Tribute to a War Dog (Chapter II)

Well, it's been 6 weeks now since I took one for the team.

That's what everyone is saying, I don't even know what that means.

All I know is I was doing my job, but I must have made someone mad.

Then that bullet went into my arm and made it hurt real bad.

I learned a lot about Mike that day. He was there shielding me,

from taking any more bullets, he is my handler you see.

After initial observations, the Doc said I’d never work again.

That made me so depressed, I need to protect my friend!

Then they called in a specialist, he said there might be hope.

Let him do my surgery, if he's the best, he gets my vote.

I heard them talking to Mike about what they needed to do.

Something about drilling and a metal plate and then a bunch of screws.

I thought they were building a dog house, or something off HGTV.

What I didn't realize is, those screws were going in me!

I didn't care; it was Mike’s call. He always knows what's best.

As he huddled in a mini conference, with other men in tan and brown vests.

Next thing I knew a guy came in, a mask was on his face.

He lied and said this won't hurt a bit, they do that a lot in this place.

Then I got real sleepy, best sleep I ever had.

I had no idea what they were doing, when I woke up, it hurt really bad.

First thing I thought when I awoke was, I've got to try to find Mike.

I was worried about him. I had not seen him since last night.

Long story short, I got better. That doctor is the best.

They said I could go back to work, after something called therapy and rest.

After 4 weeks of rehab and learning that smell again.

I was ready for work. I needed to protect my friend.

Mike took me back out to the place with all the heat and sand.

Almost everyone there had a machine gun in their hand.

Then in the distance I heard that sound. The one that hurt me so bad.

Mike said, “it's okay boy”. I trust him with all I have.

I overheard some talking. I think it was about me.

Something about being shell-shocked. I'll show them, just wait and see!

Mike took me out to the same place, where he had taken me before.

Then, I smelled that smell again. Time to make another score.

I located 13 IED'S that day. Mike was happy, I could tell.

Doesn't take much to make him happy. I just sit when I smell that smell.

Back at the camp, they were talking about a mission, to take place on the fourth of July.

Something about Taliban and Special Forces, and getting Blackhawks ready to fly.

Mike told me I would be with him, when they go into battle that day.

Don't worry Mike, I'll protect you, and do anything you say.

Finally the big day was here, and what a sight to see.

A long line of military vehicles and choppers to protect Mike and me.

They parked the convoy all in a row, on the side of the road.

Then they put me out front in what they call search mode.

I smelled that smell that makes me sit, but it wasn't underground.

It was coming from over that way with all those gunshot sounds.

Mike said hurry bud; we don't have much time.

We need to get behind that wall over there, then, we will all be fine.

I kept my nose down on that road, but didn't pick up a thing.

Finally the smell got really strong, when I sat down Mike yelled “cha-ching!”

They moved everyone out of the way and brought in a special crew.

They were going to detonate it; they always knew what to do.

We stood back as we watched them, then, here came that sound.

Fireworks on the Fourth of July, the loudest ones around.

After the huge explosion, you just wouldn't believe,

hundreds of gunshots from over there, as far as the eye could see.

At once Mike started firing, there were bullets going every which way.

I just stayed as low as I could. Mike had told me to stay.

Then there was word that someone was shot. I knew that feeling too well.

Then that memory came back to me, that day was a living hell.

“We need to get him out of here,” was what I heard Mike scream.

I guess there's another one, who took one for the team.

Then, there came a chopper. On its side was a red cross.

He came to pick up the guy that was hit, and save a life from being lost.

Mike ran down to help him. He looked at me and told me to stay.

He told me to keep down low, out of the bullets’ way.

Him and some guys grabbed a stretcher, and strapped the guy on real tight.

And started carrying him towards the chopper, in the middle of this fight.

Then, I started thinking. I never got to sniff over there.

What if there's something in the ground that blows people in the air!

Mike and his crew made it; they got the poor guy in.

The chopper was up in the air, here comes Mike again.

I turned my head for a second to have a look around.

Then all of a sudden, I heard a terrible sound.

I took off running to where Mike was, even though he told me to stay.

Nothing else in the world mattered, except to see if he was okay.

I went where I last saw him and I smelled him all around.

But, I couldn't find him anywhere, just his smell all over the ground.

Somebody help me find him! He has to be somewhere near.

Then a corporal picked me up with eyes full of tears.

Please don't take me with you, my best friend is out here lost.

I'm going to stay here and find him, no matter what the cost.

They put me in a chopper, and took me back to base.

This must be where Mike is in that dusty dirty place.

They put me in my kennel and flew me way back home.

How is Mike going to get by, he never liked being alone?

Then, I overheard them talking. Someone named Mike had passed away.

Then I put it all together, and I fell on the ground that day.

Why didn't I protect him? He gave his all for me.

I should have been there with him, and sniffed out that IED.

God, you don't know how I miss him, and all the time he spent with me.

But the one thing I learned from all of this, is the freedom we have in America is,

Anything but free!

(Jerry Wayne Baldwin; from “This K-9 of Mine”;
Author's note: "Dedicated to All military personnel past or present on two legs or four! Thank you for your service!")

*****

I would like to thank Jerry Wayne Baldwin for his kind permission to publish his poems on my blog.

The book “This K-9 of Mine: Poetic short stories from a dog's point of view, plus a few from the owner's vantage point, too.” is available as Kindle version here.