66th Infantry

It was Christmas Eve 1944 and the 66th Infantry was attacked by a Nazi submarine. I blogged about this event one other time (see it here). I like to remember it so I thought I'd give a try at poetry. Please be gentle, I'm new to this poetry thing....

66th Infantry

Late in 1944

The war was almost done

But for us in 66

The war had just begun

Leopoldville I was told

I was going to board

Ships and me don't get along

Ask blessings from the Lord

"Sack-time" is what I seek

Hiding from the sea

I find a bed for my stuff

I find a bed for me

Just like Christmas Eve's of past

I find it hard to sleep

The reason's are much different now

I pray my "Soul to Keep"

As we head for Cherborg

on the north French coast

I start dreaming in my sleep

of chestnuts Mom will roast

With a boom, I shook so hard

It woke me from my sleep

Not knowing what was going on

I jumped up to my feet

As my feet had left the bunk

And stepped onto the floor

Water was 6 inches there

That wasn't there before

Not knowing really what to do

My life belt I did grab

I headed up to the top

Helping several lad

My Uncle Sam had warned me

Of carnage I would see

I somehow blocked it from my mind

As more I worked to free

We finally made it to the top

Brilliant was 'long side

Some men jumped onto her deck

Others missed and died

I see the lights of Cherborg

Oh not so far away

I pray for quick relief from them

On this tragic day

Only minutes later

Boats not ment for sea

Were gathering around us

God sent them here for me

Abandon ship was called out

So when I approached the rail

I don't give a second thought

The Channel I would bail

The water was so very cold

I'm glad that I could swim

The boys at Benning taught us well

I'm thankful Lord, for them

Not much later I was on a tug

and heading for the shore

Events that happened on that night

Memories forever stored

Fighting cats, the 66th

Dished out their revenge

Raining walls of steel fell

on the Nazi pens

They fought hard for our land

As warriors it was their lot

They gave all that they could

and never fired a shot

So every Christmas Eve I pause

and take some time to pray

For the freedom given me

on that fateful day