"I am" poem for from a soldier

I am the smoke that roams looking for a home,

I wonder how long it takes for death to come,

I hear the drums and the bells of heaven,

I see the soldiers falling like an autum,

I want the winter to leave and the summer to come,

I am the smoke that roams looking for a home.

I pretend I don't carry the dog tags,

I feel like a dropped down and down with them,

I touch my follower's bodies and souls.

I worry if they would haunt me for the rest of my life,

I cry little drops of anguish that all run down together,

I am the smoke that roams looking for a home.

I understand that death is absolute and without memorial,

I say the wind stops and over the heavens , the clouds go nevertheless in their direction,

I dream of a rainy cloud following me in every direction,

I try to smile but can escape the black toxic smoke,

I hope their in peace but I know that,

I am the smoke that roams looking for a home.

"I am" Poem

I am the red of the rose in the muted heart,

I wonder if the heart can survive without pulse,

I hear the foot steps of my enemy,

I see the blood freezing in me,

I want to dissapear in the petals of the rose,

I am the red of the rose in the muted heart,

I pretend I don't feel it but,

I feel like my heart melts in cold,

I touch the walls that surounds me,

I worry if the shadow would touch me,

I cry like I never did before,

I am the red of the rose in the muted heart,

I understand the anger and the pain,

I say it has followed everyone,

I dream the blood going through my face,

I try to smile but can't escape the pain,

I hope I will never see this various again,

I am the red of the rose in the muted heart.

The American Dream!

Name: Carlos Cobix

Age: 17

Country of Origin: Mexico, Vera Cruz

Why the Journey ? I always wanted to know how it was like to live in the United States. But the main reason was to have a better life, and get a job to get money so I would have some to send it to my grandparents.

What is the differences between Mexico and the United States? Well, in our place is very poor and there's less jobs than in the United States. In the U.S. theirs more opportunities to get a job and its cheaper than in Mexico.

How old were you when you first came to the United States? I was 16 years old.

What are you doing now in your life? I work ina chinese restaurant as a dish washer and a fruit cutter.


The Journey,


I was born in Mexico, Vera cruz. My parents got separated when I was 5 years old, so I was raised with my grandparents. There I got a job but I didn't get paid that well. After work I will play with my friends and many times they would talk about the "American Dream" which was the dream of all Mexicans to passthe border to the United States. I had thought about it many times and told my friends about it. My friends told me that if I would try to cross the border that they would go with me, so i decided that i was going to try it, because either way I didn't have nothing to lose.

We all agreed and got prepared I took a picture of my grandparents, some clothes and water. We all meeted with the leader which they called him "El Coyote". He helps all the immigrants to cross by guiding them. So we meeted him with a group of 22 Mexicans that came from many different places that were also going to cross. We were all men, 10 of them were my friends and 11 were people I didn't know. It was my first time and I was really nerves and also scared because no one knows what could happen. We got on a bus with another group. One side of the bus were 22 sitting and the same on the other side. We drove to a place called "Acaborga" were there we rest one night in a Hotel nearby.

The next day at 2:00 p.m. me and my group which were 10, only friends and the coyote, got on to two taxis, five on each one. We pass through a store and bought food to be prepare. From their we got off the taxi and got into a ban that had no sits at all. We had to be stating all the time. We got to a place that would take us on our way to the desert. In a store, again we bought food, and continue walking.

Before entering the desert the coyote told us that up ahead was agang named "The Cholos". They had guns and they would rob you. We hide our money. We continued walking by them and they stoped us with guns. They told us to take our clothes off. We all did, they aslo asked us how many money we had, we all lied to them that we had a little bit. I told the guy that I had $10 of coins and he told me he didn't wanted coins but bills. He checked my book back while I was putting on my clothes on. I felt bad for one of my friends because they had founf his money and they bit him up, I felt like defending him but they had guns, so I couldn't do anything. The coyote had also told me that for a female they would tell them to take of their clothes off and they would raped them.

