Lt. Will C. Jumper served aboard the USS Norman Scott DD690 during WW2.
He became a professor of literature at the Iowa State University after the war and served as Chairman of Creative Writing. Among his students was Ted Kooser, who became Poet Laureate of the United States and who dedicated his first book of poetry "To Will Jumper, who taught me how to do this."
He also published a book of poems called "From Time Remembered" one of which is below.
For Noyes D. Farmer
who died but once
July 1944
"At least," you winked and joked,
"I can't-can't stand
tonight's mid-watch." I stroked
with this left hand
your tangled, sweaty hair,
with right hand mopped
your bleeding mouth. My prayer
began – and stopped.
I am not blind, and yet
these fingertips
recall, when eyes forget,
how on your lips
a faint smile quivered – half
in thankfulness
that I could think a laugh,
half in distress
lest I might misconstrue
your jibe at death
I smiled – blind then – and you
relinquished death.
He became a professor of literature at the Iowa State University after the war and served as Chairman of Creative Writing. Among his students was Ted Kooser, who became Poet Laureate of the United States and who dedicated his first book of poetry "To Will Jumper, who taught me how to do this."
He also published a book of poems called "From Time Remembered" one of which is below.
For Noyes D. Farmer
who died but once
July 1944
"At least," you winked and joked,
"I can't-can't stand
tonight's mid-watch." I stroked
with this left hand
your tangled, sweaty hair,
with right hand mopped
your bleeding mouth. My prayer
began – and stopped.
I am not blind, and yet
these fingertips
recall, when eyes forget,
how on your lips
a faint smile quivered – half
in thankfulness
that I could think a laugh,
half in distress
lest I might misconstrue
your jibe at death
I smiled – blind then – and you
relinquished death.
Lt. Will C. Jumper served aboard the USS Norman Scott DD690 during WW2.
He became a professor of literature at the Iowa State University after the war and served as Chairman of Creative Writing. Among his students was Ted Kooser, who became Poet Laureate of the United States and who dedicated his first book of poetry "To Will Jumper, who taught me how to do this."
He also published a book of poems called "From Time Remembered" one of which is below.
For Noyes D. Farmer
who died but once
July 1944
"At least," you winked and joked,
"I can't-can't stand
tonight's mid-watch." I stroked
with this left hand
your tangled, sweaty hair,
with right hand mopped
your bleeding mouth. My prayer
began – and stopped.
I am not blind, and yet
these fingertips
recall, when eyes forget,
how on your lips
a faint smile quivered – half
in thankfulness
that I could think a laugh,
half in distress
lest I might misconstrue
your jibe at death
I smiled – blind then – and you
relinquished death.
He became a professor of literature at the Iowa State University after the war and served as Chairman of Creative Writing. Among his students was Ted Kooser, who became Poet Laureate of the United States and who dedicated his first book of poetry "To Will Jumper, who taught me how to do this."
He also published a book of poems called "From Time Remembered" one of which is below.
For Noyes D. Farmer
who died but once
July 1944
"At least," you winked and joked,
"I can't-can't stand
tonight's mid-watch." I stroked
with this left hand
your tangled, sweaty hair,
with right hand mopped
your bleeding mouth. My prayer
began – and stopped.
I am not blind, and yet
these fingertips
recall, when eyes forget,
how on your lips
a faint smile quivered – half
in thankfulness
that I could think a laugh,
half in distress
lest I might misconstrue
your jibe at death
I smiled – blind then – and you
relinquished death.
Inscription
LT US NAVY
WORLD WAR II
Gravesite Details
This memorial is not my direct family member and was added as a courtesy for research purposes. Any family member who wishes to obtain ownership can contact me and I will be happy to transfer ownership or delete my entry.
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