his war stories
were never about shooting
that army air corps cook
talked more about trading cans
for fruit, or fishing for giant turtles
when the supply ships sank
stretching tea into thin tinted water
to drink with powdered egg breakfasts
when the ships from Australia did not land
he still had soldiers to feed
no glory in the practical
no praise in the day-to-day
but he fed caught or traded meat
to fill the martyr-heroes
as well as the mundane ones
who fueled the planes
he watched U-boats in the distance
prowl like metal sharks smelling blood
one quiet man, feeding other men
who pushed back war
they were all heroes
Susan Daniels Poetry 
they were all heroes…and the cooks and other support troops were just as needed…often overshadowed by the ones on the front line they def make it possible for the others….bet he still had some pretty cool stories….
He had some AWESOME stories–used to love it when he would share them.
Yes, they were (and are still) all heroes. From the cooks to the medics, to the dog handlers, to the mechanics, to the soldiers or the fighter pilots, every one of them a hero. Loved this word paint of someone who obviously saw a lot of it himself and the U boats prowling like metal sharks smelling blood was quite the image.
Thank you–yes, my stepdad definitely saw his share…
stretching tea into thin tinted water
to drink with powdered egg breakfasts
I just loved those lines as to me you captured an entire era in a few words and that takes some talent. Nicely told heroes tale.
thank you 🙂
I still think my stepdad told it better.
Nice to hear the stories of those that made the food appear and tents arrive. Recent history programme explored how ‘logistics’ was the deciding factor in most battles and wars rather then Generalship’
I believe it! The stories, oh the stories.
“no glory in the practical
no praise in the day-to-day”–
Though I see you are fixing that! I love this part:
“he watched U-boats in the distance
prowl like metal sharks smelling blood
one quiet man, feeding other men
who pushed back war”
Thanks so much, Susan 🙂
…and sometimes i think those that are not so obviously seen, that do their work silently and mostly in the dark are the real heroes…how could they have fought without being fed…nice..i like
Thank you Claudia–I agree 🙂
Wonderful wonderful poem. k.
Thank you!
Dammit, I miss this man!
I enjoyed this poem and your perspective. I definitely think feeding others IS a heroic act.
It is–especially so many.
Because often heroism is the quiet practical acts that don’t get noticed.
Thank you Holly–I agree 🙂
Compelling capture of life in wartime, and of the man. I’ve heard a lot of those war stories in my day, that were the parts they could tell wives and kids…the darker tales, those are not told at home, I think.
I think you are right.
Nice retelling, he and the others who worked behind the scenes are all heroes ~
http://everydayamazin.blogspot.ca/2012/08/sunset.html
Thank you, Grace 🙂
This is a beautiful homage to the cooks and logistic people … they were all heroes along with the troops… this is a great image: “he watched U-boats in the distance
prowl like metal sharks smelling blood”
Thank you–I really think they were–they got them there and housed & fed them all…
A small arch point in what is otherwise a grand take with some wonderful personal touches – would one have been looking for U-Boats in the South Pacific? We’rent they in the Atlantic? Or was U-Boats a generic term for submersibles?
All I know is my stepdad referred to them as U-boats…never checked for accuracy.
Well, it was probably a generic term for them then – much like any 4 person vehicle was called a jeep…
That’s my thought–wish I could ask him.
Love this, I’d like my Dad to read it. He kept the wheels on the ground…so I know of what you speak.
Thanks, Rhonda–I hope you share it with him
I will! thank you
Seb–I found this, if you are interested. http://www.historyman.co.uk/ww1/Uboat.html
war is such a distortion of life
cooking is a kind of gift
they are a vivid contrast
Thank you.
Dammm straight, all heroes. Excellente presentation! Luved the line work.
Thanks, Henry 🙂
those final lines… beautiful
thanks much!
My father was a cook in the Air Force for a couple years… he also worked in the hangers.They are all heros… they gave their time and alot of times their life for us,
They sure did.
Not a wasted word. I love it!
Thanks for your comments, guys.
Every army and soldier marches so they say on their stomach ..so long live cooks as heros ! loved this thank you x
🙂 thank you for the great comment!
Susan you penned a beautiful tribute. Very touching and true.
Thank you, Sara!
They also serve who only stand and…cook. And are so often unrecognized. Thank you for reminding us that heroes are not only to be found on the front lines.
Thank you, DS
‘stretching tea into thin tinted water
to drink with powdered egg breakfasts’ Great lines, Susan.
Thanks, Celestine. He used to tell my daughter this story when she was small to get her to eat her eggs.
Often the heroes toiling in the background are not sung! A daughter fills this gap, thanks to her attentive ear, a wonderful memory, nimble fingers, a warm voice and an arresting tongue!.
Thanks, Noel! I loved his stories of being stationed somewhere around New Guinea.