Get the Job Done

To liberate a prisoner
do what must be done
send a tank and crew along
to rescue simply one.

 Give them their instructions
command them on their way
don’t forget to gas the tank
to free them from the fray.

 The road to hell is bloody
the maw lies gaping wide
the tank crew knew their business
and soon was well inside.

 The prisoner they did rescue
escape within their grasp
rolling home they hurried
freedom tried to clasp.

 But the tank began to sputter
the engine chugged and died
with hounds of hell in full pursuit
the weary soldiers sighed:

 Don’t send us out to do a job
without the tools we need –
gas enough to get us home –
with Patton’s family freed.

This poem honors a dear friend who died today.  He was with Patton in Europe and was given the mission of liberating Patton’s son-in-law from a prisoner-of-war camp.  The crew knew at the outset they did not have enough gas to get home.