I Remember When

The day you made team leader was scary to say the least,

You would be leading LRRP’s into the belly of the beast.

You sat on your bunk and wondered “What the Hell?”

Could you do what was expected, could you do it well?

You had to face the realities of that awful war,

You could only do your best, no one could ask more.

You trained them hard, no one asked why,

All knew in their hearts that some would die.

With each decision you make, you pray to do no wrong,

The unexpected happens; you just ruck up and move on.

You ask deep in your soul, “Am I good enough?”

Would you let your team down when the going got tough?

You led a mission in the Ashau, a place remembered well,

Full of wild orchids and exotic birds, grunts called it hell.

Your point man got down, pointing to the ground,

You both look at the tracks, Charlie had been found.

You listened hard, hearing voices nearby,

Reality hits, some one is going to die.

You signaled your team, get ready to fight,

Each man prayed in his own right.

For those that have experienced it, combat can be unkind,

One of your men will be going home before his time.

You were a LRRP team leader; you brought your team home,

Your friends remembered in a black marbled stone.

Michael Monfrooe USA Ret.

9 November 2004

Dedicated to “L” Co. 75^th Ranger Team Leaders

Sgt’s Sheppard, Lambert, Distretti, Ackley and Wyatt

“E” Co. 3/506^th Recon Team Leaders

Sgt Fischer and Brandt and SSG Vennard