All Goes on Twenty

Farewell to An Hoa Squad

SSgt. James Jeep Canada

From his book, We Few – We Chosin Few

“Just before I went to the rear, we had a memorial service for all the Marines that were killed in An Hoa. We placed sandbags in a row and stuck the rifle of each dead Marine, with his helmet on top, into each sandbag. I wrote the following poem for these dead Marines.”

Gone forever the An Hoa squad, what price glory

Known but to God,

Each paid in full, farewell to arms, safe passage

Young warriors, away from harm;

Long be green meadows, white be your cross,

Gallantly fought your battles, sadly be your loss,

Taps played in honor, helmets placed side by side

Solemn shadows saluted, bidding goodbye;

Those ten thus departed, this An Hoa Squad

Replaced by other where they once trod;

Instilled with your memories, in a column of three,

Marched off together to pay their own fees;

Gone forever when more battles are won, what

Price glory, among you my sons,

Each pays to order for the bearing of arms,

Uptight tomorrow, in the way of harm.