I didn't know another soul
Who had spent time on a
Submarine.
Even though he is 92,
His mind is sharp, and taking him
To two appointments,
Including lunch,
Gave us lots of time to talk.
"Our stint was 60 days," the
Old Navy man explained.
"During that span we were
Allowed one shower,
One gallon of water for soaping,
Another for rinsing.
We all smelled the same,"
He joked.
They had just enough space to
Sleep on either their back or
Stomach,
And to change position, they
Had to crawl out of bed and
Squeeze back in.
There were 80 bunks for 93
Men, and no sheets.
The man didn't know his son
Had been born till 4 or 5 weeks
After his birth.
He described being underwater when
The enemy was trying to destroy
Them.
"It was quite a feeling," he said.
"Hearing the booms, and feeling
The shaking, not knowing whether
We would be hit."
The survivor spoke so matter-of-
Factly, while I listened in unbelief.
I wouldn't have lasted a single day,
Or probably even an hour, if I had
Been in his spot.
They had to crawl through 7
Little hatches to maneuver from one
End of the sub to the other.
"So you had to be small?"
"Now, you've got it," he laughed.
Yes, I did get it.
Marion was small in stature,
But in my eyes, so very, very
Tall.