We continued walking with long steps. We had to keep up with the coyote because they would not wait for us. You only had the chance to rest when he made a stop. For each brake we rested for 2 hours. We continued until we got to the desert. It was a lot of sand, the trees were try, there was a lot of cactus, rocks, and little and big thorns. There was also animals like scorpions and snakes. We got to a street where three trucks of immigration were guarding. The coyote told us that we had to wait a long time until it was cleared, so we waited for 3 days, and we still couldn't pass. I told the coyote we wouldn'twait another day more because we ran out of food the only thing that was left was the drinks. We continued waiting until the street had cleared for a moment, the coyote screamed now and we ran as fast as we could, and thanks to god nobody got caught.

Along the way there's big mountains which are called "cerros". There was one time were half of the group took a different direction because they were to tired to keep up. The coyote had asked us if we were all here and one of my friends said no we are missing like half of them. The coyote started looking for them until he looked up the cerro and saw people but though it was another group. The ones that were missing started yelling our names and we realized that the ones that were on the cerro was our group. We yelled back that we were down the cerro, so they came down and the coyote got mad so he told them they had to keep up.

We once walked straight up to a cerro were we heard a helicopter that was coming towards us we started running fast to the side, I got really scared, we couldn't hide because their was no trees at that part of the cerro but thanks to god the helicopter didn't saw us. I just keep on praying to god that everything would be fine. Along the way we saw many clothes of immigrants that have past but it was a lot. Everywhere we past there was many clothes.

We continued passing little rivers until we got to the line, which was a big street like an express way. The other side of that street was already the United States. At that time we were all tired and hungry, but this time the coyote told us we had to run fast. As the coyote told us "now" we ran very fast until we crossed the street. I was thankful that we all had made it. We continued walking because a guy was waiting for us, but one of my friends was to tired that he kept on falling on the floor in the hot sand, rocks, and thorns. I saw him and helped him walk but the more we walked the more tired he got and the more he would fall. One of my friends help me, but my friend was to tired that he didn't walk no more he was just laying on the floor. But we didn't want to leave no one behind, so we kept on helping him until we got to the ban that was waiting for us and took us to Finix, Arizona,

We set with all the thorns in our pants and some in our skin. We got to a Hotel at 10:00 a.m. We showered, ate, and rest for a while because the ones that were going to Chicago were leaving at 3:00 p.m. So at that time we left and we contact our friends. So we arrived to Chicago safely and from their our friends picked us up. Now I thank god that I passed to the United States. Sometimes I feel like going back to Mexico to see my grandparents but at the same time I know is very hard to pass. I miss them a lot but I never lost the picture of them. They are also the reason I decided to come here so I will make money to send them some. I really thank god that noting happened to us and that we got here safely. And, well, this is my story.

History of the Congressional Medal of Honor

In the wars there’s soldiers, soldiers that fight for our country, sacrificing their life for others, some were wounded but still continued to fight, but most of them don’t survive. This soldiers received the Medal of Honor. The highest medal representing the soldiers action. Bravery, Heroism, and valor would have to show in order to be awarded. Most of the soldiers didn’t expected to receive it they just did there job.

The medal of honor was established July 1862, by the congress. It is the highest medal in the US Armed Forces. The medal represents the bravest and self-sacrifice of the soldier. This medal was issued during the Civil war. It was born when President Lincoln signed it, because back then it was the only military award for valor. When they do receive it, people respect it and some thing is their hero, and even the president salutes at soldier to be awarded the medal. It was to promote the navy, but by 1863 congress made it a permanent decoration. Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and others were now able to receive the Medal of Honor based on there actions.

Almost 3400 men and one women have received the Medal of Honor. The only female to received it was Mary E. Walker in January, 1866 by William T. Sherman and George Thomas. In Manassas she was a nurse were there the Medal of Honor listed her work even though the Army didn’t hire female doctors. She was a volunteer surgeon in an Army hospital, were George Thomas was grateful to have her. She was sent as a prisoner at Richmond when then she was released during the battle for Atlanta. The medal of honor is giving if the soldier shows self-sacrifice for their country by risking their life and standing up to fear. She was awarded the Medal of Honor and she was recognized for her achievement on the field of battle, for being a strong, brave women.

Many Soldiers never though of the Medal of Honor being that important they didn’t even though of receiving them. They just did their job for their country not to receive the medal. Some soldiers did try hard to get the medal. The medal shows the bravest of the brave and when they get it people respect does soldiers because they are risking their life for their country, which it was some of the reasons that the soldiers wanted to get the medal. The soldiers that died for risking their life also get awarded, but is mostly the ones that didn’t expected to receive it they just did what it was right.

