- The Sniper
-
The Sniper
The sun beat like a hammer, not a cloud was in the sky.
The mid-day air ran thick with dust, my throat was parched and dry.
With microphone clutched tight in hand and cameraman in tow,
I ducked beneath a fallen roof, surprised to hear "Stay low."
My eyes blinked several times before in shadow I could see,
The figure stretched across the rubble, several steps away from me.
He wore a cloak of burlap strips, all shades of gray and brown,
That hung in tatters till he seemed to melt into the ground.
He never turned his head or took his eye from off the scope,
But pointed through the broken wall and down the rocky slope.
"About eight hundred yards," he said, his whispered words concise,
Beneath the baggy jacket he is wearing a device.
A chill ran up my spine despite the swelter of the heat,
"You think he's going to set if off along the crowded street?"
The sniper gave a weary sigh and said "I wouldn't doubt it,
Unless there's something this old gun and I can do about it."
A thunder clap, a tongue of flame, the still abruptly shattered:
While citizens that walked the street were just as quickly scattered.
Till only one remained, a body crumpled on the ground,
The threat to oh so many ended by a single round.
And yet the sniper had no cheer, no hint of any gloat,
Instead he took a logbook out and quietly he wrote.
"Hey I could put you on TV, that shot was quite a story!"
But he surprised me once again- "I got no wish for glory."
"Are you for real?" I asked in awe, "You don't want fame or credit?"
He looked at me with saddened eyes and said "You just don't get it.
"You see that shot-up length of wall, the one without a door?
Before a mortar hit it, it was a grocery store."
"But don't go thinking that to Bomb a store is all that cruel,
The rubble just across the street -it used to be a school.
The little kids played soccer in the field out by the road,"
His head hung low, they never ever thought a car would just explode.
" As bad as all this is though, it could be a whole lot worse,"
He swallowed hard, the words came from his mouth just like a curse.
"Today the fights on foreign land, on streets that aren't my own,"
"I'm here today 'cause if I fail , the next fights back at home."
"And I won't let my Safeway burn, my neighbors dead inside,
Don't want to get a call from school that says my daughter died;
I pray that not a one of them will know the things I see,
Nor have the work of terrorists etched in their memory."
"So you can keep your trophies and your fleeting bit of fame,
I don't care if I make the news, or if they speak my name."
He glanced toward the camera and his brow began to knot,
"If you're looking for a story, why not give this one a shot."
"Just tell the truth of what you see, without the slant or spin:
That most of us are OK and we're coming home again.
And why not tell our folks back home about the good we've done,
How when they see Americans, the kids come at a run."
You tell 'em what it means to folks here just to speak their mind,
Without the fear that that tyranny is just a step behind:
Describe the desert miles they walk in their first chance to vote,
Or ask a soldier if he's proud, I'm sure you'll get a quote."
He turned and slid the rifle in a drag bag thickly padded ,
Then looked again with eyes of steel as quietly he added:
"And maybe just remind the few, if ill of us they speak,
That we are all that stands between the monsters and the weak.
By Michael Marks - A Marine 2006source
To: "aaaCITADEL/New" CC: "vvaBob Johnson" "VFW USMC Fred & Susan Carr"
From: "gengreb" 
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Harry BerndtWhy Wait? Move to EarthLink.If I die before you wake...
