Captain Edward “flip” Klien’s poem was read into the Congressional Record on November 6, 2013 by Senator Boozman of Arkansas. Pictured here: Captain Klien recovering from his wounds received in battle.
On November 6, 2013 Senator John Boozman of Arkansas asked for permission to do something rather unusual. He asked permission to read into the Congressional Record a poem written by a soldier injured on the battlefield in Afghanistan. Capt. Edward “Flip” Klein was struck by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan and had both of his legs, his right arm and three fingers blown off…
“Mr. President, I rise today to honor U.S. Army CPT Edward “Flip” Klein, an Arkansas soldier who fought for his country on the battlefield and is fighting to recover from injuries he sustained in Afghanistan.”
“On October 22, 2012, while out on patrol near Kandahar, Captain Klein, a 2006 West Point graduate, was severely wounded, losing both of his legs, his right arm, and severely damaging his left hand. Captain Klein credits much of his recovery success to his wife Jessica who he calls his “rock.”
His determination is an inspiration to everyone who meets him. Albert Carey Caswell wrote this poem:
“The Battle, After the Fight”:
And on that morning …..
When we awake …..
As we so see what this war would take …..
As all of our hearts so begin to break!
Will we be ready,
for this new battle that which before us now awaits?
All in our strength,
and faith!
The …..
The Battle,
After The Fight!
From out of the darkness,
into the light!
Those brave hearts,
who bring their light!
Who evil must fight!
After That Battle,
But Begins The Fight!
When,
hearts of honor so chose to ignite!
When,
death stands so all in sight!
All out on that edge,
after The Battle But Begins The Fight!
All in what …..
within ones chest ignites!
While,
so close to death!
All in this most divine sight!
When,
heroic hearts of valor so reach to new heights!
To Fight!
After That Battle!
But So Comes The Fight!
Moving forth,
throughout all of this darkness as courageously onward they stride!
While against all odds,
to a place where only the most magnificent of all hearts of honor reside!
After The Battle!
With but tears in their eyes!
As their families so cry!
Asking our Lord up above,
for the strength to supply!
After That Battle!
As somehow!
As someway!
So very deep down inside,
as onward they fight!
How Brilliant! How Brilliant!
How Brilliant they shine!
So surely these are America’s brightest of all lights!
After The Battle!
Now Into The Fight!
Hooo ….. aaah!
As Captain Klein,
your most magnificent of all hearts would ignite!
For you are a warrior whose heart burns bright!
As man who is Army Strong!
Who all for his Country Tis Thee,
his fine heart beats loud and so long!
After That Battle Flip,
As So Began Your Most Courageous of All Fights!
As one of the few,
who to West Point so belongs!
As you Flip,
so earned that most honored of all rights!
The kind of man,
that MacArthur or Mahollen would so sing of both day and night!
Both day and night!
And General Petraeus,
would give a big Hooo ….. aah so all on sight!
Because After The Battle!
But So Brings The Fight!
The kind which so bring tears to The Angel’s eyes on this night!
As it was while out on patrol,
when death to you so spoke!
With you Captain Klein lying there so close to death …..
As all in that moment,
to yourself you so made a pledge!
To live on,
while your heart of valor would crest!
As they so gave you last rites!
As from you but so came a most magnificent sight!
After That Battle,
as your fine heart so chose to fight!
As so came your light!
As You Edward So Chose To Stand and To Fight!
With All of Your Might!
Which to this day,
lives on brighter than bright!
TO SO REACH US!
TO SO TEACH US!
TO SO SPEAK TO US!
TO SO BESEECH US!
All in hearts born,
which now so warmly lives on which so greets us!
After That Battle,
but so Came Your Most Heroic of All Fights!
Oh what a most beautiful,
most sacred of all sights!
From out of The Point,
a fine hero whose heart would anoint!
A world,
with its faith and its courage …..
to so surely nourish to keep hope alive!
After That Battle!
As onward Captain you were so to stride!
With your fine wife Jessica all by your side!
As together you cried!
You cried!
As when you awoke and looked down …..
All in what you found …..
As your heart broke!
As The Real Captain America’s heart spoke!
For you had miles to go!
And so many hearts to touch so,
all in this load!
All out in the distance which so means the most!
For you have mountains to so climb!
And hilltops to so reach,
so all in your time!
And out of so many valleys to climb!
As you take that beach!
While watching you,
all of our hearts so break with feelings so very deep!
After That Battle Which To All Of Us Teach!
All left in your most courageous of all wakes,
that which so speaks!
As on ward you continued your climb,
no matter how steep!
After That Battle!
After That Fight!
What This World Must So Know On This Very Night!
Teaching us all about life,
as there you would so courageously go!
While watching your fine heart all in leaps and bounds grow!
While,
holding onto to your faith and not letting go!
After That Battle So!
All in your angelic glow!
As somehow the courage you found so!
For you live in a town without pity,
and oh how it shows!
No Flip,
you’re not half the man you used to be!
For your sum,
for your whole …..
has grown far much more greater see!
And I could climb to the highest of all mountaintops,
to the very top!
And still I would have to look up to you to see!
Because After That Battle,
your heart would not so stop!
Because minutes,
are all that we so have!
Moments,
to make a difference to defeat all of that bad!
Better to live for something,
than realize your life meant nothing at all!
Better to die for something,
than in the end wishing your life you could recall!
Better to give up your strong legs and arm while standing tall!
Than look back in such regret realizing,
all you ever did was crawl!
Yes arms and legs we need,
one and all!
But we can get by!
But without a heart,
we will so surely die!
For it’s all what’s found from deep down within,
the reason why!
And up in Heaven you need not arms nor even legs,
and Captain Klein that’s where you’re going you can rely!
I’d much rather limp here on earth,
and run with our Lord up in Heaven for what I gave because of my worth!
Where you lead Captain,
I will follow!
Because After That Battle!
As So Began Your Most Courageous Fight!
Bringing Such Warmth!
Bringing Such Light!
Breaking hearts,
to your left and to your right!
Bringing tears to all of your Brothers In Arms,
who After The Battle So Saw Your Fight!
With this sacred bond,
and this blood which binds you both day and night!
And After The Battle!
Will we so choose to run?
Or will we so choose to fight?
Will all of our hearts so ignite?
Will we so bring our light?
Or will we in the darkness reside?
Or will we move on,
and to like the sunlight shine so very bright?
All In That Battle,
After That Fight!”
Source: Congressional Record http://thomas.loc.gov
See also facebook https://www.facebook.com/FriendsOfFlip