by Cpl. Robert L. Cook
Jan. 1942-Sept. 1945
My sergeant done told me
When I was in boot camp
My Sergeant told me, Son,
The Corps is a good thing
A very good thing,
It makes you become
A man number one,
A U.S. Marine.
You’ll go from this boot camp
To a place in the first ranks,
A place where you’ll stand tall.
You get no promotions
This side of the oceans
And that ain‘t all.
The Corps will adopt you,
Make you a Marine,
A wondrous thing,
It won’t be a ball.
Soon you’ll be a walkin’
Even be a talkin’
Like a Marine.
Though you are a youngin’
You’ll amount to somthin’
Here in the Corps,
My sergeant was right,
I came out all right
While there in the Corps.
(You write the next stanza!)
* * *
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.
