One bloody night, there was a bloody fight, a Samoan almost broke my nose.
He was six foot six, and hit like a brick, and he knocked me off my toes.
With a broken beer bottle, I got a nasty cut across my ankle.
With blood and feet flying, I put him down with several kicks to his head.
Then I decided to do some cutting of my own with steak knives from the Bar.
The Police arrived. There was a change of plans.
A few days later, an infection landed me in an open bay, Army hospital.
A few beds over I watched a man reach up for the ceiling, as if to grasp someone’s hand.
When he lowered his arm, I watched him die. To this day, I believe someone took
his hand, and carried his soul away. I believe in Angels, and I believe in God.

Once on the deck of a Submarine the wind took a white canvass hatch cover
overboard, and into the frigid sea of the north pacific. I watched it fill with water and sink.
Impetuously I went after it. Six or seven feet down I got a grip on it.
I began to swim to the surface. Suddenly, something decided that I couldn’t have it.
Before my brain could tell my hand to let go, I was jerked upside down, and dragged
deeper, by at least six feet. I let go and I watched the glow of submerged sunlight
reflect off the white canvass. Suddenly it had a rhythm, swaying left and right.
Quickly it faded into the darkness of the deep. Quickly I made my way to the surface.
When the air hit my ears, so came the screams of my brethren.
“Get out of there!!!!” they shouted. Up the rope ladder, and out of there I came.
Then came the stories of those who died before me,
found in pieces on a distant shore. Some were never found
at all. And so I believe in Angels and God.
My life has been spared many times near death.
Why has there been so much mercy for me, when so many of the good have died.
Now ready for death, I believe with pride, all arguments pushed aside.
Scientist wonder, historians blunder, and all the atheist, – have lied.