In Honor of Memorial Day...

[Timestepper]

My late father was one of the greatest generation. That is to say he proudly served in the Pacific Theater during WWII. The following is a poem he wrote during that time. I post it here not only to pay tribute our fallen, but also to say, "Thanks, Dad! You make me proud and grateful to be an American and your son!"

"Thanks for the Ride!"

T-5 William Donald McCrary

We took them aboard at Manila,

They were high spirited and cocky with pride.

And a young Lance Corporal grinned and said,

"Hi ya, sea jockey! Thanks for the ride!"

For three weeks we plowed through the South Seas

Fighting the weather and pig boats night and day

'Til we came to a jungle clad island

And sailed through the mines in it's bay.

Through the mortar and small arms fire

And our own big gun's boom and roar,

They were grim-faced, silent, but eager

As they landed on that bullet scarred shore.

And a young Lance Corporal grinned and said,

"So long, sea jockey, thanks for the ride!"

Then they stormed up the beach to the jungle

Where they fought and they bled and they died.

We took them aboard three weeks later,

After the bloody island had been won

With the papers still singing the praises

Of all the brave deeds they had done.

Some still limping and bloody and wounded,

We took them off that battle scarred shore

Bearded and ragged and weary

And covered with grime and gore.

But they came aboard with their heads up -

Their eyes shining with the fiercest of pride

And a brand new sergeant with his arm in a sling

Grinned and said, "Hi ya, sea jockey! Thanks for the ride!"

:usa:

[Just2Honor]

A wonderful tribute to all those who served the rest of us in that war. I know you are proud of your dad for his service, life and writing talent. Thanks for sharing. Do you mind if I share it with some others in the American Legion post here?

[Timestepper]

A wonderful tribute to all those who served the rest of us in that war. I know you are proud of your dad for his service, life and writing talent. Thanks for sharing. Do you mind if I share it with some others in the American Legion post here?

Not at all, I'm sure Pop would be honored.

[NRA]

[Timestepper]

Pop passed away due to complications of Alzheimer's on 28 April, 2001. Seldom a day goes by that I don't think about him, but lately he's been on my mind almost constantly and I'm not sure why.

I've made a point of not having any regrets in my life, but if I were to have any they would be that my dad never got to meet the lady who is my wife (and who proudly wears the wedding rings he gave my mother, who in turn gifted them to my wife after having worn them for 57 1/2 years) and that, while he never succeeded in having his own writing published, he passed away 10 months before his youngest son (me) became a published author.

As a modest and gentle man, Pop would never have claimed greatness. But he could have...

:usa:

[DaveS]

A Tribute indeed!

[Timestepper]

One last big THANK YOU FOR YOUR SACRIFICE! to all of our fallen heroes before I hit the road on this Memorial Day.

YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN!

:usa: