WHEN THE JAP FELT THE BARB - Dick Raymond's July Poem

                                                                    

                    

                                 WHEN THE JAP FELT THE BARB 

                 The Railroad Raiders, 23 July 1945

 

            There was a pigboat skipper, and his name was Eugene Fluckey,

            His boat and husky crewmen smote the Rising Sun full sore—

            They called their captain "Lucky", and for sure the guy was plucky,

            He fought in shallow waters where few had gone before.           

            His fifth and final war patrol was carried out with gumption,

            They'd sunk a passel of Maru' s, yet there was more to do—

            And now they had a daring plan for Samurai's consumption,

            "Let's go ashore and wreck a train!" applauded by the crew.

 

            He needed eight, all volunteers--they had to be unmarried,

            Equal Reserve and Regular, and former Boy Scouts, too--

            Electrics to be jury-rigged, explosives to be carried,

            And rubber boats to paddle, they were gallant, yet so few.

 

            The raiding party went ashore one dark and cloudy night,

            They targeted a nearby track, and planted TNT,

            One savvy electrician's mate knew how to do it right,

            Then silently they stole away, and headed out to sea.

 

            Oho! Here came a lonesome train, its engine bravely chuffing,

            The raiders paddled hard and fast, in haste to go aboard,

            Then, WHOOM! the night exploded, locomotive lost its stuffing,

            The cars behind were cinders, and the scrap like rockets  soared!