[SAMWolf]

Current Military News
The Children

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Greg Shanahan, a civil affairs specialist with the 486th Civil Affairs Company, speaks with Iraqi citizens during a visit to their village. The 486th Civil Affairs Company is deployed to an undisclosed location from Broken Arrow, Okla., in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Quinton T. Burris


A group of Iraqi boys gather in hopes of receiving water from the 205th Quarter Master Company from Hunter Army Airfield, Ga. The 205th is deployed to an undisclosed location in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Quinton T. Burris


Iraqi civilians crowd the streets and cheer as U.S. forces arrive in Najef, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Kyran V. Adams


A family in An Nasiriyah, Iraq, looks on as Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) pass by. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brian L. Wickliffe


A young girl in An Nasiriyah, Iraq, waves to Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brian L. Wickliffe


Children of An Najaf, Iraq, watch through a gate while U.S. Army soldiers of 3rd Platoon, A. Company, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, patrol through their neighborhood. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Kyran V. Adams


An Iraqi family smiles as Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) pass by in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brian L. Wickliffe


A group of Iraqi children pose for a photo while their parents receive humanitarian daily rations and water in Ar Rutba, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Brett Bassett


Sgt. Maj. Charles Smith, 308th Civil Affairs Battalion, administers first-aid to a boy near the city of An Najaf, Iraq. The 308th is deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Christopher Calkins

[SAMWolf]

Prayer Request

Walter Mattson
Retired Marine
BentFeather's Uncle
April,23, 2003

He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.


Of a war that he had fought in
And the deeds that he had done.
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, everyone.


And 'tho sometimes, to his neighbors,
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened,
For they knew whereof he spoke.


But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For ol' Walter has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer,
For a Marine died today.

He won't be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.


He held a job and raised a family,
Quietly going on his way;
And the world won't note his passing;
'tho a Marine died today.


When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.


Papers tell of their life stories,
From the time that they were young,
But the passing of a Marine,
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.


Is the greatest contribution,
To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise,
And cons his fellow man?


Or the ordinary person,
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve their Country
And offers up their life?


The politician's stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are sometimes disproportionate,
To the service he gives.


While the ordinary Marine,
Who offered up their all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.


It's so easy to forget them,
For it is so long ago,
That our Walter's and Jane's and Johnny's,
Went to battle, but we know.


It was not the politicians,
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom,
That our Country now enjoys.


Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand?


Or would you want a Marine,
Who has sworn to defend,
Their home, their kin, and Country,
And would fight until the end?


He was just a common Marine,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us,
We may need his like again.


For when countries are in conflict,
Then we find the Marine's part,
Is to clean up all the troubles,
That the politicians start.


If we cannot do him honor,
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage,
At the ending of his days.


Perhaps just a simple headline, In the paper that might say:

"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, FOR A MARINE DIED TODAY."