To The Last Man

In the fathoms of salty brine,
the barnacle encrusted hulk sits
rusting peaceably at rest,
dead yet still alive.

The once proud warrior,
and queen of her realm,
who roamed vast oceans,
now sits in the still of the deep.

In spite of everything, she lives,
gaining new life daily
from every member of her crew
who give back the life she once gave.  

The decks are alive
with the sounds of paint chippers,
weapons fire, and the hurried footsteps
of a General Quarters call.  

Reveille, mess call, and mail call
still ring out, as do knock off ship’s work,
liberty call and lights out,
the signs of an active day.  

Boiler and engine room heat
can still be felt as can
and the lurch of the decks in heavy seas.  

Life onboard this destroyer continues on
in the hearts and minds of every sailor
who ever manned her rails, slept in her bunks,
or ate in her galleys or wardroom.  

She lives on in vivid memory
in emails, newsletters, histories,
and, especially, at ship’s reunions,
where old friendships and sea stories abound.

Each memory brings another day of life
and that life will continue on to the last man,
in the last generation of those told
about the exploits of the U. S. S. Hull.

                         © 2006 by David L. Henkel

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