Trident

Trident

He lies on his stomach,
The sun on his back.
He sees his friends run,
As the enemy attacks.

In his unit they were,
Once forty men strong.
Now they were dwindled,
Because he had been wrong.

Support was cut off,
They had little hope.
Except this man and his fifty,
Dispensing death through a scope.

The sun was oppressing,
As was the enemy.
The sand was hot and dry,
A combination most deadly.

They were getting closer now,
His men and his foes.
He pulled his trigger yet again,
Of another life, he disposed.

His radio came on,
His commander chimed in.
"A Black Hawk is on the way,
You won't have much time, when the evac begins."

The man couldn't say much,
His hands were tied.
"Sir, I will hold until my men are out,
Those that are still alive."

His commander was stern,
His resolve had no border.
"You're going with them,
And that is an order"

He pressed his finger to his radio,
And he replied:
"I have to protect the lives of my friends, sir.
If I die, then I die."

There was silence for a moment,
Outside the sounds of the gun.
The commander's voice returned:
"Why are you doing this son?"

The man didn't hesitate,
His voice did not pale:
"Brave men have fought and died building the proud tradition and feared reputation that I am bound to uphold.
In the worst of conditions, the legacy of my teammates steadies my resolve and silently guides my every deed. I will not fail."

The man took another shot,
And would not hear another ultimatum.
What the commander had heard was the last line of the SEALS creed,
Recited verbatim.

His friends ran past,
His targets drew near.
He loaded another clip,
And no longer felt fear.

He had fulfilled his code,
And he had not walked astray.
Loyalty to Country, Team, and Teammate
Earn your trident every day.