Back home now I know you're probably sleepin'
Over here it's the middle of the day
I finally found the time to write a letter
Sittin' here a half a world away
I heard about all them folks protestin'
As if I really want this war
But that don't stop me from believin'
There's just some things worth fightin' forCHORUS
And if I die before you wake,
I pray the world will take
A good look at what God's given us
That we could only understand,
everything is in his hands
All we need is a little faith and trust
I want you to know it ain't too high a price to pay
If I die before you wakeTell everybody that I miss them
And I can't wait to get back home
But until then I'll serve my country
And be proud to wear this uniformCHORUS
No it ain't too high a price to pay
If I die before you wake
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Identity of Next Pope. He Will be The Last Pope. Learn Bible Prophecy
www.worldslastchance.comAdvertise on this site source:<>Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2007 19:47:53 -0800 (PST) From: "Lynn Seals"
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Binh V
Tags: | Edit Tags Saturday December 1, 2007 - 04:41am (EST) Edit | Delete | Permanent Link | 0 Comments - PATRIOTIC REMEMBRANCE
-
Message Received
Sunday May 27, 2007 - 07:55 pm ICTCAVTROOPER5981 has sent you a message
Sent To: ♥♥ Army Mom Angelbaby♥♥, 26th Lancer, Alice s, Army-Mom-In-Law, B J, babygurl_chy, Binh Architect, blkhorse70, Breath of fresh air......, Bruce V, Conservative Army, deb_n_dave, DELETE FRANCE, doc duncan, DUTY HONOR COUNTRY, eliot.R, Franni, Fred, I.B. Watching, Jana, janet c, JD and Sharon, JMC, Juliet, Kat, Ken, KMelKang, Lightning White 6, M G, Mark Chase, Mike, MITCH, R.Stan, Sandra and Phil D, Scots_Lass_Chrissy, Shanon, SISTER OF SGT MAJOR, sunshine, SupportOur Troops, Wildgun,
PATRIOTIC REMEMBRANCE
FREEDOM FLIES IN YOUR HEART LIKE AN EAGLE
DUSTY OLD HELMET, RUSTY OLD GUN,
THEY SIT IN THE CORNER AND WAIT -
TWO SOUVENIRS OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR
THAT HAVE WITHSTOOD THE TIME, AND THE HATE.
MUTE WITNESS TO A TIME OF MUCH TROUBLE.
WHERE KILL OR BE KILLED WAS THE LAW -
WERE THESE IMPLEMENTS USED WITH HIGH HONOR?
WHAT WAS THE GLORY THEY SAW?
MANY TIMES I'VE WANTED TO ASK THEM -
AND NOW THAT WE'RE HERE ALL ALONE,
RELICS ALL THREE OF A LONG AGO WAR -
WHERE HAS FREEDOM GONE?
FREEDOM FLIES IN YOUR HEART LIKE AN EAGLE.
LET IT SOAR WITH THE WINDS HIGH ABOVE
AMONG THE SPIRITS OF SOLDIERS NOW SLEEPING,
GUARD IT WITH CARE AND WITH LOVE.
I SALUTE MY OLD FRIENDS IN THE CORNER,
I AGREE WITH ALL THEY HAVE SAID -
AND IF THE MOMENT OF TRUTH COMES TOMORROW,
I'LL BE FREE, OR BY GOD, I'LL BE DEAD!
. . . AUDIE MURPHYMessage Received
Sunday May 27, 2007 - 11:16 pm ICT
SISTER OF SGT MAJOR has sent you a message
Message Received
Tuesday May 29, 2007 - 11:46 am ICT
sunshine has sent you a message
Message Received
Tuesday May 29, 2007 - 12:40 pm ICTSISTER OF SGT MAJOR has sent you a message
Tuesday May 29, 2007 - 08:52 pm ICT
sunshine has sent you a message
Sent To: SISTER OF SGT MAJOR, CAVTROOPER5981, 26th Lancer, Alice s, Army-Mom-In-Law, babygurl_chy, Binh Architect, blkhorse70, Breath of fresh air......, Bruce V, DELETE FRANCE, doc duncan, DUTY HONOR COUNTRY, eliot.R, Franni, Fred, I.B. Watching, Jana, JD and Sharon, JMC, Juliet, Kat, Ken, Lightning White 6, Mark Chase, Mike, MITCH, R.Stan, Sandra and Phil D, Scots_Lass_Chrissy, Shanon, SupportOur Troops, Wildgun,
RE: PATRIOTIC REMEMBRANCE
-------------SISTER OF SGT MAJOR wrote:
> > Today is I love you day!!I LOVE YOU! Send to 7 people you love dearly whether it's friendship love or real love. If you get 5 back your spoiled
> > __________, .-'Y _^-,
> > ______, .-'^H E , -^_^-, ..
