YOU STAND IN WATER UP TO YOUR KNEES
AS THE BULLETS WHISTLE THROUGH THE TREES.
THIS IS GERMANY IN NINETEEN FORTY FOUR
YOUR FRIENDS HAVE VANISHED BY THE SCORE.
THE COLD RATIONS YOU CAN EAT NO MORE
THE SIGHTS OF DEATH THAT YOU DEPLORE.
DEATH IS YOUR COMPANION DAY AND NIGHT
HE STANDS BY YOUR SIDE IN EVERY FIGHT.
HE REVELS IN EACH EXPLODING SHELL
HE LOVES THE ACRID POWDER SMELL.
LAUGHS AS YOUR FRIENDS ARE BLOWN TO HELL
AND OVER THE LIVING HE CASTS HIS SPELL.
A HUNDRED MEN WENT DOWN THIS FOREST TRACT
NOW FIFTY OF US ARE COMING BACK.
DEATH STANDS IN THE SHADOWS WEARING A GRIN
HE HAS ALL THOSE SOULS RIDING WITH HIM.
AND HE CAN SEE THE BAD SHAPE WE ARE IN
HE KNOWS TOMORROW HE WILL WIN.
WE KNOW THE ENEMY AT FIRST LIGHT
WILL COME TO FINISH UP THIS FIGHT.
IT'S BEST TO MEET HIM ON OPEN GROUND
WHERE OUR BIG GUNS CAN THIN HIS RANKS DOWN.
WITHOUT OUR CANNON TO ROAR AND POUND.
NONE OF US WILL EVER BE FOUND.
IT'S NOW MORNING THE SKY IS OVERCAST
WE CAN SEE OUR ENEMY AT LAST.
NOW WE CAN SEE HIS ADVANCE SCOUTS
AS HIS BUNKER DOOR OPENS AND HE STEPS OUT.
TODAY WILL BE ANOTHER ROUT
GOD REALLY DOES FAVOR THE KRAUTS.
WE FALL BACK ANOTHER THOUSAND YARD'S OR TWO
WITH JUST FIFTY MEN WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO?
SKIRMISH BY DAY DIG IN EACH NIGHT
TOO FEW OF US TO PUT UP A FIGHT .
THOUSANDS OF THE ENEMY ALWAYS IN PLAIN SIGHT
THE HUERTGEN FOREST IS A HELL OF A PLACE TO FIGHT.

~~~ Elmer H. Ake ~~~
1925 - 2007
©