Boldly stepping to the front.
Unafraid.. a tot.
Only turned eighteen last May
a cocky little snot.
Something deeper, no one knew, had
singled out this boy.
A core of steel, a lion's heart, a mother's
pride and joy.
"Sir! Yes sir!" a teenage voice
tried hard to bellow forth.
His eyes cast down, his back stick straight
he sprouted from the earth.
One could'nt tell, be young or old,
this  man-child was afraid.
His look was the pure the fighting man
no flinch nor flaw displayed.
"Think you'll handle THIS one boy!?"
came booming down the line.
"No cake-walk, shorty..could get hurt!"
"No SIR!  I'll be just fine!"

He wasnt  like the bigger brood of brothers
whence he came.
I'll outfox the foxes, fast!
I'll out-run the rain!
He thought when handed documents to transport
to the train.
Off he flew, the rain poured down
the mud was thick and deep