> > _, .-'^ R S , .-^_______..|
> > _.. H E , .-^____________k
> > __.., .-^_________________i
> > ________________________ss
> > ________________________kis
> > _______________________skiss
> > _______________________kissk
> > ______________________isskiss
> > ____________________kisskisskis
> > __________________skisskisskisski
> > ________________sskisskisskisskissk
> > ______________isskisskisskisskisskiss
> > ____________kisskisskisskisskisskisskis
> > _________skisskisskisskisskisskisskisskiss
> > _______kisskisskisskisskisskisskisskisskissk
> > ______isskisskisskisskisskisskisskisskisskiss
> > ______kisskisskisskisskisskisskisskisskisskis
> > _______skisskisskisskisskisskisskisskisskis
> >
> > ~*~*~YOUVE JUST BEEN KISSED~*~*~
> >
> > PASS THIS KISS AROUND TO SHOW YOUR FRIENDS YOU CARE ABOUT THEM!!!!!
> > IF YOU GET A KISS BACK YOUR FRIEND CARES FOR YOU
> > love ya ((HUGS))
>
> -------------sunshine wrote:
>
> > i love this
> >
> > -------------CAVTROOPER5981 wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > FREEDOM FLIES IN YOUR HEART LIKE AN EAGLE
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > DUSTY OLD HELMET, RUSTY OLD GUN,
> > > THEY SIT IN THE CORNER AND WAIT -
> > >
> > > TWO SOUVENIRS OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR
> > > THAT HAVE WITHSTOOD THE TIME, AND THE HATE.
> > >
>pixsource
cool big blueeyes has sent you a message
Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 19:35:08 -0700 (PDT) From: "RICHARD CARTER"
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Binh V
- Huynh Dang Binh, 30
Tags: | Edit Tags Saturday December 1, 2007 - 04:35am (EST) Edit | Delete | Permanent Link | 0 Comments - Words of Wisdom
-
Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he's too old to*
*fight, he'll just kill you.*
*"If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics*
*suck."*
*"I carry a gun, 'cause a cop is too heavy."*
*America is not at war. The U.S. Military is at*
*war. America is at the mall.*
*When seconds count the cops are just minutes away.*
*When a reporter did a human interest piece on the Texas Rangers. *
*The reporter recognized the 1911 the Ranger was carrying*
*and asked him "Why do you carry a 45". The Ranger responded with, *
*"They don't make a 46".*
*"An armed man will kill an unarmed man with monotonous*
*regularity" .*
*The old sheriff was attending an awards dinner when a*
*lady commented on his wearing his sidearm.*
* "Sheriff, I see you have your pistol. Are you*
*expecting trouble?"*
* "No Ma'am. If I were expecting trouble, I would have*
*brought my rifle."*
*"Beware the man who only has one gun. He probably*
*knows how to use it"*
Danny O.
__._,_.___source
From: "gengreb" Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
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cool big blueeyes
Top Page | Blog | Friends | Lists
Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2007 12:18:08 -0700 (PDT) From: Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
Yahoo! DomainKeys has confirmed that this message was sent by yahoo.com. Learn moreSubject: Fwd: FW: Please ComplySubject: FW: Please Comply
I'm not breaking this one. If I get it a 1000 times, I'll forward it a 1000 times! Let us pray...
Prayer chain for our Military... Don't break it!
Please send this on after a short prayer . Prayer for our soldiers Don't break it!
Prayer:
"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen."
Prayer Request: When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our troops around the world.
There is nothing attached. Just send this to people in your address book. Do not let it stop with you. Of all the gifts you could give a Marine, Soldier, Sailor, Airman, & others deployed in harm's way, prayer is the very best one.
