She was just 13 years old. It must have felt like the world was exploding. Her uncles were in uniform. The radio blasted news of war. There was rationing of food and materials. Newspaper headlines were frightening.

So Mom wrote poems.

Some she included in letters to her aunt who lived an hour away. It wasn’t until after Sister Amabilis passed away that Mom discovered all her letters had been preserved.

This poem about the USS Hornet was so long, Mom sent five stanzas in each of three letters, starting on August 20, 1943.

She Stood Alone

A convoy moved across the blue
There were cruisers, destroyers, and a carrier;
With its cargo and a gallant crew –
It made a sturdy barrier.

Then above the stillness there –
The roar of motors were heard,
Planes were soaring in the air,
Each like a giant bird.

“All men to battle stations! Man the guns!”
The loudspeaker gave a blast:
They all knew about Hirohito’s sons –
They manned the guns – but fast!

Then a daring zero, swooping low –
Dove under the cover of lead;
“Hey! There’s one, boys! Now let ’er go!”
“We got him!” someone said.

All day long the battle raged,
How the shells did fly – like rain!
And though the plot had been well gaged,
The fight now seemed in vain!

“We won’t give up!” and how they cheered
As the captain gave the cry –
As soon as one plane disappeared,
Another arrived in the sky.

Ships went down and the convoy grew small,
While the enemy force has grown:
One by one, they answered the call –
’Til one ship stood alone.

This ship was the veteran of many fights,
A mighty vessel – and strong:
For she had fought many days and nights –
When the last fight came along.

The Hornet was her sturdy name,
And now she stood alone;
Stern and straight when the zeroes came –
For she meant to hold her own.

Shells were falling all about
But in and out she dodged –
Then suddenly there came the shout –
“The rudder is dislodged!”

She was not beaten – although battered
On she went, and like a story,
High above her waved, all tattered –
Still it waved! The same “Old Glory!”

But then at length her time came too –
As a depth charge rammed her side;
Then the captain said to his brave crew –
“Man the life-boats! Over the side!”

They rowed for a while and then played dead –
While a zero flying above them, tried
To machine-gun, as a sailor said –
“‘Twas then when the Hornet bravely died.”

When the planes were gone, and a transport came by –
Taking the men that were left aboard;
One worn-out sailor wiped his eye,
And whispered softly, “Thank the Lord!”

If a medal was given to a ship –
She certainly would have worn it,
And we’ll all remember that last trip
When she stood alone – the Hornet!

~ Joan Cassidy ~ August 1, 1943

There are numerous websites with stories about the USS Hornet. It was attacked and eventually abandoned just one year and seven days after being commissioned.

Approximately 140 of her crew and airmen were killed that day. More than 2,000 survived.

Once again, my mother’s poetry has taught me history.

It’s also caused me to wonder how common green ink was back in 1943.

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“She Stood Alone”  © 1943 Joan Cassidy. All rights reserved.

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