Gordon W. Belling

JOHNNY NAMVET’S INDUCTION

Enlisted was our Johnny as a new recruit,
he didn’t know to march or when he should salute.
Because he was a nasho he was not so keen,
and he disliked the army and all things they painted green.

“Come on lad pick it up!” the loo’ey harshly yelled,
as Johnny turned around a smile was lightly held.
“I am so sorry constable.” said with naïve charm,
but Johnny didn’t know, there were no stripes upon the arm.

Recruit Namvet although was never that perturbed,
He didn’t say a thing, said not another word.
The man had raved for ages with his rookie throat,
Until departing swiftly when he couldn’t speak a note.

Young Johnny had decreed to beat this army lot,
And started working out his brave and daring plot.
Recruit Namvet was weird, the corp’rals seemed to think,
When all the best instructors had been driven to the brink.

Our Johnny couldn’t march no matter what they tried,
They hid him in the squads and kept him from the side.
“Squad, try to march like Namvet.” corporals would bleat.
A smile was on his lips; Johnny knew that he had them beat.