Squadron Poetry
The two following poems written by Raymond Harold Claxton are dedicated to the men of VMD-154.
Food For Thought!
by Raymond Harold Claxton
I am now in my 80s, how time has gone by!
I am not staying young, no matter how I try.
My stride has slackened, my memory has waned;
But I still remember, the South Pacific Campaign.
I think so often, of friends that I made;
After Pearl Harbor's Japanese raid.
There were so many, that touched my life;
And helped me through the big war's strife.
Wayne Shafer, Modzelewski, Clayton Tarr too;
Norman Woodard, Eddie Mitchell, just to name a few.
They taught me to help keep the Liberator flying;
When they photographed those islands, at the risk of dying.
Our number is shrinking, as time marches on;
Loved ones are missing, the friends that are gone.
We are all down in history, with the 2nd World War;
As the proud Marines, of VMD-154.
More Food For Thought!
by Raymond Harold Claxton
An old ex-Marine had a dream;
He went back to the New Hebrides.
And found his old photo lab;
There among the coconut trees.
He found his old cameras;
Oh, if they could talk.
They would tell of dangerous moments;
Up and down that old catwalk.
They would tell of many flight lines;
By the PB4Ys.
And many enemy positions;
Caught by the camera's eyes.
If you were at Camp Elrod;
Then you were in his dream.
Along with all the memories;
Of that photographic Marine.
You ate at JJ's mess hall;
Fresh bread, I can taste it still!
The Seabees could smell it baking;
All the way down the hill.
You probably ate a coconut;
or at least drilled out an eye.
And drank too much juice;
Because your throat was dry.
Then with the extra trips you made;
Out to the head.
You pitched those little lizards;
You found squashed and dead.
If you can relate to his dream;
Then you have walked that mile.
And have a dream of your own;
That would make that old Marine smile.