by Cpl. Robert L. Cook
Jan. 42~Sept. 45
I never understood,
Although they said I should,
The fundamental lesson
Of a hike.
I slogged over beach and ground
For reasons I thought not sound
And never learned
A cotton-pickin' thing.
I was as hard as rocks
From runnin' around
Those boondocks,
I couldn't have been
More muscular or fit.
If they thought that with this trainin'
There was somethin' I was gainin'
Then there thinkin'
Was a damn site off.
So I did the twenty-milers,
Sore and blistered as I was,
And I pulled them
Stupid gun carts
All the way.
If I'd had the guts
I would have said
You can screw it!
I ain't pullin' no
Damn gun carts
Today.
*
**
**About the author: Robert Cook served with Reg. Weapons Co.(2d-2d) from 1942~44, at Guadalcanal & Tarawa, during a 33-month overseas tour
