The following poems are examples of such poems taken from the logs of USS Jaccard DE 355 and USS Richard M. Rowell DE 403.

0-4

Moore starboard side to the USS Davis DE 357, who
Is starboard side to the South side of Pier number two
In the harbour, the City and the Philippine Island called Cebu.

In use are all the lines from one through six,
By doubling two to five, securely she sticks.

Also in use are boiler number two and engineroom number, the same,
With the regular in-port watch as our goal to maintain.

Now the material condition is Baker "modified",
To keep the ship afloat and save the Captain's hide.

At forty minutes past midnight, aboard came Krizan, Andrew (n),
He is SV6, USNR, and twenty minutes overdue,
And 856-97-00 is his serial number, MoMM2c(T) his rate,
Now a prisoner at large, since liberty expired at 0015 this date.

AT 0050 Madison, James Morgan, 976-34-87, S1c, V6(SV) was back,
Overleave thirty-five minutes, hence a prisoner at large, aware of the fact.

C. W. Coble
Ensign, USNR

Submitted by DESA member Al Gregg, USS Jaccard DE 355

"UNITED STATES SHIP RICHARD M. ROWELL DE 403 Monday, 1 January

0000 –0400

Here we are at the end of nineteen forty-four,
Finding ourselves in Task Unit Seventy-seven point Four point Four,
Steaming in company with Task Group Seventy-eight point One,
Taking our order from ComBatRon One.

The base course is three two zero,
Our destination is dealing with Hirohitho,
Nine knots, one three five r.p.m., in fleet speed,
Our plans are to make him feel real humble indeed.

The boilers are in use, and the engineering plant is split,
We have the Nips guessing what and where we will hit.
Zigzagging as per Plan Number one,
We are looking for some New Year's fun.

Our immediate superior is ComCortDiv Two Seven,
Who, like us, has no use for sons of heaven,
Our station is number one in Screen Fifty-two,
And since that's all that's exciting, we'll bid you adieu.

Gordon J. Andrew.
Lt. (jg), CD, U.S.N.R"  (Communications Officer)

Above poem taken from Log Books received at the SLATER Museum as part of donated items from Joseph Iannucci - radioman aboard USS RICHARD M. ROWELL DE-403 during WW II.

The Log Books had been taken from the ship before it was scrapped in Oregon and sent to Joe and he has saved them for many years. This historical information is now part of the SLATER Library Archives.

USS O'FLAHERTY DE 340
Tuesday, 1 January 1946

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Moored starboard side to port side of USS Osmus; (DE 701) at Pier "C", Todd Shipyard, Smith Island, San Pedro, California. Receiving power, steam and water from the dock.

Moored as before this New Year's Day
At Todd Ship Yard, San Pedro,
A Year ago we were far away
Dodging Jap shells and torpedo.

An exciting year was the one just passed
The rest will be different I hope,
The Japs and the Germans we completely outclassed
And we know with the future we'll cope.

(signed) Paul L. Callan, Lt. Comdr. USNR

Submitted by DESA member Sid Morrow, USS O'FLAHERTY DE 340

Never Forgotten

by Anne McCarthy

Five-hundred-sixty-three trim but deadly DEs
Lead the Navy to victory on all the high seas.

Each DE tells of the deeds, and some of the sorrows
Of all the brave men, some who had no tomorrows.

They roamed the world's oceans, escorting convoys,
Until crews were dizzy from checking buoys.

They guarded the carriers and pilots so brave,
Proud of a chance for just one to save.

They protected supplies, going endlessly on,
Working 'round the clock from dusk to dawn.

They shot down planes the enemy flew
And were badly damaged by quite a few.

They rescued men from the ocean's waters
Who were victims of the enemy plotters.

They sank enemy subs, then rescued their crew
Because they were brave and it was the right thing to do.

Though the sky may dim with the setting sun,
We will never forget their job so well done.
 

Anne McCarthy is a noted DE researcher and frequent contributor to DESANews and this web site.