THE struggle against Hitlerism and for love continues. From “The Lady in the Pink Hat,” Candor Press, 1969:
“We took the bridge of San Luis Rey
And stood on the beach at Manila Bay
We bellied down in the soggy lea
And creeped across the churning sea.
In every clime where men were chained
We stormed the walls until we gained
For every man – freedom unconditionally
We sang the songs of victory.
We then came home to repossess
A measure of our happiness
We met our sweethearts at the pier
And shoved our lives into high gear.
We raised our sons to face the task
To strongly covet the patriot’s mask
We taught them how to raze and bomb
And sent them off to Viet Nam.
Now we wonder, but we trust
Their cause, as ours, is just as just
We want our sons to know this part:
War’s task is close to freedom’s heart.”
[Copyright L Milton Hankins, Year Posted 2021, https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/we_took_the_bridge_1344506]
From “All Day It Has Rained,” 1940 by Alun Lewis:
“And we talked of girls and dropping bombs on Rome,
And thought of the quiet dead and the loud celebrities
Exhorting us to slaughter, and the herded refugees;
As of ourselves or those whom we
For years have loved, and will again
Tomorrow maybe love; but now it is the rain
Possesses us entirely, the twilight and the rain.”
[https://warpoets.org.uk/worldwar2/poem/day-rained/]
From Sidney Diamond, 82nd Chemical Battalion, January 21, 1945: “Well — I know now — Regulations prohibit atrocity stories in mail but for unmitigated brutality — barbarism — cruelty — the Japanese take the grand prize —Every time we enter a town the Filipinos turn out with tears of joy and a great shout of ‘Mabachai’ which means — ‘Long Life,’ Good Luck or something… So far we’ve been with the forward elements and on many occasions have been the first American troops into a village…’Guerillias’ (sic) would meet us — then people would come with food — and happy smiles.” [https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-resources/spotlight-primary-source/soldier-battle-philippines-1945]
Supposed to be “Mabuhay!” From Konstantin Simonov (to Valentina Serova), 1941:
“Wait for me and I’ll come back,
Escaping every fate!
‘Just a lot of luck!’ they’ll say,
Those that didn’t wait.
They will never understand
How, amidst the strife,
By your waiting for me, dear,
You had saved my life!
Only you and I will know
How you got me through!
Simply – you knew how to wait!
No one else but you!”
[https://simonov.co.uk/waitforme.php]
From Ricky C. Ornopia studying for a BA in European Languages (major in German, minor in Spanish) at the Department of European Languages, College of Arts and Letters, University of the Philippines Diliman: “Nazis in the Philippines: Analyzing Alleged Nazi Memberships and Legal Implications 1945-1952…the scrutiny of individuals who have undergone investigation during the post-war period in the Philippines. Focused on selected cases involving individuals purportedly affiliated with the Nazi regime, this study aims to analyze and elucidate the implications arising from court decisions and concurring opinions from 1945-1952. This preliminary research explores the legal outcomes pertaining to collaboration during Japanese Occupations, shedding light on the complexities and consequences of such investigations.” Ricky shared his research interests (Second World War, Cold War, Philippine-German diplomacy, Germany’s interactions with Asia) with my MGT201 class last 11 February 2025. And we conclude with:
“Encircle the great family of man, In one electric chain of sympathy! Then would our earth again be Paradise” [Love by Frances A. Fuller, 1851]
