tall, marching forth To show others, Freedom’s way. THE MARINE CORPS WAR MEMORIAL (Iwo Jima) Said a Vet from Nineteen forty-five, ”Men were dying by the score.” An eyewitness to a famous Battle Immortalized forever more. Quartermaster on a LST “Eyewitness to a sad, horrible day.” “A slaughter right there on the Beach” Is what, this Veteran had to say. Coast Guardsman Robert Resnick Was more than just a witness there

He furnished the Stars and Stripes In that picture all generations share. A symbol for the Marine Corps Cast in bronze for all to see The Flag raised on that mountain top Is part of our Nation’s History. One of the bloodiest Battles of the War Fought for thirty-six days and nights More than twenty two thousand Japanese In one of the Marines fiercest fights. The first part of Japan we invaded And as Resnick’s ship sat on the beach Marine Gagnon asked him for a Flag And a long pipe to raise it’s reach. They lost their sight of the Marine As he headed to that Mountain top Amidst the gun’s bullets flying That never, ever seemed to stop. As they began to leave the Beach A tremendous cheer went all around And, “Every ship tooted it’s horn.” As they raised the Flag that he had found. For years another was credited Until the year, Two thousand-one When at a Fifth Marine Convention The Marines learned he really was the one. A big, old Marine bellowed out, “Do you really mean to tell me, That you never realized that you Won that Battle, single-handedly?” The President of the Fifth Marines Made him an honorary member And as they did some tears were shed As they all began to remember About that day sixty years ago Up there on Mount Surabachi When the Stars and Stripes were raised high Was still a vivid, cherished, memory. FOUR FOR THE CORPS These four young Men from our State Have paid the Price, Supreme They gave their All in the Pursuit Of Freedom, every Man’s dream. They did what all Marines would do And have since the Corps began They stood Tall and gave their Lives To Protect their fellow man. This small Tribute that we give For those Heroes in our Heart While we know they would say, “Just doin’ our job! Our part!”

I wrote the preceding after receiving the following > My husband and I are hosting a Marine Corps Ball in remembrance of 4 young Marines from our state that were killed in battle and we were wondering if we could use your poem. We may put it on a plaque for the families of these brave young men. Credit will be given to you. Thank you, Sherry Johnson Del “Abe” Jones