Milliard F Simmons

At Pearl Harbor I was a Second Class Gunner’s Mate, On the USS LCS(L)-53, it was my home straight, And we had radar picket duty with my proud gun, Between Okinawa and Japan, my 20mm connon. Unfortunately, I got an infection in my right hand, But our craft was too small to have a doctor at hand, But the destroyer William D Porter was right on duty, So our skipper knew I’d loose my hand, so he did hurry. He contacted the destroyer which pulled up aside, I was chair lifted onto her, and luckily the sea did abide, Felt so happy to set foot on her, and my mates teased, That I’d be exchanged for ice-cream any day, they eased! I was only there for one night, then went to hospital, I went onto a hospital ship anchored that so was brutal, And after Porter had dropped me, she returned to duty, But within the hour was sunk by the Japanese in cruelty, I got back into good shape on the hospital ship, So went back to my ship, discharged and feeling tip; I checked my record for all of the ships that I served, And I was surprised, the Porter’s listed unreserved!