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!
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