LSM Poems

Autumn Leaves

Acker Bilk


"MEN FROM LITTLE CREEK"

We all joined the Navy about 1942,
Red blooded Americans all true and blue.
We trained at San Diego, Great Lakes, and Bainbridge
To learn to be sailors and fight the war through.

We came to Little Creek to become LSM crews,
And then went to Galveston, and other ports too.
For assignment on ships to cross the wide sea
To perform the job we were trained to do.

We sailed for New Guinea, and places afar
To help Nimitz and MacArthur fight the amphibious war.
Some landed troops at Leyte, Corregidor, and Luzon.
Others beached at Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and other atolls.

We were ready to assault Japan, when the big bomb blew
Which saved many of our lives, as we then well knew.
The Kamikaze planes ceased, and the guns were silenced,
And we had victory at last for all but a few.

We left some of our ships for the sea to keep
In the waters off Okinawa and the Philippine deeps.
Under watch of our shipmates, who got the last call
For mother and country, they had given their all.

We came home from the war and went on with our lives.
We have since done many things and we've paid our tithes
But...We reminisce, and remember, as the years go by.
Of people and places, and brave men who died.

Last night at the bar, I heard an old sailor ponder...
"Would we do it again, if they called over yonder?"

After a long pause...
One was heard to say, "Yes, I suppose we would,
Because, you see...we are still red blooded Americans,
True and blue...As we were...way back...In 1942."

Edwin C. Townsend

USS LSM-18




"Welcome Back 45"

Each year we hold our annual reunion to celebrate our fame
and for those that have gone before us, knowing we will do the same.
We would like to leave a monument as big as life can be
and what would be more appropriate than the ship we sailed at sea.

So we searched the world ship yards and the records of our task
and from them found the 45, her flag was at half mast.
She to has served her time but still laying on her keel
we found it in our hearts to pledge her, as a monument of steel.

So from the Grecian harbor where she lay, the plan began to grow
and after days of retrofit, the ship was put in tow.
A Russian TUG was hired and all hands were a team,
her Atlantic voyage left Greece 9, September to arrive in New Orleans.

It will take a few days to prepare her for the river trip in tow
Then 10 days to St. Louis, up the Mississippi she will go.
Then enter the Missouri river for 8 more days or so,
to reach Omaha, Nebraska in Freedom Park you know.

Here in FREEDOM PARK a Naval Museum, She will stand
out in our memories as the Alligator of Amphibians,

"THE WAY THE WAR WAS REALLY WON."

Dan Lightner

LSM 183





U.S.S. LSM 247

In nineteen hundred and forty four
Upon the wide blue ocean
A sea going craft was born
Moving with distorted motion.

She pitched, jarred, and bounced along
And white caps rolled her plenty
But sea going salts of 20 years
Couldn't stand this bouncing Betty.

You've heard the talk of salty gobs
Who served for 20 years on a wagon
But 2000 miles on all LSM
Left their asses draggin'.

And when the seas were really rough
The jarring was terrific
Pounding and shaking from bow to stern
While sailing the smooth Pacific.

Convoy work was never dull
It was anything but heaven
Blinker, flag hoist, and SCR
Posit, two four seven.

We hit the beach tonight my boys
Day time makes it boring
Never do it the easy way
Is the motto of this story.

All ahead standard, right full rudder
Steady on two six seven
Watch us beach in the dead of night
If we miss, leave her to heaven.

"Let go the stern anchor" the Captain shouts
The anchor engines puffin'
How many fathoms have payed out?
Stern anchor cable nothin'.

Cursing, shouting, confusion reigns
It's an uproar on the stern
Grinding, clashing noise galore
But not a wheel will turn.

We leave the beach the Lord knows how
Bound for our destination
Wherever the hell that may be
So always our consternation.

We left the states ten months ago
And roamed the wide blue ocean
Pearl, Tulagi, the Philippines
Always with a rolling motion.

We've run this thing through night and day
Sunshine and stormy weather
Moonlit skies and cloudy nights
we just don't rest; no never.

After-steering, leaks like hell
The boatswain's busy pumping
Leaks, and cracks, and dusty skegs
But we're still puddle jumpin'.

Now that it's over over here
The question is always when
We'll be going back to the States
God bless this barge, Amen.

James L Fuller, GM3/C  

LSM 247



This Poem was submitted by G.W. Gaskill LSM 142  &   LSM 328