The Hour Is Go

Another poem to depict the American paratroopers' situation before and at the hours of D-Day landing in Normandy...All of the poems about the legacy of this war were written by World War II soldiers. The poem appears at the end of a successfully-completed mission in the EA game Medal of Honor Allied Assault Spearhead.


'The Hour is Go'
by Francis J. Turner – from his personal archives

THE HOUR IS GO

One's eyes close tight and family fade,
When going to war which evil men made,
Though anxious and frightened, we don't let it show,
For the day is approaching, when the airborne must go.

Each day now rolls past; we wait just the same,
But D-Day is near, and for this we all came.
The hour grows near; each man feels it inside,
And soon we'll be falling, with nowhere to hide.

Our eyes are now down and the chatter the same,
Each weapon now loaded, no longer a game.
Eagles gather round the bow your heads low,
Europe awaits and the hour is go.

Planes rumble past as we wait for our turn,
To fly over waters we have yet to each earn.
Checked buckles and straps, left nothing to chance,
The Jumpmaster stands, call "Welcome to France".

Flak turns to fire in the blackest of night,
Too low, too fast, can't jump from this height,
There's no turning back, the risk has been taken,
Free fall into hell, paratrooper's forsaken.

Eagles hold tight, scattered prayers to survive,
We'll hit the ground soon, whether dead or alive.
As feet touch the ground each soldier turns on,
Confusion and fear are beaten and gone.

The enemy is close and sad they don't know,
The airborne is here, it's time they must go.
The hour is now, Hitler's had his last chance,
On St. Michael's wings, we're taking back France.