THE WALL OF FACES

Rest in Peace "Doc"



"I'm the One Called "Doc…"


I shall not walk in your footsteps,
but I will walk by your side.
I shall not walk in your image,
I've earned my own title of pride.
We've answered the call together,
on sea and foreign land.
When the cry for help was given,
I've been there right at hand.
Whether I am on the ocean
or in the jungle wearing greens,
Giving aid to my fellow man,
be it Sailors or Marines.
So the next time you see a corpsman
and you think of calling him "squid",
Think of the job he's doing
as those before him did.
And if you ever have to go out there
and your life is on the block,
Look at the one right next to you…
I'm the one called "Doc".


Harry D. Penny, Jr. HMC(AC)USN
Copyright 1975

"Permission to reprint granted
by the author/copyright owner".
(Permission for both poem & graphic)

I never had the chance to meet you Bobby but your younger brother Clint married my sister. I met your other brothers and sisters and your two wonderful parents. After knowing them I can only imagine you were an awesome guy. May you rest in peace.

WAS THERE WITH YOU

AFTER YOU GOT HIT I TOOK YOUR PLACE.

Our old friend,Mike Smith (also a Camp Lejeune alumni) sent this photo of you, me and Bennie Jones. You're the one on the far right. This was taken in Okinawa before shipping over to DaNang. We think of you often and wonder how the world might be different today if you hadn't left us way back in '69. Rest easy, my man.