Rhymes of the Rookies | Page 3

the "GUARD,"?Our "Border-Patrol"--?H is HEADQUARTERS,?The high-ranking role.?I is the INFANTRY,?That's hot on the Hike,?J is JAW-BONE,?Oh, "Pay-as-you-like";?K is the KITCHEN,?Where they turn out the "stew,"?L is LANCE-CORPORAL.?Who ranks just a few;?M is the MESS,?Where the rations are served,?N is "NON-COM,"?Whose "Stripes" are deserved;?O is the OFFICER,?"Spick and so span,"?P is the PRISONER,?Who's "under the ban,"?Q is the QUARTERS,?With "lights out at Taps,"?R is the ROOKIE,?Whom everyone raps,?S is the SERGEANT,?Who keeps 'em in line,?T is TATTOO,?Three-quarters past nine,?U is the UNIFORM,?Buttons so bright,?V is the VOLLEY,?That settles the Fight;?W the WAGON,?With "four Army mules,"?X the eX-soldier,?Whose ardor now cools,?Y is the YOUNGSTER,?Just out of the "Point,"?Z--can't you tell?This line's out-of-joint?
A SOLDIERS PRIMER
A man, a hat, a blouse, a gun,?Call this a soldier just for fun.?A dog tent, blanket, candle, match,?His home is built with rare dispatch;?With hard tack, bacon, army beans,?Army life is not what it seems.?A damp cold night, aching head,?The next day fever-soldier dead.?The story is brief (we know it well),?And plain is moral--"War is Hell."
THE TALE AND WAIL OF A ROOKIE
When I was young I said to myself,?Choose a career and start after the pelf,?Early to bed and early to rise,?You're sure to get wealthy and awfully wise,?So I started out to look around,?But nice fat jobs weren't easily found.
However, while taking a walk down the street,?A bright colored poster my eyes did greet,?"Young Men Wanted." I said, "That's me,"?And stepped up closer so I could see.?"Join the Army and see the World,"?My fingers around my last dollar were curled.
So I went around where they hung out the flag.?But that 7-year hitch made my interest lag.?They explained it, however, and made it quite plain?That to join the Army would be my gain.?So here I am in the damn Philippines,?They feed me nothing but bacon and beans.
The land of the goo-goo is no place for me,?The reason porque is easy to see.?I never was strong for bugs and lizards,?Or the amoebic bug that tickles your gizzards.?I have a reverse on fleas and snakes,?And I hate the noise the Gekko makes.
I have three square feet of prickly heat,?And some dhobie itch that can't be beat,?I've had the dengue and also the fever,?Of all diseases I've been the receiver.?I'm bitten by all that's invented to bite us,?At the end of the year I'll have Philippinitis.
A long centipede just crawled in my bunk,?This tropical service is certainly punk,?Not a chance in the world to go over the hill,?And half my time is spent in the mill.?But why should I worry, I'll soon be free.?A "G. C. M." does the trick for me.
A MARINE'S HYMN
From the Halls of Montezuma,?To the shores of Tripoli,?We fight our country's battles?On the land as on the sea.?First to fight for right and freedom?And to keep our honor clean,?We are proud to claim the title?Of United States Marine.
From the Pest Hole of Cavite?To the ditch at Panama,?You will find them very needy?Of Marines--that's what we are;?We're watch dogs of a pile of coal?Or we dig a magazine,?Tho' he lends a hand at every job,?Who would not be a Marine?
Our flag's unfurled to every breeze?From dawn to setting sun,?We have fought in every clime or place?Where we could take a gun;?In the snow of far off northern lands?And in sunny tropic scenes,?You will find us always on the job--?The United States Marines.
Here's health to you and to our corps?Which we are proud to serve,?In many a strife we have fought for life?And never lost our nerve;?If the army and the navy?Ever look on heaven's scenes,?They will find the streets are guarded by?The United States Marines.
HERE'S TO THE SIXTEENTH!
(A toast by an officer at San Antonio banquet.)
Here's to the "Sixteenth Cavalry,"?A "Colt" that has just been foaled;?Bred with no "Past,"--but a Future,?Which Training and Time will unfold.
This "Colt," with his milk-teeth gives promise?Of growing to be some fine horse,?And if we give him "right raising,"?Be sure that he'll "come across."
Our "Colt" is as "sound" and as "quiet"?As any old horse you will see,?And, as for his "fit conformation,"--?That's just as fine as can be.
Here's hoping that he gets good "grooming,"?Good "grazing'"--good "stable"--good "stall;"?So when they sound "Boots and Saddles,"?The "Colt" can answer their call.
Here's hoping that he gets good "forage,"?Well "watered"--with "all-fours" well cleaned;?And not have to patrol the hot Border,--?At least,--until he is "weaned."
We'll swear by this "Colt," who is "hoof-marked"?With the "16th Cavalry" brand;?And we'll warrant when he "cuts his molars,"?He'll be as good as the best in the land.
We'll see that he gets fearless riders,?Who are "kindly" and know every "aid;"?So if ever a battle is brewing,?He'll go to the "Charge" unafraid.
He'll compare with all Cavalry horses,?No "I. C." marks for his neck;?Instead, upon his new brow-band?Resetted Blue Ribbons bedeck.
No matter the "sire," no matter the "dam,"?His "strain" is "pure-blood"--tho "unregistered" yet;?He'll "run in the money,"--when