[THIS ODE (PRESENTED IN A SERIES OF INSTALLMENTS) IS A SUMMARIZED VERSION OF DADDY MAX’S BIOGRAPHICAL BOOK ENTITLED FOREVER YOUNG: A WALK THROUGH THE LIFE OF MAXIMO PURISIMA YOUNG; IN CELEBRATION AND THANKSGIVING FOR HIS ELECTION THIS YEAR AS PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE TO KOREA VETERANS’ ASSOCIATION INC. (“PVAI”), A POSITION IN THE PVAI WHICH HAS BEEN TRADITIONALLY RESERVED (SINCE PVAI’S INCEPTION) TO PHILIPPINE MILITARY ACADEMY GRADUATES. DADDY MAX IS RECIPIENT OF THE SILVER STAR MEDAL CONFERRED ON HIM BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT BY REASON OF HIS HEROIC FEATS IN WORLD WAR 2. HE WAS ALSO CONFERRED THE GOLD CROSS MEDAL BY THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT AS HE EMERGED AS HERO AT THE BATTLE OF MIUDONG, THE FIRST BATTLE ENGAGED BY FILIPINO SOLDIERS IN FOREIGN SOIL DURING THE KOREAN WAR. ON JULY 27, 2016 THE SOUTH KOREAN GOVERNMENT CONFERRED UPON HIM THE HIGHEST ORDER OF THE TAEGEUK MERIT MEDAL IN RECOGNITION OF HIS HEROIC FEATS DURING THE KOREAN WAR IN BOTH THE BATTLES OF MIUDONG AND YULDONG. ]
During the War, Dad Max was adored by a pretty DAME;
Dames, looking like stars, would try to snatch him from that FRIEND,
As Dad Max was generous and ACCOMMODATING…
Obliged himself to do quick trysting, in some kind of FLING!
It indeed looked as though the love affair of an AMERICAN GENERAL…
Such LOVE AFFAIR with virtual ending that’s akin to a FUNERAL;
It was truly sort, well…a BIT of a mawkish TRAGEDY,
But I will not further dwell on it as this FUN RHYME loves COMEDY!
The pretty dame swayed Dad Max to ELOPE,
A crude military wedding was held in the HILLS…
The feasting was done with fruits such as a CANTALOUPE…
It was attended by bosses from the former FORT MILLS!
As the whole of the Visayas was under Jap RULE…
Dad Max turned guerrilla as though riding a MULE;
And an abusive Filipino guerrilla who had turned rapist and boorish MAULER,
Became Dad Max’s villain and he brought that thug 6 feet down UNDER!
Dad Max’s popularity zoomed to its SUMMIT,
More women got captivated as they’d sort of SOLICIT;
For Dad Max became sort of a town HERO…
The rapist was gone, got killed by a BOLO!
Lines and queues would come to Dad Max’s DOORS,
They’re all happy and joyfully jumping on their FLOORS…
Bringing gifts to Dad Max , PIGS even goats & HENS;
As though they were giving Dad Max their respective STIPENDS!
For the villain has already passed AWAY…
It was a top American officer who told Dad Max to locate the PREY;
And on the jungle fastness with Dad Max’s TROOPS…
A fight to the end with the villain’s gang was witnessed by young bamboo SHOOTS!
The name of the pretty dame is Daisy THOMAS…
She’s not my Mom as their union came to PASS,
As there was a divorce law then in our COUNTRY,
Dad Max was able to win back his marital LIBERTY!
Daisy was a daughter of a quaint FILIPINA,
And her Dad is American from South CAROLINA;
Her Dad was incarcerated at the U.S.T. by the JAPANESE,
Eventually got sick, and soon Daisy’s dad PERISHED!
