Rocky Fortner, United States Marine. 0530, 8 April 2013.
I am privileged to have known Rocky, his beautiful wife Candy, and his Eagle Scout son Chase, and to be their neighbor. Rocky was an important member of our community, and his passing is a grievous loss to everyone who knows him. Done too soon.
 Rocky's pictures and poems here: click
"G.L. "Rocky" Fortner
LEAN, MEAN, AND SEVENTEEN
Let me share with you a story, 'bout a young man seventeen,
Who had plans and dreams of joining the United States Marines…
He had taken all the pre-test at a small recruiting store,
Where they told him he had qualified for infantry and more…
He was off to San Diego where the sun is scorching hot,
To see if he might have the grit to be what he was not…
The days turned into weeks, then months and muscles turned to steel,
a sense of pride and honor filled his heart and soul with zeal…
He had conquered all his dragons; he had finally seen the light,
He knew now, what it really meant to be the first to fight…
He was Lean, Mean and Seventeen when he donned the Tan and Green,
he had paid the price to earn the name UNITED STATES MARINE…
He knew that war was looming in some far off distant land,
with heat and bugs and other "demons" buried in the sand,
So, he said a prayer and packed his bags, what else was there to do,
Like so many gone before him, he would fight for me and you…
The sweat, the blood, the loneliness were often hard to bear,
A buddy lost within the ranks, the "1000 meter stare"…
But the kindred spirit of the Corps and all those that he knew,
would help to keep him focused on the job he had to do…
He has stepped into a BROTHERHOOD that few have ever seen,
And wears the Anchor, Globe and Eagle of a UNITED STATES MARINE
©Copyright 2004 by G.L. "Rocky" Fortner"
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