Poems
by Sgt Toledo
WHO AM I
WHO AM I
I AM YOUR BROTHER
I AM YOUR SISTER
I AM YOUR COUSIN
I AM YOUR SON
I AM YOUR DAUGHTER
I AM YOUR FRIEND
WHO AM I
I AM A SAILOR
I ENSURE THE WORLDS WATERS ARE SAFE
I PATROL AND DEFEND MY NATIONS COASTLINE
WHO AM I
I AM AN AIRMAN
I ENSURE THE WORLDS SKY'S ARE SAFE
I PATROL AND DEFEND MY NATIONS AIRSPACE
WHO AM I
I AM A MARINE
I AM MY NATIONS QUICK REACTION FORCE
I TAKE THE OBJECTIVE AND HOLD IT TIL RELIEVED
WHO AM I
I AM A SOLDIER
I DEFEND MY NATION FROM THOSE WHO ATTACK US
I TAKE THE OBJECTIVE AND HOLD IT TIL RELIEVED
I DONT ASK YOU TO UNDERSTAND
FOR I KNOW YOU NEVER TRULY WILL
THE SAYING SAYS THAT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FOUGHT FOR IT
FREEDOM HAS A TASTE THE PROTECTED WILL NEVER KNOW
I DO HOWEVER ASK THAT YOU RESPECT MY LIFE
AND WHAT I DID SHOULD I FALL WHILE DEFENDING MY COUNTRY
DONT USE ME FOR YOUR OWN PERSONAL GAIN OR AGENDA
DOING SO CHEAPENS MY DEATH AND THE IDEALS FOR WHICH I DIED
I FIGHT, KILL AND DIE FOR YOU
THAT YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TO DO WHAT I HAVE HAD TO DO
THAT YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TO SEE WHAT I HAVE HAD TO SEE
THAT YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TO KILL ANOTHER AS I HAVE HAD TO
I DO NOT ENJOY KILLING
I DO NOT ENJOY WATCHING MY FRIENDS GET WOUNDED, MAIMED AND KILLED
I SURE AS HELL DO NOT ENJOY DIEING
I FEEL EVERY SINGLE DEATH OF A MILITARY MEMBER
THEY ARE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
EVERY TIME ONE OF THEM DIES I FEEL THE LOSS
TRY AND REMEMBER TO SAY THANK YOU AS YOU SEE ME WALK PAST AND UNDERSTAND WHEN I SAY ITS NOT NECESSARY
I DO WHAT I DO BECAUSE I WANT TO
NOT BECAUSE SOMEONE MADE ME
I SAID I WOULD AND I WILL
WHO AM I
I AM YOUR BROTHER
I AM YOUR SISTER
I AM YOUR COUSIN
I AM YOUR SON
I AM YOUR DAUGHTER
I AM YOUR FRIEND
I AM A MEMBER OF THE ARMED SERVICES
JOE TOLEDO
SGT USMC 87 -93
SGT CA ARNG 93-2000
FALLEN WARRIOR
A WARRIOR FELL TODAY
HOW HE IS REMEMBERED IS UP TO YOU
HOW WILL YOU REMEMBER HM?
WILL YOU REMEMBER THE WARRIOR?
WILL YOU REMEMBER THE HUSBAND?
WILL YOU REMEMBER THE FATHER?
WILL YOU REMEMBER THE SON?
WILL YOU REMEMBER THE BROTHER?
WILL YOU REMEMBER THE FRIEND?
