Mike Gunter, US Marine Corps

Mike's 
story that became a song

AS I SLEEP

9-5-2025
Mike Gunter, Bobby Tomberlin

FSUSA Marion, IL Retreat

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As I sleep my dreams take me back                                     
To sounds and sights of a long time ago 
I’d like to erase from my mind 

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I can see the sun rising over the mountain 
Not knowing what today’s patrol may bring 
God knows it might be so unkind 

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I can see the Marines ahead of me moving in single file 
Spread out to avoid multiple casualties 
I know will come today 

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And I see the burst of gunfire 
And see them drop in front of me 
Some to safety and some to enemies fire 

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As I sleep I can hear him calling for help 
And I can still feel the fear as I run to his side
Only to have him die… in my arms and not know his name 

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It will haunt me for a lifetime 
I wonder if his mother knew he wasn’t alone when he died 
And that I still think of him almost everyday of my life 

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​As I sleep I know that someday peace will come 
And I’ll learn that soldiers name
As he sits with his mother and she knows he wasn’t alone 

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As I sleep I hear a woman call my name 
And it brings me back to the present 
A time free from the past 
And free from the pain 

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As I turn and look into the eyes of the one who loves me 
I realize she has given me more peace than I’ve ever known 
But as I sleep I know she wasn’t really there 
And if she was, I let her die in my arms 
But she really isn’t dead, I AM 

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As I sleep tears again fill my eyes as I know 
She would have lived had I not let the past stay in the present 
And I know when I awake I’ll be all alone 
As I died a long time ago and that she was only a dream