Arthur Homer "homie" Creed

Oh the glory! Of this my story Upon a colossal, metallic beast Did I sail, for many a year Every ocean and sea, seemed the vastness of eternity My name is Arthur Homer Creed, AKA -“Homie” Chief Petty Officer, United States Navy My job, dangerous as it was Was my one true love. Director on the flight deck Of an aircraft carrier We cruised from Japan to Quebec The scream of the jet Was Mozart to my ear, Adrenaline rush Newbies full of fear- But taught them all I did, To be safe and stay on the grid To catch a Tomcat became second nature- And soon, for the novice, a breathtaking adventure. How I adored the hues of sunset And the smell of intensity from a jet Off we sent them, In the fury of a screaming cat A hundred miles up they would fly While we waited to catch them From a dismissive sky. “Chief Homie“, my flyboys called me I was their father, and mentor out to sea Their only family. The young ones who were here to serve, This great battleship, Only the best did they deserve. Into ports we swept Alluring the girls, and scoring some drink, Then back to the ship we went Refreshed, relaxed and ready to think. Onward another month or two we sailed, 18 hours days, Through high winds and formidable gales. Then the time came to get serious There was a threat The “Old Man” was furious - F-18’s sent to the Middle East Dropping bombs In the name of peace. Sorties flown day and night, Blackout ship- we were trying to hide Manning all battle stations, This was a defensive action. Through the bulkhead it came - Crashing, crushing, killing, exploding Entire ship, quickly eroding. This projectile - Erasing the faces I had known, My legs, I saw, off were blown- I grabbed the hatch To keep This hell from reaching others, Up on deck. Heaving it shut With all I had left I got that watertight hatch closed Then I knew I was dead- As the water enveloped my head, I could no longer breathe - Sea pouring in all around me. I saved that ship, and those boys From dying that day- Or so I suppose, Because I hear their praises Sung to me - In my watery grave, Under the sea. A. Green