By homefront41 (Homefront41) (198.81.26.142) on Thursday, October 17, 2002 - 02:11 pm:

CURRAHEE

My eyes are dimmed, my walk unsure
Time has passed me by.
My friends are gone but I endure
And I have found out why.

Before I pass I have a story
That I must surely tell.
Of brave men who were young and bold
And traversed the gates of Hell.

I am not a hero
Though some have called me such.
And what I did in World War Two
Is not considered much.

Tyranny, destruction, blood and death
Covered Europe’s ground.
Murder of unequaled breadth
Spread from town to town.

A “Super Race” of murderers
Had spread across the land.
Sworn to complete a madman’s curse,
Death by a NAZI hand.

Our allies waged a mighty fight
Brits, French, Poles and Norge
Fought against the German might,
A victory to forge.

We could not let them fight alone
And die while we stood by.
We heard there anguished cries from home
We knew we had to try.

A call went out across our land
To those who hold freedom dear.
“Toccoa Men” who had the guts
To vanquish hate and fear.

These volunteers from every state
Came without hesitation.
And knew that they would meet their fate
On the shores of a foreign nation.

Our nation called and when it did
These brave men did not falter.
but great was the sacrifice they laid
Upon our freedoms altar.

June Sixth, Nineteen Forty-Four
Against a killer moon,
Brave men all, bailed out the door
And many died too soon.

Salvation began that fateful night
For our Allies who had bled.
No turning back or losing sight
Of why their blood ran red.

But Normandy was just the start
Of battles yet to fight.
In villages across the land
The Nazi’s felt their might.

Carentan, Saint Marie Du Mont,
And on Holland’s fields.
They fought and died but carried on
Until the victory was sealed.

In Arnhem, Foy and Bloody Bastogne
Though cold was always near,
They bled and died but soldiered on
And hid away their fear.

They never stopped but fought the fight
And reached the Eagle’s Nest.
They helped to get back freedom’s right
and gave the world their best.

But what a price was paid back then
So many gave their all.
And what a cost was paid in men
To answer freedom’s call.

They met death head-on, face to face
Young boys, so much to give.
They conquered Hitler’s super race
But so many did not live.

I see them now although I’m old
These many years gone by.
There bravery and courage bold,
I hear their battle cry.

These heroes never got a chance
To see what they had done.
They rest upon a shore in France
Their final battle won.

Our freedom they have paid in blood
In snow and rainy weather.
So many fell in Europe’s mud,
They Stand Alone, Together!

So my salute is simple now
I Stand for all to see.
I raise my right hand to my brow
and shout out “Currahee”!

Jack A. McKeithen
Major, USAF (Retired)

~~~~~~
Major McKeithen is a former fighter pilot, a contributor to the HBO boards and he has given his permission to reprint his poem here.

By Marigold Papa (Marigold) (203.170.2.88) on Saturday, October 19, 2002 - 10:21 am:

Thanks for bringing that one up here BK. It brought tears to my eyes the first time i read it, and it still does the same effect now.

gold

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