[Jedi Marksman]

'The Hour is Go' by Fancis J. Turner - from his personal archives.

' THE HOUR IS GO! '

One's eyes close tight and families fade,When going to war which evil men made. Though anxious and frightened, we don't let it show, For this day is approaching, when the Airborne must go.

Each day now rolls past, we wait just the same, But D-Day is near, and for this we all came. The hour grows near, each man feels it inside, And soon we'll be falling, with nowhere to hide.

Our eyes are now down and the chatter the same, Each weapon now loaded, no longer a game, Eagles gather round and bow yours heads low, Europe awaits and the hour is go.

Planes rumble past as we wait for our turn, To fly over waters we have yet to each earn. Checked buckles and straps, left nothing to chance, The Jumpmaster stands and calls "Welcome to France".

Flak turns to fire in the blackest of night, Too low, too fast, can't jump from this height. There's no turning back, the risk has been taken, Free fall into hell, paratrooper's forsaken.

Eagles hold tight, scattered prayers to survive, We'll hit the ground soon, whether dead or alive. As feet touch the ground, each soldier turns on, Confusion and fear are beaten and gone.

The enemy is close and sad they don't know The Airborne is here, it's time they must go. The hour is now, Hitler's had his last chance On St. Michael wings, we're taking back France.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'The Hills of Bastogne' by Bernard J.Mckearney

' THE HILLS OF BASTOGNE '

THE HILLS OF BASTOGNE! The crops should be full in Belgium this year, The soil should be fertile, but the price has been dear, The wheat should be red on the hills of Bastogne, For its roots have been drenched by the blood of our own.

Battered and reeling we stand in their way, It's here we are, and here we will stay. Embittered, wrathful, we watch our pals fall, God, where's the end, the end of it all?

Confident and powerful, they strike at our lines, But we beat them back, fighting for time. Berserk with fury, they are hitting us now, Flesh against steel - we'll hold but how?

For each day that we stay, more mothers must grieve. For each hill that we hold more men must we leave. Yes, honor the men who will some day come home, But pray for the men 'neath the hills of Bastogne.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'That Something' by Ronald Tee - 56th Recce Regiment, Battleaxe Division British 8th Army.

' That Something! '

It's funny, how one can lie, and remember things of days gone by. And in perhaps one short minute, recapture a past year and all that's in it.

It's funny, how a quiet room, gives chance to ponder, leading our thoughts, or even a funny phrase, will recall something that happened in bye gone days.

Everyone stores up things that have past, some are forgotten, others will always last. But a soldier who has been to war, has in life's memory book, something more.

"Something" that can only be, in the memories of men, like you and me, "Something" that is born midst shot and shell, develops and grows in times of bloody hell.

This "comradeship" as it is known by us, of which we never make much fuss. Is this "something" which in our minds was set in lands where many are lying yet.

And so I remember from the start, the lads I knew, now far apart my soldering is finished, I leave it all behind, but that "something" comes with me in my mind.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------