The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1945-06-14
Man Talking To Himself -.

today realized Johnny has been dead for than
thirteen months Didn't remember the anniversary date
And Johnny mother did ddnt let know Never thought
Id overlook The didn't really for until Johnny
died Too busy lately think about myself guess that's good
We gave up the house. My wife spends her days in the
Veterans Hospital ward of wounded just light
housekeeping Women certainly show the stuff the pinchesI
We have lot of company these days The Ames have
both boys Young Hargrave who fly Doc Smedey
died the Navy left wife and three little The crazy kid
who deliver groceries, and clip the of
with his Ford died Sapan Five of Johnnys class gone
Eleven gold the flag the plant God knows what the
final will be in this alone Then there's Ernie
little Austrian headvaier at the hotel Talked
for years The weather baseball The calves liver
very today. Stuff like that had him sized up lighter
last summers straw hat
Our papers played big the bomber pilot who brought back
the shotp beaor that caught fire. He made the bail
then turned back and dropped the Channel the burning ship
wouldn't fall Captain Paul Bloch local boy twenty
three big football flock of and
Congressional Medal poshumous You could have Aattened
with ady6nger when found out he was Ernies
Next day lunch told Ernie sorry how tough
to die at twenty-three
Ernie brushes off crumbs with his
"Ya, va Too bad, bad But it's hokay'
didn't get him What's okay about it3"
'Lissen You do understand maybe said Ernie Paul
fine boy His and me-vey proud but not
Paul has home fine Clothes education He hungry
feet tall hold his head like nobleman In high
school, he is smart, plays dances with the girls
Paul goes University Nobody what's waters
dom University Die herren professors do ask Paul plays
football People huzza like he He the
diploma maxima aude, highest honors My walk
with learned
We have the war Paul says he will be Aer Does the
Army say who this would
back the ktchen No. Paul flies My wife and go ALA
DONNA Maxwell Field We high general give Paul
and the certificate which makes him officer greatest
honor 20 my family
Soon he is first lieutenant captain squadron leader His
letters he happy We do learn of his honors until much
later. He dies a hero. | will die waiter But Mister March,
Paus twenyhree years here this country life than
hundre the old country. So why should be sorry
for my son2
In Europe it did not pay to believe too much in anything
AS older you find foolish hope Without belief
that things better without hope peoples do noddng
expect nodding
In this country believe much-because
things he believes You them People free
No position is verboen. Opportunity real know
here buboy fifteen dollars month Today stop work
live the of life savings But than money
Paul! Paul had all the good things life could wish for
anybody
Maybe this time this gives fiddle people Europe
believe truly To hope. To each other If there peace
good his lfe The treaty the real
pok only words and papers Unless Amerkaners make the
other peoples believe and hope and each oherI Hmmm
hmmm. Chicken hash gratin is nice today, noa"
The chicken hash oka but choked enjoy
it still can't getting the gospel from headwaiter
and one who knew better whereof he spoke
still think have to have armed force land spell
field soldier for abebodied and make the Ger
and Japs walk chalk line Just for But it's
also plain isn't worth wrapped up
in the heeases and Why shouldn't dust off those old
early American words such liberty rights justice opportunity
and peddle them the world again?
here. Not always hundred per but what does2 The
world getting pretty good object lesson they work.
the boys send And world has many
we've got quick enough anyway
the pitch
But if we just sit back and. say the hell with make
suckers of Johnny and Paul and the others casualty
Nobody lost his life for the privilege of being cynical And
after millions have cashed for ideals
sell EN- short!
-Pitney- Bower Postage Meter Co.