Notes for Please Remember Me by Ching-Chu Hu (Composer)

Please Remember Me sets the words of Lance Corporal Danny Kay Crothers (US Marine Corps, 3rd Marine Division, 1st Battalion, 26th Marines, B Company) from a letter that he wrote his mother while serving overseas. His heartfelt letter details his daily experiences and contrasts it with life back home in Newark, Ohio. In the poem, he writes, “Please remember me.” 

In setting his words, I was immediately struck by the fact he chose to write a poem while dealing with all the hardships he was encountering daily. I was moved imagining him finding the creative time and space to craft a poem. His words are moving, and as I set them, I realized me that the letter is more than a nudge or a plea to remember the sacrifices of those overseas; it is more than asking us to appreciate what we have --- it is a call to remember him and others after his passing. As I delved into his words, it dawned on me that Danny knew that he was not going to come back. This realization helped shape the setting of his poem. I took his words and chose a few phrases to create a refrain. This allows Danny Crothers’ words to resonate, build and last in our minds. 

I am deeply grateful that Maestro Russel Mikkelson and Susan Larson thought of me to do this project, and for Mark Thress, his beautiful voice, his new friendship, and for him and the Newark Granville Symphony Orchestra to bring to life Please Remember Me. I am especially thankful for Danny Kay Crothers’ family for giving permission to set his words to music. I hope his words will live on as a reminder for all of us.

Letter from Danny Crothers to his mother:

You know last night while standing guard, I thought I'd write you a poem, and tell it like it really

is to the folks back home.

You folks read all the papers and watch the TV shows,

But even with aII that not one of you really knows.

You hear the good side of our battles, the enemies we kill.

You've never seen a buddy killed while charging up a hill.

At home you walk down sidewalks or in a crowded mall,

Here the brush is our jungle trails, so thick we have to crawl.

Back stateside you have bridges to cross a river,

Here in Nam we walk right in and when it's cold we shiver.

You've got air conditioners there, to cool your shops or dens,

But over here it's so damn hot we think its hell were in.

At home you take your wife or girl, go out and dance all night,

Over here we stand our guard, sometimes even stiff with fright.

Have you ever looked around and seen the many things you have,

Or once stopped to think about the many things you got.

You have cold beer and water; you have hot meals to eat.

Any one of those to us would be a treat.

Every day you take a walk down life's path,

But I'll bet you never gone a month without a bath.

To you a bath is water, hot enough to make it steam,

To us it's nothing more than a leech-infested stream.

You have no doubt been scared enough to think the end is near,

But I'll bet you've not lived a whole year in fear.

You folks have it easy compared to us across the sea.

All any solider ask of you is "Please remember me.”