Since it's Memorial Day, I thought I'd post this here for others to enjoy besides my friends on Facebook.
About a month ago, I received a book of poetry written by some distant relative of mine serving as Private in the Army at a base in the Philippines in the 1920s. I've been reading some of it at open mics and showing the book around to anyone who's interested. I don't know if this guy ever shared any of this stuff while he was serving or after but it's truly a gift for the world (the penmanship alone is amazing, nevermind the stellar quality of the actual writing).
There's almost 200 pages of this stuff, so I'll be scanning and transcribing it whenever I have some freetime over the course of the next couple months.
Inside CoverChas. McElroy
2nd Mine Company
Corregidor Island
Fort Mills
Philippine Islands.
February 1, 1920-Oct. 25, 1920
This Book Belongs to Charles D. McElroy If thou art borrowed by a friend Right welcome shall he be To read to copy not to lend But to return to me
Not that imparted knowledge doth Diminish learnings' store But books I find if often lent Return to me no more
Read slowly pause frequently Think seriously keep cleanly Return only with the corners of the leaves Not turned down
Passing the BuckThe Colonel calls the Major
For he wants something done
The Major tells the Captain
And gets him on the run
The Captain thinks it over And tries to make it suit Passes the buck and baggage To some shave-tail second Lieut
The said Lieutennent ponders And strokes his downy jaw Then calls his trusty sergeant and to him lays down the law
The sergeant calls the corporal To see what he can see So the corporal calls a private And the poor damn Private's me.
On Corregidor I am stationed
In the fort that guards the bay
cutting grass and building sidewalks
for a soldiers humble pay
when i'm not at work i'm drilling
have no time to call my own
working hard for uncle samuel
far away from friends and home
but i'm coming dear i'm coming from the far off philippines with my pocets full of pesos and my system full of beans
when I left old frisco harbor left you standing at the dock i was going to be a hero on this god forsaken rock i was going after glory Sink the Spaniards in the bay With my trusty springfield rifle I am busy every day
Yes I'm coming Bessy coming From the far off Philippines With my pockets full of clackers and my system full of beans
yes i'm busy very busy now i put away my gun with my trusty pick and shovel i am working in the sun digging ditches building sidewalks cutting grass and mounting guns lots of time for good hard labor not a bit of time for fun (continued...)
but i'm coming darling coming
from the far off philippines
with my pockets full of pesos
and my system full of beans
A Case like Mine Captain I hear you've gone and done it yes I know most followers will went and tried it once myself sir though you see i'm single still and you met her did you tell me out at caloocan last july and resolved to ask the question at the hop; so did I
I suppose you left the ballroom with its music and its light for they say loves flame is sweeteest in the darkness of the night
Well you walked along the terrace overhead the moonlit sky and i'll bet captain confess it you were frightened-so was I
So you strolled along the terrace Saw the summer moonlight pour All its radiance on the waters As they rippled on the shore
Till at length you gathered courage when you saw that none was nigh did you draw her close and tell her that you loved her-so did I
Well I needn't ask you further And I'm sure I wish you joy Think I'll wander down and see you When you're married, eh, my boy
When your honeymoon is over and your settled down we'll try What? The deuce you say rejected you respected-so did I
A soldier is a nobody
We hear the people say
They are the outcasts of the country
And always in the way
We admit there are a lot of bad ones From the Army to Marines But you will find that the majority Are the most worthy ever seen
Most people condemn a soldier When he takes a drink or two but does a soldier condemn you when you stop to take a few
now don't codemn a soldier but grasp him by the hand for the uniform he proudly wears means protection to the land
The government picks its soldiers from millions far and wide so place a soldier as your equal and drop your haughty pride
When a soldier goes to battle you cheer him on his way and say he is a hero when in his grave he lay
the hardest battle of a soldier Is in the time of peace When you laugh and scorn him and beat him like a beast
i will now close this and hope I don't offend so when you meet a soldier treat him like you would a friend
Sweet-heart take this a Soldier said
and bid me a brave goodbye
It may befall we neer shall wed
but love can never die
be steadfast in thy troth to me and then what'er is my lot my soul to God, my heart to thee sweetheart Forget-Me-Not
The maiden took the tiny flower and nursed it with her tears Lo! he who left her in that hour Came not in the after-years
Unto an heroes death he rode mid shower of fire and shots But in the maidens heart abode the flower Forget-me-not
And when he came not with the rest from out the years of blood closely unto her widowed breast she pressed a faded bud
oh there is love and there is pain and there is peace God wot And these dear three do live again in sweet forget-me-not
Tis to an unmarked grave today that I would like to go Whether he wore the blue or gray what need that we should know
he loved a woman let us say and on that sacred spot To womans love that lives for aye well stow Forget-me not.
They went there some to live and some to die
Of fear they had no thought they had been sent
The good "Tuscania" bore them on their way
To do their duty was why they went
The night was calm and overhead the sky Was casting shadows o'er the waters cold A submarine! A submarine! the cry Was echoed fore and aft in the hold
She reeled and staggered from the blow A mortal wound below the waterline The water then commenced to rise below The submarine had sunk beneath the brim
The ship is sinking! Then from above the din A chorus swelled; My Country Tis of thee For they left their home the war to win Had left the "Sweet Land of Liberty"
They rowed or swam or floated to the shore Not all for some had sunk beneath the sea The Irish people folk from fen and moor Came down to offer hospitality
Along the shores the next day there were found The bodies washed up on rocky bed The farms and fisher folk from miles around Attended at the burial of the dead
The unidentified by tender hands In nameless graves on Irelands shore were laid Our boys who gave their lives in foreign lands Old Glory that was carried there was made
In honor of our dead the flag we love By Irish mothers sewed in with their sighs Werenames that now are registered above That never may be seen by mortal eyes
Yet will be forgotten but will merge With those of "Bunker Hill!" and "Lindy Lane" Chants like "New Orleans", "Valley Forge" "Manila", "Santiago" and the main