Poem my cousin wrote when he was in Iraq

[Patti]

This is a poem that my cousin Karl wrote when he was stationed in Iraq. He and I were e-mailing each other when he was in combat. I have prayed many heartfelt prayers for him and wanted to share this poem:


It was kinda late, now was my chance to get some rest.
So I lay in my rack, and put my eyelids to the test.
Then all of a sudden, someone beats on my door!
"GET UP', "WE'VE GOT A MISSION", "GRAB YOUR BOOTS", my feet hit the floor.

I could only say to myself, under my breath, "For the love of Pete", "What about some rest."
So I picked up my weapon, then throw on my armor, snatch up my ammo, and run out of the door.
Out onto the airfield, into the night air,
Onto the BLACK HAWK, without even a care.

We land outside a village, our feet hit the ground.
We weave our way through, this mud built town.
A clay brick structure, we encircle to hold.
To apprehend whats inside, I pray they are not as bold.

We guard all the windows, then burst through the door.
No one is to escape, they all hit the floor.
We rifle the rooms, dig thru the trash.
Oh yeah we find it, a weapons cache here was stashed.

We load up the Black Hawk, with weapons of all sorts.
On another we shove prisoners, one still in his shorts.
On another we climb, tired and dirty.
I look at my watch, it's not quite 5:30.

It's been a long mission, it's been a long night.
Boy I'm glad they didn't put up a fight.
So I gaze out the door, looking into the black.
The sun breaks the horizon, were on our way back.

As the warmth hits my face, I lean back and smile.
This feels good...the missions a success, this will last a while.
Then something brushed my face, was it the warmth of the sun?
Then all of the sudden I realize, CHRISTMAS had come.

The mission I forget, as I go into a daze.
I stare out the window, into the sunny haze.
I think about home and happier times.
This mission was like others, but something didn't rhyme.

It went too easy, too calculated, too well.
Someone watches over me, this I can tell.
I've seen alot of bad, some more than most.
But I stand in comfort, as if accompanied by a ghost.

I've trusted in God, where ever I have gone.
And I prayed for his wisdom in what ever I've done.
He has seen me home safely, home more than once.
To him I give thanks, for him I keep in front.

The Black Hawk lands, the tarmac is warm.
I get back to my hooch, looks like it may storm.
It's still early morning, but this is my chance for rest.
So I lay in my rack, and put my eyelids to the test.

Then all of a sudden, someone beats on my door.
Here we go God, here we go once more.

SGT NEWAGO KARL C. CO. 276 ENG BN COMBAT OIF 2004

[Nightingale]

Patti, that's really a nice poem that your cousin wrote

My heart goes out to anyone that is fighting in the war. I hate the war but I do love and appreciate our soldiers that have taken the stance for our country...how can we not?

I hope Karl comes home to your family safe and sound. In the meantime, please tell him thank you for me.
Thanks for posting his poem.

[jj]

all the very best to Karl... I've an uncle peacekeeping in Afghanistan and each day I think of his daily job I realize how fluffy my own work is

on that note, I recall when Gord was asked about the tremendous dedication and hard work involved in his touring and doing his songwriting craft

he replied something along the lines of, "well, it takes time but my job is NOT hard work ...hard work is done by the type of fellas who work in the mines"

(I'm sure he'd add, and the soldiers who toil for our nation's well-being)

[Patti]

Karl is back home in Virginia now. I came across his poem a few days ago, while digging for one of mine. Even though I hadn't seen anything about the war on corfid, I thought some might enjoy his poem. I am glad to have such a good man for a cousin. Once I saw some picture of Gordon that looked like he was wearing a camouflage bracelet. Not sure though, the picture wasn't a close up, and maybe I just had camouflage on the brain.

[charlene]

Gord did wear a camo bracelet that was given to him by the father of a Canadian soldier I believe..

[Patti]

Karl's men called him Sergeant Dad.
...and jj, all the best to your Uncle . I just read an interesting article in the July 28th issue of Time (page 30) on Afghanistan.

[timetraveler]

Originally Posted by Patti

Karl is back home in Virginia now. I came across his poem a few days ago, while digging for one of mine. Even though I hadn't seen anything about the war on corfid, I thought some might enjoy his poem. I am glad to have such a good man for a cousin. Once I saw some picture of Gordon that looked like he was wearing a camouflage bracelet. Not sure though, the picture wasn't a close up, and maybe I just had camouflage on the brain.

good to hear that he's back now. Every day, when my brother was over there, I asked The Man Himself to be looking out for him and all those who served with him. I still ask the same thing even now, as he's being sent to Honduras to finish out his time until he can retire which, thank heaven, is only a short time away.

[Patti]

Honduras? I used to have a World Vision foster daughter there. She's in her twenties now. I still have all her letters and pictures.

[Peter Bro10]

Patti - Thanks for posting that poem!
So well written that for a few moments I felt as though I was on that Blackhawk with him! sound odd?
I have the greatest respect for those who serve, particularly in the front lines...
I rather appreciate his reliance on God... much to take in there for sure!
Please extend to Karl our heartfelt thanks for his service and the poem... he should know.

To all those who serve or have served, to those who sacrafice here at home while loved ones are serving overseas.... May God bless you!
To those who don't come back... May God bless you and also those you leave behind!

Now I pick up my "pack" for the day and it doesn't seem so heavy! sound odd?

Thanks again Patti... and Karl.

[jj]

[QUOTE=
...and jj, all the best to your Uncle . I just read an interesting article in the July 28th issue of Time (page 30) on Afghanistan. [/QUOTE]

thanks Patti
and thanks for the Time heads up - I've got this up close and personal collection of stories on the bedside table

http://www.cbc.ca/thehour/videos.html?id=733473296

[charlene]

JJ-I read excerpts of that in the paper and some of her dispatches when she was over there..I'll have to pick up a copy..she's a wonderful writer..no bullshit with her..her time over there was amazing...
I still miss her writing for The Sun tho..

[Patti]

hey timetraveler, that's the first time I heard of someone going from Iraq to Honduras. I hope he's home with you soon. I hope he is doing alright now too. Once shortly after 9/11, I found something on the on a computer about all these countries that the U.S. military was going after. I felt like ... what? There was this color coded map, showing which was the most important to attack which was next, and next. Geeeez! Seemed stupid to me. Course I don't know.

Peter Bro, I'll let him know sometime. He doesn't talk about it over there much. I too appreciate his reliance on God which is the main reason I posted his poem.

jj, I wonder if they have Fifteen Days by Christie Blatchford in the U.S. Maybe, but I never even see a Canadian newspaper around here. When I lived in Oregon, I knew a girl from B.C. and she told me that she could always get a U.S. newspaper in B.C. if she wanted to, but she couldn't find a Canadian newspaper where we lived.

Karl's birthday today. He's 50. Once I was looking at Virginia on my road atlas, and I saw this one town called Lightfoot. Thought that was pretty cool.

[charlene]

You can read Canadian news on-line - all the TV/radio and print media are available country wide..CBC.ca is Canada wide news..
go to GOOGLE and search - for example 'Toronto news' will bring up local papers/tv etc.

[timetraveler]

I'm still not to wild about the war & all the insanity that goes with it, but I still have a great deal of respect for those souls who are there.

[Patti]

http://www.thepoetofbaghdad.com/

I was looking at this book in a bookstore yesterday and it looks like something good to read.

I don't like war either, and I also care for the souls that are there. So much I don't understand, but I care about others no matter what country they are from.