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Semper Fi                                                                    by John Flynn

[This song  is the true story of Iraq war vet Eric Hall who suffered from PTSD and was found dead in a Florida storm drain three five weeks after Vietnam Vets had mounted an exhaustive state-wide search for him.]

Charlie found the tip of the iceberg shielded from the Florida sun
wedged just like a misfired cartridge… in the barrel of a large concrete gun
Charlie laid down his knife and flashlight… crawled out of the culvert to say
This mother's son was wounded in action… but inaction took his life away

Eric had become agitated… reliving again and again
the I.E.D. that tore up his body…the bomb that blew away his best friend
Men whose war was 40 years older saddled up when they heard the call
A fellow marine had gone missing,  a former corporal named Eric Hall
 
Semper fi … always faithful… Tell me why we lost track
This marine served his country then this country turned its back

Authorities had called off the manhunt for the skinny kid with the limp
But Vietnam vets this land gave up on would not give up searching for him
They found his motorcycle abandoned out where the palm trees and terrain
looked just like the Euphrates valley… right next to a large concrete drain

Semper fi … always faithful… Tell me why we lost track
This marine served his country then this country turned its back

He fought for this land and saluted…The same stars and stripes on a pole
that waved goodbye when that fight left him…with scars and stripes on his soul

His ashes first went to Indiana… Brothers that he never had known
showed up from all over this country making sure that Eric got home
Now he’ll rest in Arlington pastures… but the tale is still left to tell
How many who have fought for their country are living Eric’s nightmare as well

Because Charlie found the tip of the iceberg …

© Flying Stone Music/ascap