Poem-Battle of the Savo Island

The Battle of the Savo Island

A bunch of the boys were whooping it up
In a bar on the Lower East Side.
The drinks flowed free and talk was abrupt,
About the Boise, the fleet's own pride.

Yes, they came from a cruiser, the Boise by name,
Hero of the Savo's worst fight.
And the crew was all stalwart and proud of their fame,
Those who suffered that bloody night.

So here they gathered happy and gay,
For they were all of that crew.
Until one there arose and lifted his glass
And said, "Lets drink to the Swayback Maru".

Now came a tale and a true one it was,
Of the Battle of Sleepless Lagoon.
When our taskforce steamed in, and shot up the foe,
In the light of the deep Savo moon.

It was the Eleventh of October in the Fall of that year,
One night when the sea was blue.
When the 'Frisco, Helena, Boise and a couple of cans,
Sailed with the "Swayback Maru".

When out of the night that was black as pitch
And into that ungodly Bay,
Steamed a force of Jap cruiser, transports and cans,
Filled with soldiers to land for the fray.

Our gun crews were ready, erect at their post,
Not even the snipes were about.
Then came a signal, a red and a green,
And still, our guns did not shout.

The ranges closed all hands on their toes,
Then all hell broke loose in the Lagoon.
Condition One crews just shook in their shoes,
As the guns roared a thunderous tune.

Screams and groans, shouts and moans,
As their wounded lay in pain,
The scuppers gushed a river of red,
And their decks were all astained.

Then the Boise got hit, 'till she staggered and reeled,
And the flames formed an eerie light blue.
And onto the scene, lit up by the light,
Steamed, the Ol' "Swayback Maru".

Her silhouette clear, the Jap cruiser near,
Trained her guns on the "Swayback Maru",
But the "One Ship Fleet", destroyed the Nippon sons,
And she saved the Boise too.

So my story has ended, so please don't be offended,
For it was all so true.
To the States went the Boise,
While to Pearl, went the Ol' "Swayback Maru".

Contributed by James O'Hara
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