SHIP SONG

Ode to USS Sphinx (ARL-24)
by Norman Ponder RM3
1953 1955

Copyright 2006

What year did you sail on Sphinx?

What was your job on the Sphinx?

Were you on RL-24. sailing through Japan's front door,

What year did you serve on the Sphinx?

Were you onboard when they tested the bomb?

Was the Sphinx your home when they tested the bomb?

When the Bikina A-bomb blew, did you have a real good view?

What year did you serve on the Sphinx?

Did you help mothball here in '48?

Did you help mothball here in '48?

They say her service was at an end, but destiny would see her sail again.

In '50, did you pull her from the fleet?

Were you on the Sphinx Korea bound?

Were you onboard the Sphinx Korea bound?

They say she'd have to fight some more, She said I've been down that road before.

In '50, were you Korea bound?

Did you hear the "Passage to Freedom" call?

In '54 did you heed that Noble call?

At the "Fall of Dien Bien Phu, the French said they were through,

300,000 refugees the Sphinx helped haul

They laid her up again in '56

Were you onboard when they said she'd sail no more?

For ten long years she rested, but never was she bested,

Were you there as a witness to that chore?

It's been said, "you never can keep a good ship down."

Legends say you can never keep a good ship down,

It was back to Nam in '68. Three long years she fought that bloody scrape.

Did the Vietnam War find you aboard the Sphinx?

From 1972 till 84 again they closed her doors,

The Navy tied her up and said she'd sail no more,

Tho' the Sphinx had done her very best, we thought at last she had been blessed

Were you abord when they tied her up to rest?

What I'm about to tell you is not a lie,

Were you onboard her sailing on the sly?

What was your jon on the Sphinx in '85, when she sailed the Caribbean as a SPY?

Was that the year you sailed on the Sphinx?

Just like the Sphinx, this song may never end.

And there's no guarantee she'll never sail again,

If she sails that "Crystal Sea", and tries to reach that "Golden Strand",

She can depend on us to lend a hand.

What year will you serve on the Sphinx?

Song originally written in Key of C, Chord progression is:

C, G7

C,F,C

C,G7,C

 Below are the ribbons the Sphinx earned during her 5 decades of service, spanning 3 wars. Thanks to John Tallent for researching and putting together this ribbon rack.

Top Row - Combat Action ribbon (5), Presidential Unit Citation (2) The PUC is the Unit equivalent of the award of the Distinguished Service Medal to an individual. The only higher award is the Medal of Honor. Navy Unit Commendation (3). The principal eligibility criterion is that the unit must have performed services of a character comparable to that which would merit the award of the Silver Star Medal to an individual. The only higher unit award is the PUC.

2^nd Row – American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal

3^rd Row – Navy Occupation Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Korean Service Medal (1)

4^th Row - Vietnam Service Medal (with 8 campaign stars) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation - Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation

5^th Row – United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea Service Medal