|
|
|
|
[Christmas card photograph from Cdr. Chuck Clark (BANNER captain) and family] |
|
|
|
|
|
[Christmas card photograph from Cdr. Chuck Clark (BANNER captain) and family] |
 |
|
|
|
|
The poem presented below, written by a USS BANNER (AGER-1) crewman during a mission in the Sea of Japan November-December 1966, gives the reader a sense of what it was like to serve on these small intelligence vessels. In many cases the mission would last from 3-5 weeks and the ship would lie to on station, or strive to remain afloat in 30' seas.
WE'RE THE MEN OF THE BANNER, AND THIS MUST BE THE SPOT.
WHERE WE WERE DOOMED TO SERVE,ON THE SHIP THAT GOD FORGOT.
WE SWEAT, AND TOIL, AND STRAIN, IT'S MORE THAN A MAN CAN
STAND.
WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE CONVICTS, JUST DEFENDERS OF OUR LAND.
LIVING WITH BUT MEMORIES, WAITING TO SEE OUR GALS. HOPING
THAT
WHILE WE'RE AWAY, THEY'VE NOT MARRIED OUR PALS.
THE LONELINESS OF THE NAVY, THE TIMES AT HOME WE'VE MISSED.
IF THE-DRAFT BOARD DOESN'T GET YOU, FOR GOD'S SAKE DON'T
ENLIST.
BUT WHEN WE GET TO JUDGMENT DAY, WE'LL HEAR ST. PETER YELL. "FALL OUT YOU MEN OF THE BANNER, YOU'VE SERVED YOUR TIME IN HELL!"