In particular honor of 2LT David Rylander, 1LT Todd Lambka, and 1LT Sal Corma, who gave their lives as they lived them – in service and love for others.
The sun has beaten on my back
This load has bowed my head
But, even weary, in attack
These forces must be led
The bog is thick, the mountain high
My body weak and shaken
But even under blackest sky
This foe must still be taken
The road is long, the work is hard,
And praises are so few
My broken body may be scarred
But I must still be true
And to the bitter end I fight
For never will we yield
And I will die, by soldier’s right,
Upon a blood-soaked field
So even if our foe should find
A way to break us down
Until the end, we hold the line
And we will stand our ground
I cannot keep them from all harm
But I will not forsake them
And at the call, “Lay down your arms”
I’ll answer, “Come and take them!”
– s. Clark
Shigé Clark Writing 