Remember me

Remember me

I have held my best friend in my arms as his life slowly ebbed from his torn body, with tears of anguish flowing freely down my face -- Remember me.

I have pulled bloodsucking leeches from my flesh amid the torrential rain and maddening heat of the steaming jungles -- Remember me.

I have stood in the trenches as the bitterly cold water seeped into my boots freezing my feet and limbs into stone and numbing blackness -- Remember me.

I have fought the blazing heat and desert storms until my eyes bled with pain and my tongue swelled in choking agony -- Remember me.

I have walked for miles as my boots shredded and the flesh of my feet poured my lifeblood into the thirsty rugged earth -- Remember me.

I have seen the face of a crying child, mortally wounded and dying from pain, seeking only comfort and understanding before the shadow of death clouds her eyes -- Remember me.

I have slept with the stench of death as I lay amid the rotting bodies of both friend and enemy -- Remember me.

I have suffered the pangs of hunger and of thirst without relief as visions of plenty floated teasingly before my eyes -- Remember me.

I have stood my post against incredible odds without the hope of relief -- Remember me.

I have walked the frozen hills awash with blinding snow and freezing wind knowing that tomorrow will bring more of the same -- Remember me.

I have sat amid my comrades and talked of love and joy, of peace and home and mom and dad, and the love I left behind -- Remember me.

I have climbed the jagged peaks of mountains and walked into the valley of death below -- Remember me.

I have advanced against a wall of death with bombs and bullets falling like rain, with screams of death and prayers of hope following in my wake -- Remember me.

I have suffered inhuman indignities at the hands of my captors while in my mind our glorious flag of freedom billowed gently in the wind -- Remember me.

I have looked death himself in the face and smiled back with anger, determination and resolve -- Remember me.

I have walked the halls of liberty that I helped to save from ruin and been spat upon by those who paid no price for that liberty -- Remember me.

I have parachuted into hostile fire, onto ice and snow and sand, and I have watched as my friends hung lifeless as their parachutes descend- Remember me.

I have shared my rations with the enemy and helped bandage a wounded foe, and watched with anger and fear as that same enemy slaughtered my own wounded friends -- Remember me.

I have bowed my head in prayer to a merciful God and asked for one more day, one more hour, one more minute of life -- Remember me.

I walk with pride among my peers with the knowledge that I have stood fast in my hour of trial and adversity -- Remember me.

Should my country call and the bugle sound to send me in again, I will always stand and deliver -- Remember me, for I am the American Warrior.

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