Carl Carlson

I was up on deck of the USS Arizona doing the morning chores, When another plane came along, so I just passed it by, gores, Because they landed at Ford Island all the time, but this time, It was strafing me, attacking me repeatedly as I was the prime. So I ran forward to get under cover, and I did not get hurt, But then another plane came around the same way, girt, But again, nobody got hit, so I proceeded to go inside, Back to my battle station, when a bomb hit where I did hide. It knocked me out, ruptured both lungs, all lights went out, And I awoke and picked up where I left off, with no pout, Pearl Harbour was rank with warfare, bullets flew all around, And I don’t know how long I had laid there, but I was bound. I was intent on opening the water-tight door, not allowed, In battle conditions to be entered, but I managed proud, I made my way to the turret to assist there, and one said, “Boy, you’re a good boy Carson,” they just needed me red. There was no panic down there or anything, but much water, And smoke, and they don’t mix, and then a commander Told me to come on deck and help, but we were at a loss, The ship was beat, and we then had to abandon and toss. But just before I did, I ran into a friend, crying and dying, Burnt, skin dangling off his body, very openly just hanging, So I took his arm, but there was nothing that I could do, So he died later, and its bothered me all my life through. So they gave the word “abandon ship” and so I stepped off, Not knowing how badly I was hurt, so passed out, did turnoff, I went down in the water and it was peaceful and nice, And then I saw this bright light, but something saved me, ice. I got back up to the water’s surface, but burning oil, Surrounded me in a complete circle, but, no more toil, The next thing I knew was somebody’s arm on mine, Pulling me out the water, and then I knew I’d be fine. I made it to Ford Island sick bay but saw another there, Whose intestines were in his hands, holding them bare, And who said to me “War sure is hell isn’t it, shipmate,” So I replied and just got up and walked out, straight. Died January 14th 2001