The Flight of No Return

by Sunny Young

A steak of silver in the sky... the engines roar... propellers try...

To lift the giant screaming plane... above the mountains drenched with rain..

Black ominous clouds and gale winds blow... amid the ice and swirling snow..

As plane and crew, with every breath... tries to win a fight with death...

To climb above the snow capped peak... a place not far for the very weak...

The plane is in a mighty grip... the crew can hear the metal rip...

As suction lifts them like a kite... above the peaks into the night...

Then, just as quickly dropped like snow... into the jutting rocks below...

Time has run out for plotted goals... a cry aloud, "God save our souls"!...

A crash like thunder, a flash of light... then silence in the blackened night...

Crumpled engines, wings and tail... help pave the "Hump's" Aluminum Trail...

A dog tag here... a jacket there, a picture worn by love and care...

A parachute unopened lay... no time to jump, no time to pray...

In this far, forgotten place, of jungles, mountains, rocks and space...

The wreckage lay like broken toys... discarded by mischievous boys...

And boys they were of tender years... and families weep in silent tears...

To know the sacrifice they made... the part their gift for freedom played...

Lieutenants, Captains, Sergeants too... Privates, maintenance, or crew...

Whatever rank, whatever job... they did their best with each heart throb...

Some gave their lives to save a friend... a brother to the very end...

They gave their lives, so we might live... what more can any person give.