GOD BLESS YOU FOR PASSI NG IT ON!
Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL.com.
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Tags: | Edit Tags Saturday December 1, 2007 - 04:29am (EST) Edit | Delete | Permanent Link | 0 Comments - INSIDE THE WALL
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INSIDE THE WALL
Author Unknown
At first there was no place for us to go until someone put up that
Black Granite Wall. Now, everyday and night, my Brothers and Sisters
wait to see the many people from places afar file in front of this
Wall. Many stopping briefly and many for hours and some that come on
regular basis. It was hard at first, not that it got any easier, but
it seems that many of the attitudes towards that war that we were
involved in have changed. I can only pray that the ones on the other
side have learned something and more Walls as this one, needn't be
built.
Several members of my unit and many that I did not recognize have
called me to the Wall by touching my name that is engraved upon it.
The tears aren't necessary but are hard even for me to hold back.
Don't feel guilty for not being with me, my Brothers. This was my
destiny as it is yours, to be born on that side of the Wall. Touch
the Wall, my Brothers, so that we can share the memories that we had.
I have learned to put the bad memories aside and remember only the
pleasant times that we had together. Tell our Brothers out there to
come and visit me, not to say Good Bye but to say Hello and be
together again, even for a short time to ease that pain of loss that
we all share.
Today, an irresistible and loving call comes from the Wall. As I
approach I can see an elderly lady and as I get closer I recognize
her......... .It's Momma! As much as I have looked forward to this
day, I have also regretted it because I didn't know what reaction I
would have.
Next to her. I suddenly see my wife and immediately think how hard it
must of been for her to come to this place and my mind floods with
the pleasant memories of 30 years past. There's a young man in a
military uniform standing with his arm around her......My God!.....It
has to be my son. Look at him trying to be the man without a tear in
his eye. I yearn to tell him how proud I am, seeing him standing
tall, straight and proud in his uniform.
Momma comes closer and touches the Wall and I feel the soft and
gentle touch I had not felt in so many years. Dad has crossed to this
side of the Wall and through our touch, I try to convey to her that
Dad is doing fine and is no longer suffering or feeling pain. I see
my wife's courage building as she sees Momma touch the wall and she
approaches and lays her hand on my waiting hand. All the emotions,
feelings and memories of three decades past flash between our touch
and I tell her that it's all right. Carry on with your life and
don't worry about me...... I can see as I look into her eyes that she
hears and understands me and a big burden has been lifted from her.
I watch as they lay flowers and other memories of my past. My lucky
charm that was taken from me and sent to her by my CO, a tattered and
worn teddy bear that I can barely remember having as I grew up as a
child and several medals that I had earned and were presented to my
wife. One of them is the Combat Infantry Badge that I am Very proud
of and I notice that my son is also wearing this medal. I had earned
mine in the jungles of Vietnam and he had probably earned his in the
deserts of Iraq.
I can tell that they are preparing to leave and I try to take a
mental picture of them together, because I don't know when I will see
them again. I wouldn't blame them if they were not to return and can
only thank them that I was not forgotten. My wife and Momma near the
Wall for one final touch and so many years of indecision,fear and
sorrow are let go. As they turn to leave I feel my tears that had not
flowed for so many years,form as if dew drops on the other side of
the wall.
They slowly move away with only a glance over their shoulder. My son
suddenly stops and slowly returns. He stands straight and proud in
front of me and snaps a salute. Something makes him move to the Wall
and he puts his hand upon the Wall and touches my tears that had
formed on the face of the Wall and I can tell that he senses my
presence there and the pride and the love that I have for him. He
falls to his knees and the tears flow from his eyes and I try my
best to reassure him that it is all right and the tears do not make
him any less of a man. As he moves back wiping the tears from his
eyes, he silently mouths, God Bless you, Dad....... God Bless, YOU,
Son.... We Will meet someday but in the meanwhile, go on your
way..... There is no hurry..... there is no hurry at all.
