He was the American story of the mid 20th Century
Though he’d never admit it.
At age 19, he was drafted into World War II
and was soon
Driving a rocket boat onto Utah Beach
in Normandy
While Nazi soldiers rained down heavy non-stop
machine gun fire
from their hilltop bunkers.
He drove his small heavily armed landing craft
In the company of five other sailors as enemy munitions
Exploded around him.
He delivered machine guns, automatic cannons
And rocket launchers to be used by the coming
Largest amphibian invasion in history.
He was wounded but eschewed the Purple Heart
for concern it would upset his mother.
Soon after, he repeated the action as the
Mediterranean coast of southern France
called him to duty.
He debuted as a Yankee at age 21, in September 1946.
By the time he was done, he had 10 World Series rings
and was named AL MVP three times.
He managed two teams to the Series.
The squat, unassuming man,
constantly underestimated (Sound familiar, Jalen B?)
was a consistent winner.
Yogi Berra was a first ballot Hall of Famer.
He also made the Hall of Fame of the USA,
a true American story symbolizing Goodness
at home and away.
He is truly of blessed memory.