Memorial Day Tribute

I am proud to be a Navy Brat. My father, Lt. William James Poole, retired USN, proudly served our country for 22 years. He went into the Navy as a 17 year old, fresh out of Travelers Rest High School where he was the Valedictorian that year. He later attended Officers Candidacy School and worked his way up to the rank of Lt. as a Fire Control Specialist. My father served throughout the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam War, as well as the Cuban Missile Crisis. He was a decorated hero, having been credited with saving the U.S.S. Yancey and her crew after the ship collided with the Chesapeake Bay Bridge on January 21, 1970, during a severe storm.

My father was not the only one in our family who worked hard during wartime. My mother served as a volunteer nurse on the Little Creek Amphibious Base in Norfolk, VA. Most of the time she was caring for three small children by herself as my father was on tours for up to seven months at a time. She did not have family around to help her or to give her a break from the kids every once in a while.

My father put more than just his life on the line for our country. He also sacrificed time with his wife and children. We sacrificed time with our dad during some of the most formative years of our lives. It was not easy for him to return after a long tour and suddenly be forced back into fatherhood with young children that barely recognized him.

My father's sacrifices for his country did not end the day he retired from the military with honors. He has lived with PTSD and continues to suffer from its effects more than 40 years after his last combat experience. Yet given the chance to once again stand for what is right, he would never waiver in his commitment.

Several years ago I wrote the following poem as a tribute to my father. I would like to share it once again as a tribute to all men and women who have placed themselves in harms way so that we may continue to have freedoms. Even the freedom, as many have done through the years, to disrespect these who have served. May we as a nation unite behind those who gave the final full measure of devotion for this country.


War Never Ends
© 2001, Stephen R. Poole

I stood there near a ship
Looking out to sea
I hardly knew the man
He hardly knew me

His eyes spoke of hardships
Things too hard to tell
His hands rough and cracked
And then I heard a bell

He turned and looked at me
His voice choked, yet strong
“The war continues raging
I cannot linger long”

He turned, faced my mom
The tears began to flow
His fingers wiped the tears
I heard the whistle blow

Boarded, bound for somewhere
I watched him as he went
Whenever one fell wounded
Another one was sent

I never really knew him
Until the very end
The war, long forgotten
Left many wounds to mend