Please give a minute of silence, read the poem and then hit the start button at the bottom of the page afterwards.

"MEMORIES"

of

A

Wounded

Corpsman

by

Doc Bunner

(1st Mar. Div.,1st Batt,Alpha Company,1st Platoon)

I had just turned twentyone

a few days before I entered Nam,

never dreaming that all my beliefs

would be left there on the fields

while endless nightmares

even though buried

would come back

to haunt me without relief...

MEMORIES

I remember thinking

as I entered the country, foolheartily

that I only had twelve months to do

before I would be back to the world

Never dreaming that my life

would be changed forever....

MEMORIES

The Good, the bad,

some you remember;

some you bury;

trying to hold onto your sanity.

You remember the events

when you joined your platoon

of why you're out in the field

so that a marine won't take a life

that would result in him having...

MEMORIES

You attempt to do what is right

in order to save all lives.

You risk your life

putting to work all that you've learned,

so that others would not be harmed.

You save most

and get them out

so that they won't have....

MEMORIES

After the first fire fight

you know that you did prevent

when they came up to you,

pounding you on the back,

telling you what a good job you did

only to compound the problem

when in reliving the fight

they mentioned things

that you never thought about

resulting in you having....

MEMORIES

You thought that you could save the world

or at least that's what you were taught.

You tried to do what was best

while you were there

trying only to remember the good

and attempting to forget the rest.

But when you least expect it

something comes along...

MEMORIES

Days pass

some good, some bad

you make new friends

and experience that comradeship

that guys that had been under fire get

as you wonder about the greenies

wondering if they would be there

in the heat of battle protecting your back

as you attempted to patch them up

to get them to survive

to get them home

to their loved ones

in the real world...

MEMORIES

Yet the day finally comes

that makes you face the truth

you are only a mortal

attempting to bring a little

compassion and act of kindness

leaving you to question God

after you get wounded

watching a marine friend take his last

"Why God, oh why

do you insist on leaving me alive..."

MEMORIES

To this day

I still remember

that last "Corpman Up!" cry

running up as I always did

attempting to save another life

never dreaming that this would be my first.

His name I can't remember,

even though I have it written down

His face haunts me today

questioning me with a puzzled stare....

MEMORIES

Questions of hope

because "Old Doc's here"

that things will be alright

that he'll treat me right.

"But Doc

how did you get wounded,

you weren't suppose to get hurt,

after all we looked out for you

now who is going to take care of us,

better yet, who is going to save me?...."

MEMORIES

Watching him die

breathing his last

knowing that all your training

could not stop his fate.

Yet you and three others

are now wounded

wondering your fate

as you hear again

that cry of "Corpman Up!"

coming from your own throat

still trying to do your job....

MEMORIES

Now almost Thirty years later

thinking that you had put it all behind you

you find yourself being put in a similar situation

which subconsciously reminds you of

Unfinished business

that you have to get straight

of that fateful day

when you lost your first

and only one...

MEMORIES

You almost lost it

yet realized before you did

that you needed the help

that you had given to others

in order to get through

those............

MEMORIES

In Memory of a fallen friend.

Please turn on the music. Thank you.

The Marine's name was Michael Marshall Clayton,

KIA April 20, 1968

locate on THE WALL :

Panel 51E - Row 006

ETERNAL FLAME

click here to go to Doc's Navy Service

Click here to go to events leading up to this.

Click here to go to Doc's Reconciliation with God.

EMAIL ME

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page