YESTERYEAR'S NAVY

I knew a sailor we all called Mac
We met at Pearl Harbor before the attack
He wore seven hashmarks on his sleeve
Doing more brig time than you could believe

An aircraft mechanic for twenty-five years
He consumed an ocean of foreign beers
Captain's mast for McGuire was routine
He had many scrapes with seamen and US Marines

Mac was still first class when I made Chief
He respected my rating and gave me no grief
Our morals were as different as night and day
He kept hoping the Navy would let him stay

We walked to the mess hall for early chow
Mac's shoelace managed to dangle somehow
On report by a sentry he was placed
Because his shoe was improperly laced

Two weeks of extra duty Mac had to serve
He yelled and cussed, 'Of all the nerve!'
Twenty-nine years of service didn't give him pull
Of stupid regulations he had his can full

A shave tail Ensign on Ford Island Base
Was frequently getting on McGuire's case
Belittling Mac in front of his crew
This Asiatic sailor said, 'this wouldn't do'

At muster, Mac held out his hashmarked arm
'Touch me Ensign, sir, I mean no harm
When you write to your mommy, don't forget to say
Mommy, I touched a real sailor today!'

The crowd went wild clapping for Mac
The Ensign stormed off stage and never came back
Mac earned the respect of Officers and Men
No one ever humiliated Mcguire again

WE'RE NOT SENILE YET

Many events we Survivors recall
Of when Japan paid America a call
Pearl Harbor was the place
Of carnage and disgrace
Between us we saw it all

The Harbor was covered with oil
As things began to boil
Many servicemen were dying
As their buddies were crying
We were amid chaos and turmoil

We watched as Nippon bombs fell
Turning Oahu into a living hell
Torpedoes they were unloading
Our ships were exploding
We all remember it too well

Let's keep praying for all our dead
They would rather be here instead
Their young lives taken away
On that Pearl Harbor day
For America those poor souls bled

REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR