Hancock (CV 19) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 7 text:

' 'gfmwvf Lads, you hold to the annals of courage, The books with Honor bound, . And you roll the names that you read there . And faith, 'tis a pleasant sound. Then think as you're walking the foc'sle, The HANNAH hull down on the seag Think of the men who man Her- And the men who memory be. Aye, feel of the throb of Her innards And look to the sweep of Her prow, And know by the likes of your feelings There's trouble ahead of Her bow. Then know that the fleet's a-waiting For Her and your kind in the West,' Aye lad, when they've need of full Courage, The HANNAH will rank with the best. They'll tell of Her guns and Her skippers . . The tales of WAY BACK WHEN . . . And each of those lines will be singing The praises of gallant men. They'll write of a mad Old Lady Who was always willing to fight, ' Who spit at the foe until sundown And searched for it through the night. Then think . . . if your soul is christian And allowing someday you'll die . . . I hope when it comes that l'll find her . OLD HANNAH afloat in the sky. Then, lad, you can sail for centuries . . No watches and double sea pay, And the sailors of Heaven will envy you . . . You Men of the Fighting Hannah today! -Submitted by Hector , who calls himself An Overpaid Sailor