Dedicated To: Melissa Martinez
As I sit in my easy chair, looking thru the window pane
The hazy day begins to fade, above the maple trees
My son and daughter, brought me here two years before this June
Its been a home away from home, but for me its not the same
For just last night, I lost a friend, who shared this room with me
And now I wonder, how much time, God will grant to me
As I rest in my easy chair, with not much else to do
I sit and think of better times, that filled my life with joy
My wife, my kids, the good, and bad, that made my life complete
The thoughts that I remember most, lie deep within my dreams
April, of 1942, comes clearly into view, I remember being on a ship at sea
That rolled, and pitched, and swayed
The aircraft carrier, USS Hornet was the name, painted proudly on her bow
With rows of planes, B-25's bolted tightly to her deck
With squadron leader, Lt. Col. James Doolittle, a pilot of world renown
He trained our group long and hard, for a mission, only he knows just where
Soon we'll learn to what degree, the targets will turn out to be
I remember the date, 18th of April, in the early morning dew
Orders were given, targets reviewed, time for departure, just hours away
As I sit back in my easy chair, memories flood back to me
The roar of engines, lit up the dawn, in the pitch black open sea
I recall saying a prayer, as Jimmy's engines began to quake
One by one they left the ship, second to last was I
The fear I held within my chest, I left on the carrier's deck
For war does things I cannot explain, orders are what I know
When they arrive, I snap right up, for my duty is ever so clear
A mission has been ordered, and death will ride our wake
I pray, the sting of death, will not touch us today
The ocean blue, beneath my wings, has turned to solid ground
As I fly along a path, I've never seen before
To drop a bomb upon a building, that holds the enemy
Why this plant and the people inside, are to be bombed today
Is not for me to question why, just complete the task
War is hell for those who fight, and for those who'll die today
The stench of death is in the air, it flies along with me
As I wake up, from my easy chair, it all comes back so clear
And now I know my time is near, as I look thru the window pane
The haze has gone, to be replaced, by the coolness of the evening stars
Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
October 25, 2005
As I sit in my easy chair, looking thru the window pane
The hazy day begins to fade, above the maple trees
My son and daughter, brought me here two years before this June
Its been a home away from home, but for me its not the same
For just last night, I lost a friend, who shared this room with me
And now I wonder, how much time, God will grant to me
As I rest in my easy chair, with not much else to do
I sit and think of better times, that filled my life with joy
My wife, my kids, the good, and bad, that made my life complete
The thoughts that I remember most, lie deep within my dreams
April, of 1942, comes clearly into view, I remember being on a ship at sea
That rolled, and pitched, and swayed
The aircraft carrier, USS Hornet was the name, painted proudly on her bow
With rows of planes, B-25's bolted tightly to her deck
With squadron leader, Lt. Col. James Doolittle, a pilot of world renown
He trained our group long and hard, for a mission, only he knows just where
Soon we'll learn to what degree, the targets will turn out to be
I remember the date, 18th of April, in the early morning dew
Orders were given, targets reviewed, time for departure, just hours away
As I sit back in my easy chair, memories flood back to me
The roar of engines, lit up the dawn, in the pitch black open sea
I recall saying a prayer, as Jimmy's engines began to quake
One by one they left the ship, second to last was I
The fear I held within my chest, I left on the carrier's deck
For war does things I cannot explain, orders are what I know
When they arrive, I snap right up, for my duty is ever so clear
A mission has been ordered, and death will ride our wake
I pray, the sting of death, will not touch us today
The ocean blue, beneath my wings, has turned to solid ground
As I fly along a path, I've never seen before
To drop a bomb upon a building, that holds the enemy
Why this plant and the people inside, are to be bombed today
Is not for me to question why, just complete the task
War is hell for those who fight, and for those who'll die today
The stench of death is in the air, it flies along with me
As I wake up, from my easy chair, it all comes back so clear
And now I know my time is near, as I look thru the window pane
The haze has gone, to be replaced, by the coolness of the evening stars
Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
October 25, 2005
