LAS VEGAS, NV, US
U.S. Army
CPT, HHT 2ND BN 3RD ARMORED CAVALRY RGT, FORT CARSON, CO 80913
07/23/2003, MOSUL, IRAQ
The following is a poem written by Captain Byers. It expresses in his own words his thoughts and describes the man he became.
“Dare To Dream” – by Cadet Joshua T. Byers, USMA ’96
It began as a little boy’s prayer A dream conjured from destiny And wrapped in swaddling innocence Seeds of direction planted by the will of God Watered by his grace Cared for by his love.
Time marched as the long line stretched Nearer and nearer to my yearning soul Apparitions of the pasts glory Paraded tauntingly in my sleep Ghost of the gray Lifeblood of liberty.
Achievement rang with the echo of sacrifice The appointment given with accolades and praise Life’s most treacherous valley hidden behind its mountain tops Indescribable pain wrapped in a dream.
Teary goodbye’s marked it’s beginning Tearful prayers manifest in its continuation The desire to win, diluted by the craving to quit. The hand of God holding my every worry His tender love gripping deliverance- in his time.
Throughout the year, joy was sparsely woven Between the entangled sacrifices that were the weeks. Homecoming comes and speedily goes Giving way to the slowing tread of time Days take on the illusion of eternity The tempo slowed to a deliberate beat.
Daily, fear awakened me from my peaceful sleep Staring defiantly into my confused and bloodshot eyes. Slowly, meeting it’s death Beaten by new growth in Christ. Slaughtered by faith in his unfailing love.
I stand, hand held high, gripping heaven’s outstretched hands The goal closer than ever before Plebe year will end in a culmination of the power of love The love of God, and my family The prayers of a virtuous woman, a steadfast man, and committed brothers Prayers of men and women of god whom I have never met.
Keeping my bloodied chin up in the midst of toil and strife Nothing more than a crude instrument in God’s unfailing plan My life traveling the road not taken Embodied by the simple prayer of a little boy with a dream.