As I see them walk off in the distance, I yell out to THEM and
EVERYONE there today, as loud as I can,...... THANKS FOR REMEMBERING
and as others on this side of the Wall join in, I notice that the US
Flag that so proudly flies in front of us everyday, is flapping and
standing proudly straight out in the wind today,...... ...
"THANK YOU ALL FOR REMEMBERING"
For he today, that sheds his blood with me, shall be my brother.source
From: "gengreb" Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
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It's cheaper to do this than to mow the entire yard!
Artist Mows 850,000-Square-Foot Purple Heart Into N.Y. Field
Monday, August 06, 2007
Aug. 5: An 850,000-square-foot rendering of a Purple Heart medal is shown in a New York park.
HAMPTONBURGH, N.Y. — An artist has mowed an 850,000-square-foot rendering of a Purple Heart medal into a park field to honor the 75th anniversary of the medal that commends servicemembers killed or wounded in action.
The rendering, which was unveiled Sunday in Thomas Bull Memorial Park in this city 55 miles northwest of New York City, was done by field artist and painter Roger Baker, whose past works include the Statue of Liberty and Elvis Presley.
According to Baker, the project followed a chance meeting with Bill Bacon, membership director of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. After meeting with officials from The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor and Orange County parks, the plan was on.
The New Windsor Cantonment, in what is now Orange County, was the final encampment of the Revolutionary Army. To honor the service of select troops, Gen. George Washington presented a small purple cloth Badge of Merit — the precursor to the Purple Heart medal.
In 1932, the Purple Heart was awarded to 150 veterans of World War I. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor opened in New Windsor in 2006. Baker's design was based on a photograph of the medal awarded to Art Livesey, a Middletown, N.Y., Marine Corps veteran who was wounded at Iwo Jima.WELCOME TO OLE' BILL'S WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
August 2007 - Week 4
Tags: | Edit Tags Monday November 19, 2007 - 10:12pm (EST) Edit | Delete | Permanent Link | 0 Comments - 'What the hell did you do?'
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THE DUMBEST GUY ON EARTH?
This picture is real - not doctored in any way - and was taken by a Transportation Supervisor for a company that delivers building materials for 84 Lumber. When he saw it in the parking lot of IHOP, he went to buy a camera to take pictures.
The car is still running, as can be witnessed by the exhaust. The driver finally came back after the police were called, and was found crouched behind the rear of the car, attempting to cut the twine around the load!
Luckily, the Police stopped him and had the load removed. The materials were loaded at Home Depot. Their store manager said they Made the customer sign a waiver.
While the plywood and 2X4's are fairly obvious, what you can't see is the Back seat, which contains --are you ready for this? -- 10 bags of concrete @ 80 lbs. each. They estimated the load weight at 3000 lbs.
Both back tires exploded, the Wheels bent and the back shocks were driven through the floorboard.
******************************************
A good one from Dave Snavely.
A C-130 was lumbering along when a cocky F-16 flashed by. The jet jockey decided to show off.
The fighter jock told the C-130 pilot, 'watch this' and promptly went into a barrel roll followed by a steep climb. He then finished with a sonic boom as he broke the sound barrier.
The F-16 pilot asked the C-130 pilot what he thought of that?
The C-130 pilot said, 'That was impressive, but watch this!'
The C-130 droned along for about 5 minutes and then the C-130 pilot came back on and said 'What did you think of that?'Puzzled, the F-16 pilot asked, 'What the hell did you do?'
The C-130 pilot chuckled. 'I stood up, stretched my legs, went to the back, took a pee, then got a cup of coffee and a cinnamon bun.'
source
http://www.quarterhorsecav.org/WEEK3.HTM
Warning!!! CAVALRY TROOPER JOKES. NOT FOR THE INNOCENT OF HEART
WELCOME TO OLE' BILL'S WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
August 2007 - Week 3
Friday, 10 July 2009
The Sniper
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