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That’s My Gun

Greg Givens, United States Marine Corps

That’s my gun
On permanent display
my company, A co 2-504 PIR captured it
3rd platoon. My platoon
it’s sitting in a museum
forever
and it’s there
in a little corner
with the story and a quote from my intelligence report
I’m staggered
still processing
“frying bacon,” as my Dad always called it.

man I’m trying to unpack this fucking shit and it’s hard to even look at
so I’m not going to do it
another time
I need to try to get some rest instead
Flashbacks can become a full-time job if you aren’t careful.

It’s a Journey, man
You have to walk in it
It’s not over either
We’re all still fighting the same war
This war has no distinction between civilian and military.
Never did.
We’ve all got a real battle to fight against actual evil.
We are fighting it every day.
Every one of us.
We’re survivors of trauma. We’re Americans.
Never forget who you are.
Be proud of that shit.


Greg Givens

Gregory Franklin Givens joined the United States Army in 2008 as a Special Forces Recruit. He graduated from Army Infantry School and Airborne School and then was stationed with 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division at Ft. Lewis, WA, in 2009. Greg deployed to Southern Afghanistan for twelve months, serving in a Battalion Reconnaissance Platoon and also participating in the Battle of Marjah in Helmand Province, receiving a Navy Presidential Unit Citation. After returning from deployment, Greg was stationed with 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, at Ft. Bragg, NC.

Greg suffered a serious injury during an Airborne Operation and then spent some time singing 2nd Tenor with the 82nd Airborne “All-American” Chorus. After recovering from his injury, Greg was promoted to Sergeant and then deployed to Eastern Afghanistan for 6 months in 2012. Greg separated from the U.S. Army in 2013 after serving a 5-year contract and was honorably discharged in 2016.

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