Editor’s note: Author Bob Holloway served as an enlisted man in the Marines during the Korean Conflict. He was wounded and later received the Purple Heart.
By Bob Holloway
Son, I’m just a punk reporter and I’ve never lugged a mortar
so believe me I’ll just listen here tonight
For I know you went to Chosen and came back to Hugnam frozen,
And I’d like to print the facts behind that fight.
Sir, if you will just relax and forget your income tax,
And listen to my tale of men at war,
I’ll fill your ears with data all about a kid who’ll rate-a
place in heaven next to God forevermore.
Now I know the words to this here story may seem a wee bit gory,
but remember sir, the deeds were done in hell.
For when blood is spilled around you, and your buddies dead surround you,
Then it’s time to play the man and cuss a spell.
Now the night you must remember was the first one in December
and my pal and I were lost from everyone.
All at once he let a roar out and cuss words they did pour out
And they knew they had to fight that mad Marine.
While their fire he was bravin’, it was me that kid was savin’
For he knew I couldn’t move the way I bled.
I’ll continue in a minute, seems my eye has something in it.
Always does when I look upon that scene when a boy became a man;
They had to fight that mad Marine.