~ ~ ~
Many years have come and gone,
And yet the memories linger on.
Often I think of our loss that day--
Nineteen forty-five, third of May.
God, I know, claimed the souls we lost,
Nothing more precious; they paid the cost.
But other treasures claimed by the sea
Continually haunt my memory.
~ ~ ~
Letters from sweetheart, family and friend,
Read and reread, from beginning to end.
Pictures of loved ones, hiding concern,
Awaiting the war's end and my safe return.
All my treasures on that fateful day
Were safe in my locker, all locked away.
Safe from all takers, except for the sea.
My one consolation: I hold the key!
(c) J. Shirley
1995
U.S.S. LITTLE DD803
U.S. Navy Photo
COMMISSIONED: AUGUST 19, 1944
SANK: MAY 3, 1945
This gallant ship, along with 30 of her heroic crew,
was lost after an attack by
kamikaze aircraft off Okinawa during World War II.
Two bronze stars were earned
for service in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
Kamikaze Survivor
WE REMEMBER THE LITTLE
We remember the Little...
She fought to keep the world free
But she paid the cost
Our proud ship was lost
A watery grave her destiny.
~ ~ ~
We remember the LITTLE...
Her fighting spirit, her gallantry
But most of all we recall
Shipmates forever lost at sea--
The fighting men of DD803.
~ ~ ~
We remember the LITTLE...
Her battles are now history
For she earned her stars
Fighting the war of wars
That gained for us the victory.
~ ~ ~
We remember the LITTLE...
She sails the sea in our memory
With shipmates all still on call
Shipmates forever we will be--
The fighting men of DD803.
(c) J. Shirley
33rd "U.S.S. Little DD803" Reunion
Last reunion May 2017
No reunion planned at this time.
~~~
To learn more about a "LITTLE" Reunion
and listen to an original Boogie-Woogie
Click on anchor.
Click on the little heart
for a message from
Joe's Mate
AHOY, MATES!
Servers who provided our guestbooks
'closed up shop and left town,'
leaving us without a guestbook.
We appreciate all who took time to
post and let us know of your visit.
Your comments added greatly
to our website.
You can still contact us by email.
jay0217@hotmail.com
Just click on the little Texas Flag.
E-Mail
To browse the original guestbook,
click on the little anchor.
But don't forget to come back
and check out the rest of the links.
THE LINKS BELOW ARE TO:
*The National WWII Memorial, Washingon, D.C.
*The National Korean War Memorial, Washington, D.C.
*The National Viet Nam War Memorial, Washington, D.C.
*The National Museum of the Pacific War.
(Formerly The Nimitz Museum)
LINKS TO:
 Register A WWII Memorial Honoree |
|
Search For A WWII Memorial Honoree
|