THE WARRIOR STOOD BEFORE YOU
AND DEFLECTED DANGER BEFORE IT GOT TO YOU
HE DIDNT ASK FOR YOUR THANKS
HE DIDNT ASK FOR YOUR PRAISE
IT WAS SECOND NATURE TO HIM
THAT THIS DAY MIGHT HAPPEN WAS BEFORE HIM
AND STILL HE STOOD THERE
THE HUSBAND WAS THE MAN WHO LOVED HIS WIFE
HE TOO STOOD BEFORE HER AND DEFLECTED DANGER FROM HER
IT WAS SECOND NATURE TO HIM, HE DID IT WITHOUT THINKING
HER LOVE FOR HIM WAS ALL THE THANKS HE EVER NEEDED
HE LOVED TO MAKE HER HAPPY
THE FATHER WATCHED AFTER HIS CHILDREN
HE WATCHED THEM LIKE A WOLF PROTECTING ITS LITTER
DELIGHTING IN THIER SMILES AND LAUGHTER
HE ENJOYED PLAYING WITH THEM AND MAKING THEM HAPPY
HE MADE SURE THEY HAD THE BEST HE COULD AFFORD
GOING WITHOUT HIMSELF TO ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL
TEACHING THEM RIGHT AND WRONG, WATCHING THEM GROW
THE SON WAS THE MAN WHO MADE HIS PARENTS PROUD
HE WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR THEM
THEY REJOICED IN ALL HE DID, THEY HELPED HIM GROW
THEY WATCHED HIM TRANSFORM INTO A MAN RIGHT BEFORE THIER EYES
MOVING FROM BABY TO LITTLE BOY TO TEEN AND INTO MAN
HE LOVED SEEING HIS PARENTS HAPPY AND ALWAYS DID HIS BEST
WHAT HE WAS AND WHAT HE STOOD FOR MADE THEM PROUD
THE BROTHER WAS THE MAN WHO WATCHED AFTER HIS SIBLINGS
HE PLAYED WITH THEM AND BICKERED WITH THEM AS WELL
THEY DIDNT ALWAYS AGREE BUT THEY LOVED EACH OTHER
HE STRIVED TO HELP THEM, AND THEY STROVE TO HELP HIM
HE LOVED TO BE AROUND THEM AND MISSED THEM WHEN HE COULDNT BE THERE
THIER BOND NO ONE COULD BREAK
THE FRIEND WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR YOU
YOU COULD COUNT ON HIM IN A PINCH
CALL HIM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND HE ALWAYS ANSWERED
HE WAS THERE WHEN YOU NEEDED A SHOULDER TO CRY ON
HE WAS THERE TO CELEBRATE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
HE BACKED YOU UP WHEN YOU GOT IN OVER YOUR HEAD
AND ASKED FOR NOTHING IN RETURN
WHICH PART OF HIM WILL YOU REMEMBER
I CHOOSE TO REMEMBER THEM ALL
EACH AND EVERY PART MADE HIM WHAT HE WAS
I NEVER MET HIM BUT A BROTHER TO ME HAS BEEN LOST
HE WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED
MY BROTHER HAS FALLEN BUT HE IS NOT FORGOT
JOE TOLEDO
SGT USMC 19871993
SGT US ARMY 1993 -2000
DYING IN VAIN
How can you say my brother died in vain
You werent there you have no clue
He died for me he died for you he died for his beliefs
I know no more noble a cause
He died in my arms making me promise to talk to his dad and mom
To tell them he died for a reason, for a purpose
That he died for a good cause
All he was to you is a number
Another blip in the news
To me he was a confidant a friend a brother
He made me laugh when I was down
He made me cry when he died
You will never understand what we endure
You will never understand what we do for YOU
If you did he would be more than a number,
More than a way for you to promote your personal agenda
I will never forget him
YOU ALREADY HAVE
JOE TOLEDO
SGT USMC 19871993
SGT US ARMY 1993 -2000
"SO THAT YOU DONT HAVE TO"
Six simple words that convey so much, I never personally knew the man who spoke them, but in reading them my passion for writing once again has stirred.
Why did I join the military?
Why did I give up an easy life?
Why did I swear to protect my nation?
SO THAT YOU DONT HAVE TO
Why did give up my life for so many years?
Why did I leave my parents and brothers and sisters at home?
Why do I leave my newlywed wife at home?
Why did I leave my children at home?
SO THAT YOU DONT HAVE TO
Why do I put my life on the line for people I dont even know?
Why am I willing to sacrifice my life?
Why did i go over to Iraq?
Why did I die?
SO THAT YOU DONT HAVE TO
A lot of people dont understand why
Some cant fathom it at all
The simplest reason I can give you is this
"SO THAT YOU DONT HAVE TO"
This is the answer Lcpl Lopez would give his friends when asked why he was going over to Iraq
Lcpl Hugo R. Lopez USMC
WIA Nov. 20 2005
Died Jan 27 2006 from his wounds
Lcpl Lopez is survived by his mother, his brother and his sister
FALLEN BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
RIP BROTHER
JOE TOLEDO
SGT USMC 19871993
SGT US ARMY 19932000
