Flyboys' Prayer for the Fifth Air Force
Our divine General who art in Tokyo, MacArthur be Thy name;
Thy sixth star cometh, Thy will be doneth, in Nagoya as it is in
Tokyo;
Give us this day our daily orders, and forgive us for trespassing
in Off Limits Zones, as we forgive those who lose our mail;
Lead us not into Nakamura, but deliver us from FEAF Headquarters,
for Thine is the kingdom and the sukiyaki for the period of the
Occupation
– o-rei – saikeirei – dogeza –
In the year two of the Atomic Age there appeared in Japan a
mighty vision who saw it all, knew it all and understood it all,
And these things are written so that all ye who shall come after
shall know and understand also.
Thou shalt not black market.
Thou shalt not use stamped yen.
Thou shalt not love thy room girl better than thy wife.
Thou shalt not have no recreation at all.
Thou shalt not talk about the Eighth Army.
Thou shalt not trespass in Off Limit Zones.
Thou shalt not have leave.
Thou shalt not enter any place not approved by MPs.
Thou shalt hear many rumors of landings and troop movements which
are not to be repeated.
Thou shalt have no fresh vegetables for weeks and weeks.
And all these things came to pass,
And there was great wailing and weeping in the land of
Nippon,
And the suppliants took up their pens and pencils,
And although there was exceeding sadness and gloom upon us all,
the policy changed not,
And so it came to pass that the great and grand empire heard
whispers of these tribulations, and sent to this distant land
five wise men (not known to us as MPs),
Whereupon these learned men made a long report, and nothing else
happened;
Therefore be it the prophets declared: "I have had it!", and
packed up and departed!
Glory be to the mighty Douglas;
Forever may He reign!
Amen.
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