by Cpl. Robert L. Cook
Jan. 1942~Sept. 1945
I am a Marine veteran
Of World War ll,
I stand among the many
And yet among the few.
Our numbers grow smaller
As time thins out the ranks,
We were the ones who
Charged the beaches,
The ones who drove the tanks.
We drove the dreaded enemy
From isle to bloody isle
And kept the honor
Of the Corps
In the Marine style.
We never shirked our duty
We seldom shrank in fear
We kept the motion forward
We made the winning dear.
We left the war behind us
We built a new world here
We ask for little in return,
A word of kind respect.
Just let us know you
Hold us in esteem
Of that we can expect.
* * *
About the author: Robert Cook served with Reg. Weapons Co.(2d-2d) from 1942~44, at Guadalcanal
and Tarawa, during a 33-month overseas tour.
