Gherald Edward Blalock

If you you wrote this poem as I believe you did, it is a moving tribute to your fellow marine. Be proud of it and your service, Hope some of his family gets to see this. Randy 1st Log Command 68-69 (army)

Memorial to my fallen brother I heard in the darkness the cadence of marching; Feet that were many came marching along. I lay and I listened as it became stronger - Soldiers were marching and singing this song: "Oh we've been to battle and we fought so bravely For our mothers, our sisters, our children and wives. And though we were valiant and cunning and daring, We shouldered the burden and gave up our lives. Yes, we were all young men with dreams of the future; Dreams of the future helped carry us along through hours that were lonely and fearful and tiresome. We took up the burden and we remained strong. Oh, we loved our country and we became soldiers. We gave up our homes, our friends and our fun. Then we went to fight for ourselves and for others; We lay down our school books and picked up a gun. They trained us to fight and to kill for a living, We swore our allegiance with our right hands. Away we were sent to serve our tour of duty. Now our blood's in the soil of a faraway land. We were to young to vote or to drink or to marry, No longer at home in the land of our birth. We felt out of place with adulthood denied us - Did not Uncle Sam know how much we were worth? Six soldiers in dress bear my flag-draped coffin. With white gloves flashing they salute the last time. A soldier who's fallen; a comrade, a buddy whose fighting is over - cut down in his prime. The guns crack the air and Taps is played softly, My family is there and they weep bitter tears. Their waiting is over, they feared it would happen. My place at the table will be empty for years. Now we're all together and we'll go on marching. We all did our duty and we answered the call. Our bitterness buried, we'll stay young forever We're marching to D.C. to salute the Black Wall". Gherald you were a great brother and friend. Your Brother Captain Tommy W. Thompson May God Be With You you were a great brother.