In honor of Founder’s Day, I wanted to share a little “song” I “wrote”  and delivered as the youngest grad some 13 years post graduation.  This was my feint attempt to rhyme our four years of experiences.

I acknowledge that I borrowed the melody of “We Didn’t Start the Fire” written and produced by Billy Joel and included on the Storm Front CD.  Mike Pratt quickly noted that my musical count was inaccurate–Joel used an 13 count, McAleer only a 10 count

Michie Stadium, R day, Say Good-bye
Is this the catcher in the rye?
Red sash, about face, neck back , lock heels,
Do we ever get to eat a meal?

WB Four, Report to WB nine
Kiwi, Brasso, now I need a spit shine.
How’s the cow? Start the days…
Will I ever make it out of this maze?

Ping out, pop off, poop deck
What the heck?
Yes sir, no sir, sir I do not understand.
Miss, you need to act like a man!

In ranks, present arms, parade rest,
when are we going to get to the mess?
PT , cold C’s, hot A’s
How many more days….until May?

Thayer Day, Star Day, Minute Call
There is no more water in the mess hall!
Cattle call, Cullum Hall
Cadet, get up against my wall!

Moving out to 4th class development time
I knew the squad leader was no friend of mine.
The national anthem-mister the second verse
oh no I have gotten the curse
Sir, In the New York Times, it was reported that
Plebes rank no higher comm’s cat

DPE taught us  flexibility in gymspactics
testing the durability of our “Gym A” elastics
Rock swimming and boxing were two favorite classes
although we were always on our asses

“Bob and Travel”, speck and dump,  and all nighters
Were designed to make us better fighters

Spirit week and missions to steal the goat
All intended to beat those guys in the big boat
Gave us reprieve from those  Bugle Notes
Yet in the parade will still carried damn rain coats

Go Army, Beat Navy
Oh no, more slum and gravy

Stay awake, stay alive, take boards, stagger desks
or you’ll find yourself in one big mess
Quill will, punishment tours, and area birds
These cadets were no academic nerds

With the arrival of June Week and Recognition parade
we thought we had it all made,
We could gaze around the mess hall
About to do our last minute call

Next came the best summer of our lives
Prone position, low crawl, land nav
All this fun could give you hives
Jut how much fun can we have?
Camp Buckner, Heartbreak Hill
a full summer with no drill

Slide for life and fun runs
When can we fire those big guns?
Kill rabbits, kill chickens all during infantry week
with little food and less sleep this is not for the meek.

OC, AO, TOC  and the TAC
Is it now, time for some rack!
M-16’s, 203’s, 105’s
Is this some kind of Army Jive?

Gamma Goats were sure to please
each time we asked
Do the Soviets have any of these?

It all ended with Camp Illumination
Time to return for reorganization
Another beer at Barth Hall would surely end my state of sober
But now I was ready o find out just how much  plebes were getting over

CCQ,  plebe chaser, corporal of the messhall
Yeraling duties are such a ball

Econ, Poly Sci, Drugs and problem stats
Looks like I’m probably headed for STAP

Spring was spent on pebble beach
filling out those crazy dream sheets

Our third summer was spent a far
finding our what it was to wear the bar.
Returning to our rock bound highland homes
came our welcome to the Profession of Arms

Mil Art,  Cow English and Leadersleep
Will I make it to the end of the week
Mechanics, fluids and solids, what could be worse?
How about a full semester of juice?

Many of us thought we had the course licked
but soon found ourselves turning to the Curve Dick
On the weekends those not in our cots
could be found dashing to Pellies parking lot

The academic year was filled with WPR’s and design projects
Designed to advance our knowledge with some foreign logic
Firstie year was in sight
with the arrival of 500th night

Ring weekend, coffee call, grant hall
We thought we had it all
We focused on counting the days
while attempting to save our GPA’s

Five and fly, 2.0 and go
Sorry, that push-up is a no

Graduation was in sight
once we reached 100th night
Straw polls, branch selection all dependent on class rank
Looks like you’ll be going in the tank

Our motto became delegate and graduate,
while others looked to find a mate.

A thrill was equipment turn in
anticipation of what we were to begin

Buying uniforms, we spent a lot of dough
but it was necessary for that hat to throw.
We bid farewell to Kaydet Gray
About to start on our new way

We would have all been remissed
If we had heard class dismissed!

And now it is time to turn it over to the supe
I think I have recalled most of that cadet poop!