Poem -Battle of the Komandorski Islands

The Battle of the Komandorski Islands
March 26, 1943

There's strange things done where the midnight sun
Beats down upon the sea.
But stranger yet is the tale of sweat
that I now tell to thee.

This tale of mine and I divine
It to be true as the star on high.
I heard it first verse by verse
Over a bottle of Rye.

Now it seems there was a Cruiser great
With a record hard to beat.
The battle was fought in the Bering Strait
While the force was in full retreat.

It seems that the Japs those stupid saps
Were trying to relive Attu.
When the battle was o'er they knew as before
They'd again met the Swayback Maru.

Our force was out numbered but into the fray
We went with our heads held high.
T'was the RICHMOND and us and a couple of Cans
And it seemed we were doomed to die.

Now the morning was clear and that surely was queer
For the weather had been very poor.
We were all at GQ except for a few
And Condition Red was set at each door.

Now this routine stuff is a bunch of guff
But it came in hand that day.
When we sighted the foe we were ready to go
And both forces sailed into the fray.

The word came below from Sky Control
And this is what they said,
We've sighted a couple of transports out there
Oh God how they were mislead.

For smoke did appear on horizon clear
then on to the battle scene,
Appeared four Cruisers two heavies two lights
And a might destroyer screen.

The ranges close and we spotted the glows
As the Jap guns opened fire.
Their salvos were true and they'd have hit the Maru
Had they spotted a little bit higher.

We stared with remorse as the flag changed her course
And away from the battle she sped.
But the Salt Lake stayed there without thought of despair
And she answered the Jap Cruisers lead.

Now our fire was true and splinters they flew
From the decks of the Jap Cruiser leading.
And I say without doubt the Jap decks about
Were littered with dead and with bleeding.

But not only they were hit in the fray
'Cause we took a shell here and there.
Then came the ones those awful ones
That left our ship in despair.

They struck us amidships a shattering blow
That left us dead in the ocean.
Our hopes fell dead our fuel tanks bled
But there was little commotion.

But revenge is sweet and our Tin Can Fleet
Set out to save their Cruiser.
Through their attack true facts will back
The Japs became the loser.

The Japs then fled pumped full of lead
From the guns of the "One Ship Fleet".
Yes they went West and we went East
Each force in full retreat.

Now the tale is ended if we have offended
The Cruiser that took on the battle.
Be not afraid or even dismayed
For we're not the kind to tattle.

Battle of the Komandorski Island Index
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