Do Most People Really Know?

[Nick Grana]

THE AIRBORNE CREED

I am an AIRBORNE trooper! A paratrooper!

I jump by parachute from any plane in flight. I volunteered to do it,
knowing well the hazards of my choice.

I serve in a mighty AIRBORNE force--famed for deeds in war--
renowned for readiness in peace.
It is my pledge to uphold its honor and prestige
in all I am--in all I do.

I am an elite trooper--a sky trooper--a shock trooper--
a spearhead trooper. I blaze the way to far-flung goals--
behind, before, above the foe's front lines.

I know that I may have to fight without support for days on end.
Therefore, I keep my mind and body always fit
to do my part in any AIRBORNE task.
I am self-reliant and unafraid.
I shoot true and march fast and far.
I fight hard and excel in every art and artifice of war.

I never fail a fellow trooper.
I cherish as a sacred trust the lives of individuals with whom I serve.
Leaders have my fullest loyalty, and those I lead never find me lacking.

I have pride in the AIRBORNE! I never let it down!
In peace, I do not shrink the dullest of duty,
nor protest the toughest training.
My weapons and equipment are always combat ready.
I am neat of dress--military in courtesy--proper in conduct and behavior.

In battle, I fear no foe's ability,
nor underestimate his prowess, power and guile.
I fight him with all my might and skill--
ever alert to evade capture or escape a trap.
I never surrender, though I be the last.

My goal in peace or war is to succeed in any mission of the day--
or die, if needs be, in the try.

I belong to a proud and glorious team--
the AIRBORNE, the Army, my Country.
I am its chosen pride to fight where others may not go--
to serve them well until the final victory.

I am the trooper of the sky! I am my Nation's best!
In peace and war I never fail. Anywhere, anytime, in anything--
I AM AIRBORNE!

Sung to the Tune of:

"The Battle Hymn of the Republic"

He was just a rookie trooper, and he surely shook with fright As he checked all his equipment, and made sure his pack was tight He had to sit and listen to those awful engines roar,"You ain't gonna jump no more!"

"Is everybody happy?" cried the sergeant, looking up. Our hero feebly answered, "YES" and then they stood him up, He leaped into the blast, his static line unhooked; HE AIN'T GONNA JUMP NO MORE!

(CHORUS)

Gory, gory, what a helluva way to die; Gory, gory, what a helluva way to die. Gory, gory, what a helluva way to die; He ain't gonna jump no more!

He counted long, he counted loud, he waited for the shock, He felt the wind, he felt the clouds, he felt the awful drop, He jerked his cord, the silk spilled out and wrapped around his legs; HE AIN'T GONNA JUMP NO MORE!

(CHORUS)

The risers wrapped around his neck, connectors cracked his dome The lines were snarled and tied in knots, around his skinny bones, The canopy became his shroud, he hurled to the ground; HE AIN'T GONNA JUMP NO MORE!

(CHORUS)

The days he's lived and loved and laughed kept running through his mind, He thought about the girl back home, the one he'd left behind, He thought about the medics and wondered what they'd find; HE AIN'T GONNA JUMP NO MORE!

(CHORUS)

The ambulance was on the spot, the jeeps were running wild, The medics jumped and screamed with glee, They rolled their sleeves and smiled. For it had been a week or more since a last chute had failed; HE AIN'T GONNA JUMP NO MORE!

(CHORUS)

He hit the ground, the sound was "SPLAT," the blood went spurting high, His comrades then were heard to say "What A Helluva way to die!" He lay there rolling 'round in the welter of his gore; HE AIN'T GONNA JUMP NO MORE!

(CHORUS)

There was blood upon the risers, there were brains upon the chute, Intestines were a-dangling from his paratrooper's boots, They picked him up still in his Chute poured him from his boots; HE AIN'T GONNA JUMP NO MORE!

(CHORUS)

Gory, gory, what a helluva way to die; Gory, gory, what a helluva way to die. Gory, gory, what a helluva way to die; He ain't gonna jump no more!

If you don't think war is H_E_L_L, get in one sometime.
God bless my fallen brothers.
Darth

[AnnMarie]

Do Most People Really Know?

If you don't think war is H_E_L_L, get in one sometime.
God bless my fallen brothers.

No Darth, most people probably do not know and neither did I (I am not American) but i feel so sad for you. I just cannot imagine the hell that you have been through that is so bad that you cannot forget.

[Nick Grana]

Thanks for the reply, Ann Marie.
War is not the only h-e-l-l on Earth. Deaths of loved ones, etc. It would make for a long list. But hearing and seeing Iraq every day brings war to the forefront. I know this is a war on terror but terror is the face of war.

Yes, you are right that some things just can not be forgotten. Some fair better that I do and some fair much worse to the point of madness.

We have many, many more men that make it, than don't. But that does not diminish the fact that the brain can not erase all ugly thoughts even with enough time. Time is different for all.

Time to thank you again,

[AnnMarie]