I am a Marine

I am a Marine,

Born in 1775.

Through two centuries, I’ve fought the best;

And through two centuries, survived.

I’ve fought the British twice,

And two times I have won.

Because of me, there was a setting of the Empire’s sun.

I am a Marine.

And I’ve fought in many nations,

From Mexico’s Chapultepec, to China’s American Legation.

I was the Devil Dog, at bloody Belleau Wood.

My mastiff and I discerned between dog and man,

But the Germans never could.

I froze at Chosin Reservoir,

And burned in the Pacific sun;

Always, I was the first to fight

And last to leave when done.

I stood my ground at Khe Sanh,

Though afraid, I did not run;

Amazing – the miracles that can happen,

When Marines get behind a gun.

I have fought in every clime and place,

Whether cold or warm;

From balmy third-world nations to dusty desert storms.

With every Marine who goes beyond,

A little piece of me ends,

And with every boy who grows up green my life begins again.

I have fought here for people I love,

fought here and on foreign shores,

Fought every type of action and every type of war.

If my country calls on me, I will fight again,

For I am a Marine, and my duty never ends.

We say we’re always faithful,

And that always has been true.

And here’s a truth that some forget,

It always will be, too.

For when you say you are a Marine,

you’re saying more than most,

And when you say you are a Marine,

make sure it is not a boast.

For when you say you are a Marine,

you stand on those gone before.

It’s because of them and up to us,

that there’s honor in the Corps.

Yes, I am a Marine and that really says much more –

I am a Marine, I am timeless, I am the Corps.

Semper Fi

~Author unknown