Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost...Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world...Amen...Matthew 28:19-20

A Tour of Duty

Prolog to "A Tour of Duty"

In the Book of Revelation, Chapter 16, the Bible tells us that in the end times, that there will be wars and rumors of wars. That Nation will rise up against nation, and that Kings shall rise up against Kings.

When the Armies of these Nations form up against their enemies, the men fight to the death. When the battles are won, men gladly and with great zeal, lay down their arms. Those who survive the fight will lay down their arms and return home to family, loved ones, and friends. Those who laid down their lives, return home to family, loved ones and friends...in a Flag draped box.

This is the story of one of these soldiers.

"A Tour of Duty"

I was just 18 when school was through,
to take my place in the world, I had to do.

Many were the places I searched, many were the places I applied
but none would hire one so young, one so untried

I found myself at a lonely place, talking to a man with stripes on his sleeves and tired lines in his face
and to me he said, "Out of you, a Marine will be made."

For months of training I then went,
the drilling, the marching, the instructing, the paperwork without end

When the training was finally at it's end
a proud Marine stood where a young boy once had been

My Mother cried a thousand tears, the sight and sound of which my heart could not stand
and with sad and knowing eyes, my Dad shook my hand

For I must go off away to war, to preserve Freedom in a far away land
For Freedom, for Honor, for Country I will stand

My friends and family all came to say
it takes someone special to take up this fight and to stay while others turn and run away

Now, I do not know who started that crazy old war,
but I was proud to do my Patriotic chore

Into the raging battles soon I was thrust. I fought for God, for Country, for Freedom,...for those who stood to fight and fell, for those who stood to fight and stayed
and for those who could not fight and turned and ran away

The fight was long, the fight was hard, the cause was just

As a thousand bombs were exploding men fought and died, lives scattered as leaves before a driving wind
the price off Freedom is high to this end

As mighty trees pit against a raging storm, we made our stand
but the battle prevailed, and all were lost to the last man

Silence, deafening Silence...Our Blood cried up to the Father from the ground
for many their bodies were never found

The Angels came and took us away
on this Earth no longer to stay

Our Savior claimed our souls from all about
to be with Him in Glory, no man to be left out

I saw my Mother's hot tears fall upon my breast
as by broken body was laid to rest

As the volleys of the rifles, Twenty One were fired,
the Honored Flag was folded and retired.

To my Mother, the Honor Guard the Colors he gave
and how forever Grateful this Nation was for the sacrifice we made

These scenes of Earth grew strangely dim...
When in a beckoning light from above, I saw Him

Before my Savior now I humbly stand and tell
One United States Marine reporting for Duty, Sir.

I have served my Tour of Duty, in Hell.

John Flowers, USMC - Author

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