The
telegram came, in the spring of 1943
I was just 18 when my country said that she needed me.
The funny thing is, on my birthday, just the week before
I went downtown in my only suit and joined to fight the war.
My
father, he fought in World War One to set Europe free.
Mr. Wilson said he'd fight and spread Democracy.
And
he was on his way across the sea
to fight for some stranger's liberty
And he didn't know if he'd be back again
He just hoped that they would remember the American men.
But
I went to Europe, and was wounded in '45.
And my brother he went to Tarawa and didn't come back alive.
All of my town remembers his smile before he left for the war.
And I miss my brother so much, and God he loved the Corps.
And
we were on our way across the sea
to fight for some stranger's liberty
And we didn't know if we'd be back again
We just hoped that they would remember the Americans.
So
many souls have offered their lives for strangers in need
And no one can know its worth like the ones who've been freed.
Well
I skipped Korea but my son was sent to Vietnam
and he made it home and had a daughter who's grown to look just
like her mom.
And she graduates from the Naval Academy in the spring of next year.
You'll never meet anyone smarter, and she's so sincere.
She'll
be on her way across the sea
to fight for some stranger's liberty
And we won't know if she'll be back again
We just hope that you will remember the Americans.
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