“The fight has just begun,” Harrington said.
They won’t know what hit them.
Actually, they will, we’ve been telling them it is coming for some time now...
To all our Comrades, Soldier and Marine, Brothers and Sisters
that have been subject to these Judicial Charades.
We will not abandon you nor your families and loved ones.
We will see you all free, your lives restored. Your honor unblemished.
We will see those who have played these charades or supported them... dishonored and ruined.
W
A Poem for Sgt. Hutchins
by Steve Bryant
TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A CAMP PENDLETON CELL MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.
NO ONE DOWN THE CHIMNEY
NO PRESENTS TO GIVE,
A MARINE CORPS SERGEANT THEY NEED TO FORGIVE.
IF YOU LOOK ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT YOU WILL SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS, NOT EVEN A TREE.
NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
A SOLDIER WHO FOUGHT IN A FAR DISTANT LAND.
WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBERING THOUGHT RUSHED THROUGH MY MIND.
FOR HIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
SO DARK AND SO COLD,
THE WISH OF A SERGEANT,
FOR HIS YOUNG CHILD TO HOLD.
THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING, SILENT, ALONE,
WITH NIGHTMARES OF WAR WHILE WISHING FOR HOME.
THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE CELL WAS SO CLEAN,
THE PRIDE OF A MAN, A U.S. MARINE
WAS THIS LARRY HUTCHINS WHOM I HAD JUST READ,
CURLED UP ON A HARD BUNK WHICH SHOULD BE A BED?
I REALIZED HIS MOTHER
THROUGHOUT THIS LONG NIGHT,
WOULD DREAM OF HER YOUNG SON
WHO WAS WILLING TO FIGHT.
FOR WHAT HAVE WE DONE?
HE’S WITHOUT CHRISTMAS DAY,
CONDEMING OUR OWN,
FOR THIS WE’LL ALL PAY!
ENJOY YOUR SWEET FREEDOM
EACH DAY,MONTH, AND YEAR,
BECAUSE OF YOUNG SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.
I COULDN’T HELP WONDER
HOW HE LAY HERE ALONE,
WHILE THE ONES WHO ACCUSE HIM
SLEEP GENTLY AT HOME.
THAT VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY.
HOW COULD ALL OUR LEADERS
NOT HEAR OUR VOICE,
IT SEEMS TO US ALL
THEY MADE THE WRONG CHOICE.
HE FOUGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM, WITHOUT ASKING FOR MORE,
HIS LIFE IS OUR GOD, OUR COUNTRY, THE CORPS.’
TONIGHT WHEN YOU LAY DOWN
AND DRIFT OFF TO SLEEP,
TRY TO CONTAIN IT,
TRY NOT TO WEEP.
HIS VALIANT BEHAVIOR,
FOR THIS WE ADORE.
THERES NO NEED FOR CRYING,
JUST EVEN THE SCORE.
FREE LARRY HUTCHINS
THIS WE ALL ASK,
AND THOUGH IT TAKES COURAGE,
IT NEED BE OUR TASK.
ONE LAST THOUGHT FOR JIM CONNOLLY,
TO THIS YOU MAY DWELL
‘MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,
YOU WILL SOON BURN IN HELL!