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THE SILENT DEFENDERS
USS YMS
427
MINESWEEPERS
Oh they are the half wit screwballs who go out on the ocean
deep and try to find a dangerous spot that’s never seen a sweep and lower away
the paravanes and cross their fingers well because if they hit the
son-of-a-b----, they’ll all be blown to hell.
Oh early in
the morning and late into the night you’ll find the sweepers steaming, a
Motly
looking sight old cans and garbage scows, loaded down with gear, “proceed,
the way is
clear.”
And when the fleet is bottled up in some god forsaken gap,
and the transports can’t proceed because they’re in a wicked trap cause mines
have been laid all over, port and starboard too, just whistle for a sweeper and
she will see you through.
REFRAIN
When you’re steaming into waters that you know are full of
bubbles and all you have to do is brush one to end your earthly troubles the
sweepers will scurry along ahead like a pack of little mutts you’ll solemnly
salute them for it takes a bit of guts.
REFRAIN
For a battleship’s a precious thing and a cruiser’s a lot of
dough that’s why they’re astern of the sweepers when the fleet has got to go
who cares about an old tin can that’s twenty years out of date except the wives
and sweethearts of the crew that shares her fate.
REFRAIN
Yes it takes a bit of doing to sit and hold on tight when
you sweep a narrow channel in the darkness of the night, when you know a girl
is waiting, with a heart that will barely beat for fear of the word that her
lover’s ship is no longer a part of the fleet.
So here’s
to the men in the sweepers, and just between you and me. There’s danger ahead and safety behind where
ever they may be.
Unknown
Written by an electrician on the USS Howard, DMS 7, November
l942
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