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| Patriotic Poems
Troops & Veterans |
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Note:
This heartfelt, moving poem by Gunnery Sgt Terence A. D'Alesandro
was in response to the following statement
presented to him by
Marines Blog, the official blog of the United States Marine Corps...
Every Marine remembers that
ominous feeling of uncertainty as they made
their entrance into the squad bays. The thoughts
of "why am I here," or "what have I gotten
myself into" grow more distinct in the back of
our minds. Perhaps their names might escape you
from time to time but their presence never
leaves. They are the Marine Corps drill
instructors. They come into our lives for 3
months and forever change our thought process,
if only for a little while. Perhaps your
thoughts might have differed, but we wondered
what goes through the mind of the Marine Drill
Instructor. |
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Why Am I Here? |
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It's 0327 � Why am I here?
Why am I not in bed like
everyone else, dead to the world?
Why do I do this?
I live with the constant pain, headaches and suffering...
the sacrifice... why?
BECAUSE I CAN... I CAN and I
WILL...
Because pain tells me I'm awake... It reminds me that I'm
alive.
 Who am I?
I'm the wrecker of bodies,
the crusher of mediocrity.
I am the face of destiny.
I
am a Marine Corps Drill Instructor.
I raised my right
hand and gave our Pledge:
THESE RECRUITS ARE
ENTRUSTED TO MY CARE.
I WILL TRAIN THEM TO THE BEST OF MY
ABILITY.
I WILL DEVELOP THEM INTO SMARTLY DISCIPLINED,
PHYSICALLY FIT, BASICALLY TRAINED MARINES...
FULLY
INDOCTRINATED IN LOVE OF CORPS AND COUNTRY.
I WILL DEMAND
OF THEM AND DEMONSTRATE BY MY OWN EXAMPLE,
THE HIGHEST
STANDARD OF PERSONAL CONDUCT,
MORALITY AND PROFESSIONAL
SKILL.
It starts here but this is just one journey
amongst many. It just started...
We begin today...
13 weeks in this dark hole...
91 days of pain...
2184 hours
of hunger and desire.
I'm already counting the
minutes and the seconds.
When it's over, I'll send
these hogs into the light as Marines...
Into the Fleet
Marine Force...
They WILL shine.
It's NEVER ABOUT
ME... NEVER.
It's about making Marines, plain and simple.
I will not do it alone.
I'll do it with my brothers
in belts and covers
Who lay it on the line every day just
like me.
We will bring the heat � together � for a common
purpose...
Making Marines.
If I stay anonymous to
you, I DON'T GIVE A DAMN...that's fine.
But I won't be
anonymous to them...
To THEM � the Marines we made.
That's ALL THAT MATTERS...
DRIVING THE EAGLE, GLOBE AND
ANCHOR
INTO THEIR HEARTS AND SOULS
So that they can
carry the Corps into the future.
Until then we'll
live in the shadows, the darkness...
In a place few will
ever see,
Where ugliness becomes beautiful.
This
place, this darkness...
THERE IS NO BETTER PLACE TO BE.
This is where the real work gets done.
If you're with
me, get that belt, get that cover and punch the clock;
It's gonna be a long, wild, havoc filled ride.
Be
prepared to get your hands dirty...
Listen... Hear that
silence?
In a few minutes, we're gonna destroy it.
Let's get this show on the damn road...
Let's throw some
recruits into the fire...
If you're not with us, get the
hell out of the way...
LIGHTS, LIGHTS, LIGHTS!!! |
By USMC Gunnery Sgt Terence A. D'Alesandro
Copyright 2011
Listed
February 18, 2011 |
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