Quote:
Originally Posted by
MatthewP
I beleive it was replaced with a tastkey cake factory.
Matt here's a poem I recently wrote pertaining to "Hermanm the German" and the Philly Brig:
The Resurrection of Hermann the German</SPAN>
All you “salty” Marines, who’ve once stood a watch on the decks of the old Philly Brig,</SPAN>
Take a seat, listen up, most important of all, when the bottle is passed, take a swig.</SPAN>
The tale is told of a Prisoner of War whose nationality can be determined,
he was brought f</SPAN>rom the “Fatherland” to Philadelphia, the story is about Hermann the German.</SPAN>
Hermann, it seems, was captured one night while standing his post as a sentry.</SPAN>
He dozed off on duty, his post compromised by the enemy who then gained entry.</SPAN>
The powers that were made decisions to send the poor soldier abroad for detention.</SPAN>
Hermann was shipped to Philadelphia’s shores in accord with the Geneva Convention.</SPAN>
He was housed at the Brig near the Base’s west gate, far away from naval activity.</SPAN>
It was feared he’d escape from confinement and steal matters of grave sensitivity.</SPAN>
Kept away from the general jail population, Hermann was kept by himself</SPAN>
Down in the building’s basement he languished with a bunk, footlocker and shelf.</SPAN>
He was given a job to work in the galley in exchange for his keep and his shelter</SPAN>
Hermann was grateful and thankful enough for his meager abode in the cellar.</SPAN>
The cooks in charge took a liking to him and let him take care of all baking, for </SPAN>
Employment before his enlistment began, THAT was his main undertaking. </SPAN>
Strudels and pies, and tortes of all sizes were regularly fresh from the ovens.</SPAN>
Loaves of bread were baked by our subject each day and muffins and rolls by the dozens.</SPAN>
Hermann was happy and one could see that he was glad to be out of the fight.</SPAN>
Nothing could have been better, than falling asleep and being captured that night. </SPAN>
As war came to an end, the surrenders were signed, Hermann balked at repatriation.</SPAN>
“I’d really like to stay here,” said he, “Germany is no longer my nation.”</SPAN>
Treaties require that you have to return said officials all sober and wise.</SPAN>
When he learned of their answer he quickly conceived a plan for his own demise.</SPAN>
Down in the depths of the bowels of the Brig, there were cables and long lengths of pipe, </SPAN>valves, and drains and wires and switches, “gang” boxes, the electrical type.</SPAN>
Hermann’s plan to expire was foremost in his thoughts, his way to escape deportation,</SPAN>
wire wrapped round his neck, stepping off of his bunk, a crude form of decapitation.</SPAN>
Next morning while waking the mess men for work, the Chaser discovered his torso</SPAN>
all crumpled and bloody and minus his head which perplexed him even more so.</SPAN>
Hermann was buried in back of the Brig, ten yards away from the wire.</SPAN>
All Brig personnel turned out for his funeral, for that was the old “Kraut’s” desire. </SPAN>
How many of you have seen strange apparitions while standing your watches at night, </SPAN>or, in the wee hours felt a presence so close, your arm hair stood straight up in freight?</SPAN>
Log books have had entries of sightings of things that are not necessarily Earthly.</SPAN>
Hermann has been credited more than one time as being the cause of the melee.</SPAN>
Now the Brig is no longer there where it was, the whole Yards an industrial site.</SPAN>
Many corporate ventures call The Navy Yard home, much to Kaverner’s delight.</SPAN>
Hermann’s spirit is happy at least for the moment, he inhabits a new undertaking.</SPAN>
His new digs still part of the Navy Yard complex, he’s now part of TASTYKAKE BAKING.
:D</SPAN>