Poem 14, June 14  

Chester Johnson, Poem Six  

I don’t want to make it appear
that I was in charge of anything,
or that I was more important
than the other sailors
who helped wire the sound system.
With so many dignitaries
coming for the signing,
a number of sailors
from the USS Missouri were temporarily stationed
on the USS Iowa for the duration of the surrender ceremony
which took place aboard the Missouri.
I know there is no way to find out who helped me,
but as I told you I was not assigned
to the USS Missouri.
I was assigned to the USS Iowa,
a Petty Officer Third Class
and I was ordered to go
from the Iowa to the Missouri.