Dolittle Raider Dies

Sadly, another of the Greatest Generation has made his final flight

One of the Doolittle Raiders on Tokyo a man named Wallace Hite

Hard to imagine the desperation and despair

When the the B-25s too early took off into the air

Japan seemed invincible and all territories to take

Time for revenge and a no more advance line in the sand to stake

Pearl Harbor and Bataan like 911 were to America a deadly wakeup call

And the need to the forces of tyranny and repression try to stall

More likely than not this was a one way ride doomed to fail

Launched way too early from the Hornet with not safe place to bail

On capture Hite was not beheaded

Only for 40 months imprisoned instead

We have so few moments to honor these few remaining living heroes

That fought on land the Banzais, on sea the long lance and in the air the Zeros

© March 30, 2015 Michael P. Ridley aka the Alaskanpoet
Alaskanpoet for Hire, Poems to Admire
Poet Extraordinaire Beyond Compare
Rhymes for the Memorable Times
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