The Medal went from being a simple medal for valor. To become the highest medal and also an important medal that showed the bravest. Become the highest medal to be award. It was all about bravery, self-sacrifice and valor. The soldiers that receive it the most were soldiers that just did their job. The soldiers that received it were at the risk of there life above and beyond the call of duty.

Letter to Barfoot Van T.

Dear Second Lieutenant, Barfoot Van T.

My name is Jasmin Urbina. I am a sophmore at Farragut Career Academy High School, were there i joint in the JROTC program, and my rank now is corporal. You have been one of the soldiers to receive the Medal of Honor. I write you this letter to thank you for the sacrifice you did for the benefit of our country. 

Your sacrifice has helped the nation by saving many people's life. I really was impressed when i read that you took up a position directly in front of 3 tanks, just 15 yards away from you. It was brave of you saving 2 of your seriously wounded men. All this has made a change. Now thanks to you people feel safe and they thank you or it. 

Through your effort you have shown bravest, heroism, and valor. Everyday i walk through the halls of my school, seeing all does flags, pictures, and morals of important people and the wars reminds me of all the soldiers that died in the war. I also remember you because yo were one of those too, who did self-sacrifice.

I hope you have a god wealth and that you feel proud of yourself because i really appreciated and respect it a lot. Thank you for your effort and sacrifice. I really respect you and im proud and glad for what you did.

Sinceraly, 

Jasmin Urbina 

The Metal of Honor

The President of the United Statesin the name of The Congresstakes pleasure in presenting theMedal of Honorto
BARFOOT, VAN T.

N T. Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 157th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Carano, Italy, 23 May 1944. Entered service at: Carthage, Miss. Birth: Edinburg, Miss. G.O. No.: 79, 4 October 1944. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on 23 May 1944, near Carano, Italy. With his platoon heavily engaged during an assault against forces well entrenched on commanding ground, 2d Lt. Barfoot (then Tech. Sgt.) moved off alone upon the enemy left flank. He crawled to the proximity of 1 machinegun nest and made a direct hit on it with a hand grenade, killing 2 and wounding 3 Germans. He continued along the German defense line to another machinegun emplacement, and with his tommygun killed 2 and captured 3 soldiers. Members of another enemy machinegun crew then abandoned their position and gave themselves up to Sgt. Barfoot. Leaving the prisoners for his support squad to pick up, he proceeded to mop up positions in the immediate area, capturing more prisoners and bringing his total count to 17. Later that day, after he had reorganized his men and consolidated the newly captured ground, the enemy launched a fierce armored counterattack directly at his platoon positions. Securing a bazooka, Sgt. Barfoot took up an exposed position directly in front of 3 advancing Mark VI tanks. From a distance of 75 yards his first shot destroyed the track of the leading tank, effectively disabling it, while the other 2 changed direction toward the flank. As the crew of the disabled tank dismounted, Sgt. Barfoot killed 3 of them with his tommygun. He continued onward into enemy terrain and destroyed a recently abandoned German fieldpiece with a demolition charge placed in the breech. While returning to his platoon position, Sgt. Barfoot, though greatly fatigued by his Herculean efforts, assisted 2 of his seriously wounded men 1,700 yards to a position of safety. Sgt. Barfoot's extraordinary heroism, demonstration of magnificent valor, and aggressive determination in the face of pointblank fire are a perpetual inspiration to his fellow soldiers.

Goal accomplished

The goal i accomplished was goal number 1-Learning how to drive

I have been taking driving classes where they teached me all about the car, the signs, and the roads. I also singed up for range. There I learn how to go front and back and how to do turns and change lanes, that was for a week and at the end they test you, so i took the test and they told me a passed. I had told my dad and he told me that on saturday at 5:00 A.M he was going to teach me how to drive, so i said yes. It was me, my sister, and my dad. My dad took me in the streets into the express way. It was my first time driving in the streets and right away he took me in the expressway i was like dad i can't do it but he told me i could. So i got into the expressway and i was shaking i was just thinking that hopefullly i wasn't going to crash. I did do some mistakes but i got through it then my sister took us back home because she also had to do some hours. Since the i learn how to drive the hard way. Now im just waiting to take traffic in driving classes.