Army Days - A poem of adventure

Army Days

Eighteen years old and far way from home,
Searching for a life I can call my own,
South Carolina for Basic, tech school there too,
And then on to Georgia, so much to learn and do.

One year in training, making lots of new friends,
Growing up very quickly, old fences to mend.
Family far away, brothers and sisters left behind,
But being a good soldier is first on my mind.

Louisiana is next, permanent duty for me.
Stationed on Polk Army Air Field, no women there but me.
The first female technician, Army world-wide,
My picture in Stars and Stripes, parents filled with pride.

I do my best to keep my unit proud,
Made a pilot friend who flies in the clouds.
A ride in his Cobra, chasing the local cows,
A call to the airfield commander, a mad farmer howls!

The helicopter on the ground, no more flights that day,
Lots of things to do, staying quietly out of the way.
Radios to repair, weather balloons to launch,
Life on the airfield, working with a great bunch.

Soon a new young man floats into my life,
The days take forever, until I become his wife.
Married in six months, our lives intertwined,
Too soon he's off to Korea, me left behind.

Loneliness fills my soul with him so far way,
Time spent writing letters, at least two everyday.
My sergeant knows the drill, gets my mind back on track,
Sends me to the end of the air-strip with tools in my sack.

One civilian, one soldier working to get the job done,
We get the beacon up and running, the summer heat is no fun.
Taking the long way back to the air-strip and shop,
We stop for some lunch in a shade filled spot.

Louisiana woods, tall, lush and green,
Lots of noises, their source not easily seen.
A wild boar runs by, on the other side of the creek,
A civilian sees for his family, fresh food, fresh meat.

An abrupt chase after the wild boar has begun,
Luckily for the boar, we did not have guns.
He caught the little one, it loudly began to squeal,
I told him to put it down, it was too big of a deal.

Mama boar promptly came to rescue her babe,
Man climbs a tree quickly to stay out of her way.
Let the babe go, and mama will go too,
You don't need that pig, what are you planning to do?

Bring me the jeep he says and then we can go,
I need to take this pig home now and watch it grow.
A fine holiday meal it will make this fall,
Bring me the jeep now before mama makes me fall!

I sat in the jeep, not a muscle did I move,
California girls can be stubborn, especially around fools.
Baby pig is squealing, mama is jumping at the tree,
Noise all around me, especially from those three.

Finally the babe is able to wiggle free,
He falls to the ground, mama happy as can be.
One last head butt to the man in the tree,
Baby and mama rub noses, then turn to hastily flee.

Back to the air strip, complaining all the way,
Why did you leave me in the tree that way?
The babe was too small to take it away,
Besides, we have other things to do today.

Back in the shop our story did we tell,
Laughter all around us, the day ended well.
Civilians and soldiers, different goals in sight,
All working together, fixing radios and lights.

My time in the Army was interesting at best,
I learned a lot from other soldiers, learned to do without rest.
My education did not suffer while my county I served,
My health stayed strong, I stayed above the curve.

I wore my uniform proudly, my cap and gown too,
Four years of my young life passed by all too soon.
Respect for myself and others, self reliance and pride,
My military memories will all be held in a place inside.