PELELIU (God rest your soul, Dad)

TO
THE
ISLE
OF
PELELIU

In the Fall
Of forty-four
Our country battled
In a war.

A young boy went –
The proud the few
To the isle
Of Peleliu.

On his right
His buddies killed,
On his left
More blood was spilled.

A young boy went –
The proud the few
To the isle
Of Peleliu.


His mind he steadied
Not to cry
Then metal shrapnel
Sliced his eye.

A young boy went –
The proud the few
To the isle
Of Peleliu.

Writhing in pain,
His eye red-hot,
A smiling medic,
Then he was shot.

A young boy went –
The proud the few
To the isle
Of Peleliu.

Under his back,
Only the earth
In front to his sides
Souls of great worth.

A young boy went –
The proud the few
To the isle
Of Peleliu.

The boy was wounded
Left eye blind,
Back to the states
To paint and remind…

Just yesterday killed,
The proud the few -
May all souls rest
On…Peleliu.