In Remembrance

It was in '42 or '43 an older brother went off to war
Joining the Navy to avoid being drafted into the Army
He shipped out on the USS Franklin on its shake-down cruise

In the Pacific Ocean, near Tokyo, his carrier was hit by a
Japanese suicide bomber
Listing very badly, it made its way back to New York, my brother had stayed with the ship

Finally returning home,he went to college, got a job, married,
had a family
But never forgot his growing up experience in the Navy

My oldest brother had an agricultural deferment,
Missing so many of his friends who were in the service
Enlisted in the Army, rejected by the Air Force because of color blindness

Ended up in Europe at the end of the war
Saw war torn Europe at the tax payer's expense
Returned home, had some college, got a job, married, had a family

Vietnam; my youngest brother served there until he was injured in a noncombat accident
Returned home, to work for Dad, married, had a family
Joined the American Legion where he is very active

The first two brothers have gone to their eternal reward
My youngest brother, today (Nov. 11, 2011) will be in some parade in remembrance