Bradley beam., 1945-09-01
SOMEWHERE IN
 SKUNK HOLLOW
By S/SGT. EDGAR A. LANSING (F'rom the December IS 1943 issue)
 LIE MORT LABEL

glades of the ancient forest known as Skunk Hollow and all the crea- lures were afraid; and some were loathe to leave, for they loved the land. Some there were that took up arms and vowed to fight and bleed and die on this, their sacred ground. And chief of all the skunks was Abel, mighty warrior, whose strip ed fur and gallant tail had oft, in. times before, swept the field before him. Around him were gathered all that could, though young and old, bear arms.
 They feared not death, these skunks. Yea, their women were made hard, and bitter by strife and sudden death. ..:..z.
 So Abel called his warriors to gether and urged them to deeds of daring, and called upon their high est courage, and told them not to falter.
 Anon, Chief Abel, bid wife fond farewell and she, wise, wept and begged him not to go-instead to flee with the women and chil- dren. Sad was Abel, but firm. Like a rock he was, yet tender. After all the weeping was OCT, he clasped his wife to him and minded her of the poets words: ''I could not love thee, dear, so much, loved l not Honor more." Spoke he thus, and left. T was early dawn and all the brave array of skunks faced the new day, knowing that the day would bring them death.
 The Battle of Skunk Hollow
 Its Third and Final Phase
 The sun was high and already blood flowed like water. The enc my, gas-masked and fearful, hav- ing suffered heavy losses in men and equipment retreated to their barracks to gather themselves for new assault. The defending Skunks, armed with the latest pois- on gas equipment, grimly awaited the renewal of the battle. When the sun was setting, the enemy at tackled again with great fury, and before darkness fell, many skunk had breathed his last The few skunks left had retreated to new positions, although they realized that all was lost. Chief Abel, sore ly wounded, had crept into a hole and lay bleeding from many wounds. He knew the end had come.
 The Passing of Abel
 Seeing that death was nigh, Abel called unto himself what was left of his warriors. Raising a weaken ed, bloody paw, he spake them in this wise:
 Noble warriors, we are lost. The bodies of our comrades lie dead and broken about the battlefield. I bid you leave ere you too succumb to the Scourge of the Humans. Leave, I beg you. Leave me here to die"
 Weeping, his warriors left him. The shades of night fell and Abel, breathing hard, for he was sore wounded, slept a fevered sleep. All was quiet and the dead made no sound. Skunk Hollow was lost.
 The early dawn, quiet as was the night, reused the Chief, and creep ing forth he gazed upon the strick- en land.
 Gazed he softly on the scene, and staunching his freshly bleeding wounds he went among his fallen comrades, bidding good cheer to alf their spirits. So he went until anon he fell, and with gentle cough, expired.
 And those who go today, where of yore that battle was fought, pass softly o'er the whitened bones of that brave array. And some there are who pause and whisper of that mighty Chief who was Abel, for he was not forgotten.
 Aye, who shall forget those mighty skunks, that once roamed the Veldt of Skunk Hollow and