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In Harms Way 1972
sunrise in the south china sea
half way between subic and yankee station
i am still in awe
of how something as big as this boat
with all of the stuff on board, floats
and yet, of how small we are compared to the sea and ocean
there will be little change in the scenery,
horizon to horizon ocean, sun up to sun up
maybe a few white caps, flying fish,
we’re getting ready to “support” another campaign
500 pounders, clusters and lots of them
f4’s riding shotgun
it’s going to get tense with
all of the launching of full aircraft
and recovery of the empties
between sorties, we’ll take on un-rep
and then get back into it
we’ll do that for a few days,
if we’re lucky, we’ll get out of the
hostile zone and stand down for a day
for most that means barbecue on the flight deck
for others, like me, it means catch up on maintenance
we are literally an island, largely cut off
from the world as one would know it
we have enough fire power to level several cities
and because of that, we are a danger and target
and yet there is a secure feeling of being on the boat
i don’t worry about my safety
my training and responsibilities keep me occupied
sometimes i wonder if we are doing
the right thing and hope this “conflict" will end soon
there’s little time for idle thought
i do think of how much i miss
my family and loved ones
when i do get home, it will be strange
for a while, i’ll have nothing in common
but that uncomfortable feeling of not belonging
and wishing i was at sea again in harms way
Copyright ©
Richard Colbert
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