Monday, May 28, 2012

Our Hero Is not with Us Today -- Memorial Day

.
He was in love with life.
.
He finished his school, he
lied about his age, and he enlisted. 
Enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp.
Became a soldier, he did.
.
Flight school was a dream,
learning to soar, learning to
fight, and best of all, learning
to fly. Fly his P-38 he did, 
.
He wrote his mother,
who was expecting.
A new sister for him in January. 
.
He wrote his father. 
He was so proud of what
the Air Corp had made him. 
Trained him to fly, trained him
to follow orders, they did.
.
He took his plane, the P-38,
to Italy to help fight the war. 
.
We don't know what he did from there. 
We imagine escorting bombers,
we imagine shooting his enemies down. 
We imagine Eugene Jr. was loving his life.
He was so brave.
.
We don't know how it happened
but we know on a December day 
he was shot down along with his plane. 
A priest had found him and retrieved
his dog tag.  Then he covered him
with his chute.  Junior had lost his life.
.
We know the German soldiers came.
They buried him by the church. 
.
After the war he was moved
to New Orleans and buried
there with his kin. 
.
After the war, there was no life for him. 
A sister for him was born
in the month after he died. 
Life goes on, for one or another.
.
Junior we know. 
We know from his letters,
the life he would have loved.
. 
Live it he couldn't.  War is Hell.

- - - -
.
Originally written and posted on my other blog,
Jim's Little Photo and Poem Place, May 27, 2012.

Photos and Poem Copyright
© 2012 Jimmiehov
All Rights Reserved

- - - -

Prompt, 'in love with life,' was suggested by Laura at  Shine the Divine
Find more poems using 'in love with life' as prompt words
at One One Single Impression

Note:
... Mrs. Jim is the 'sister' in this poem, a sister very proud of her brother.  She never knew him except from what she was told and from what she gained from his few letters.  Mrs. Jim wore a red poppy flower to church yesterday.  She wore it for Junior. We are flying our flag for him today.

Comments:
Appropriate for Memorial Day, a day to remember.
 
There are way too many stories like this one. Bless them all. :)
 
How does one follow you??
McGuffy's Reader
http://www.mcguffysreader.blogspot.com

*YOU DO HAVE WORD VERIFICATION!*
 
What an interesting story that was - bet there are a lot of good stories out there. I thank God for all the men and women who fought and lost their life.
You do have word verification on. FYI

Sandie
 
A moment of thought for the fallen. Very fitting,Jim! Good stories and all just for memorial day memories!

Hank
 
Sad indeed!
 
Hi Jim ~~ Great story for Memorial Day and a sad one like so many others.
You do have word verification on at present
Thank you so much for the birthday wishes both here and on Facebook. I had a great day as you have seen on my blog.Thanks for Peter's wishes also. I expect he may call tomorrow on his way home - I hope so.
My daughter Kathy came for my birthday with Jorja 14 and Nick 17 who did all the driving - 5 hours each way.
Peter's son came by train for our lunch and some old friends. It was all fun.
I know I have a wonderful family and I love them all dearly. As for your question Do I feel old? WEll I have been so unwell for so long and felt so old all the time that the date didn't make it worse. Except that it is heading close to 80. Glad you liked the jokes. I have got used to being on my own and went to Physio today. Have some beautiful memories to last a long long time.Take care my loyal friend, Cheers, Merle.
 
touching Jim. Thanks.
Karens daughter is sure getting to be a doll.
 

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