Norma Lee Hackney, US Navy
Lee's
story that became a song
I'M STILL HERE
9-5-2025
Norma Lee Hackney, Irene Kelley
FSUSA Marion, IL Retreat
​
FROM JACKSONVILLE, FL.
TO FIRST TOUR D.C.
USS PROTEUS
TO 1983
HELMSMAN, WELDER, FIREFIGHTER, SAILOR
YEAH I DID IT ALL
I COULD TELL A HUNDRED STORIES
‘BOUT MY NAVY DAYS AT SEA
FIRST WOMAN CAPTAIN ON A BIG DECK
THAT’S WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT ME
NEVER LOST A SOUL IN BATTLE
BUT WHAT NOW BRINGS ME TO TEARS
THINKING HOW GOD BROUGHT ME THROUGH IT
ONLY REASON I’M STILL HERE
JOINT STAFF PENTAGON
WE PLAYED WAR GAMES
WILLAMETTE-DAMMIT WAS DEPLOYED
WE MADE FUN OF THE NAME
CLOSE CALL - MAY DAY
SAVED A MAN OVERBOARD
CUZ I NEVER TOOK MY EYES OFF OF HIM
I COULD TELL A HUNDRED STORIES
‘BOUT MY NAVY DAYS AT SEA
FIRST WOMAN CAPTAIN ON A BIG DECK
THAT’S WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT ME
NEVER LOST A SOUL IN BATTLE
BUT WHAT NOW BRINGS ME TO TEARS
THINKING HOW GOD BROUGHT ME THROUGH IT
ONLY REASON I’M STILL HERE
AMPHIB NAVY
XO BATAAN
RIDE THE LCACS
SWIMMING ON THE SAIPAN
28 YEARS IN THE NAVY
FROM SEA TO SHINNING SEA
HE MUST HAVE HAD HIS HAND RIGHT ON ME
I COULD TELL A HUNDRED STORIES
‘BOUT MY NAVY DAYS AT SEA
LIEUTENANT CAPTAIN NOW RETIRED
THAT’S WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT ME
NEVER LOST A SOUL IN BATTLE
BUT WHAT NOW BRINGS ME TO TEARS
THINKING HOW GOD BROUGHT ME THROUGH IT
ONLY REASON I’M STILL HERE
AND I’M STILL HERE