Memorial Day, 2011- Is Their 'All' Ever Enough?
Posted by Ercille Christmas at 5/27/2011 4:05 PM 
Categories: Military
Tags: Memorial Day US Military Afghanistan Frank Buckles Charlie Sheen Clay Hunt Tim Hetherington Dead Men Risen Toby Harnden
Categories: Military
Tags: Memorial Day US Military Afghanistan Frank Buckles Charlie Sheen Clay Hunt Tim Hetherington Dead Men Risen Toby Harnden
What if our troops unionized and voted not to go to war? When I read of the death of Frank Buckles, “last World War I Doughboy,” that is the thought that came to me. I am guessing that the thought popped into my mind, because around the time of the death of Mr. Buckles, the nation, the world were engrossed by the union led “uprising” ongoing from Egypt to Wisconsin. In between the “protests,” Hollywood was having its big Oscar bash. Actor Charlie Sheen was having a big time tantrum. Would the death of Corporal Buckles get comparable coverage? I decided not to hold my breath.
Some politicians, entertainers, and all of the other “important” folks in society may have an inflated view of themselves and their power, and think that they really “make the world go round.” They are mistaken. Sadly, oftentimes they saddle up on the bruising accomplishments of the warriors who fight for us, and claim the glory. In reality, it is the young men and women of America, who go into real service, offering up limbs and lives, who do make this world go round. They sacrifice so that we can invent, invest, inveigh against the US – whatever activities our little hearts desire. When one reads the biographies of the Veterans who gave their lives, it is sometimes surprising to see how down to earth they were, as they downplayed indescribable acts of heroism. Mr. Buckley was described as “only a corporal,” during World War I. Age reduced him to “frail, stooped and hard of hearing.” But notice that conversely, he was “sharp of mind.” The following sums up for me, the character and strength of the man:
“And he proudly held a sepia-toned photograph of himself in his doughboy uniform when he was interviewed by USA Today in 2007. ‘I was a snappy soldier,’ he said. ‘All gung-ho.’
“But the Army took him in August 1917 after he had lied about his age, and he volunteered to be an ambulance driver, hearing that that was the quickest path to service in France.
“After retiring from steamship work in the mid-1950s, Mr. Buckles ran a cattle farm in Charles Town, and he was still riding a tractor there at age 104.”
He lied about his age in order to be allowed to serve his country, and was driving tractors at 104 years of age! I am tempted to declare “they don’t make them like that anymore,” but fortunately for the rest of us, “they” do.
My heart was filled with pride as I read about Mr. Frank Buckles. Sorrow slowly filled my heart as I read about Marine Clay Hunt. He managed to leave the battlefield with his life intact. He battled the inner demons that plague many of our warriors, by trying to help others battle those demons. He ultimately lost the battle away from the battlefield. Two Purple Hearts, tireless outreach to other Veterans, his other charitable efforts, the love of family and friends, were not enough to fight off those inner demons. His and the other numerous cases of suicide by Veterans, demonstrate the mental stress that these warriors undergo, in addition to the physical strains. They pay a heavy price in the war theater and then many times come home to unemployment, broken marriages, homelessness, and innumerable other ills, including a prison cell, if they dare to kill the enemy in a politically incorrect manner. The following sentences will stick with me for a long time:
“‘Clay was always a fighter,’ Wordin said. ‘He was always a guy to stick things out and he basically quit life, and I was mad that he felt he had to do that at that particular time.’
“Hunt’s friends and family count him a casualty of war — just like his buddies who died in the battlefield.”
Ultimately, Mr. Hunt is responsible for making the decision to end his life, but we all bear a little bit of the responsibility whether it is by taking their service for granted, or in many cases being downright hostile to our troops. This attitude is not confined to the public at large. Many times the “cannon fodder” is viewed as very expendable by the “brass.” I cannot pretend to understand what was going on in the mind of Clay Hunt, but I do know that sometimes life gets to be too much, and one does want to give up and give in – and that is just life from a civilian perspective. Imagine life from the perspective and reality of the horrors of war…
This book review of author Toby Harnden’s Dead Men Risen, tells us about the “failure of Coalition forces to come to grips with neutralizing IEDs.” It has been almost a decade since this war effort was undertaken in Afghanistan. Work on “neutralizing IEDs” should be high on the priorities of this engagement. It definitely should take precedence over the “winning hearts and minds,” strategy that is getting these troops killed. It does my heart good when I see photos of our troops interacting with the children in Afghanistan and Iraq, but I am slowly coming to the conclusion that this hearts and minds strategy is not a winning strategy, unless it is simultaneously accompanied by “saving lives of troops,” and “snuffing out the lives of tons of terrorists.”
Instead we have a full scale homosexual battlefield reeducation program being pushed on troops while they are in a war theater fighting for their lives? I will keep repeating:
I do not give a damn what ‘sexual orientation’ a person has in serving his or her country. His or her activities in the bedroom should not be considered in determining his or her fitness for serving his or her country on the battlefield! Serve. Return to civilian life to whatever activities keep you engaged.
I really think that this push is intended to destroy the US Military, by forcing troops to be caught up in social issues instead of military realities. Has anyone thought that instead of ducking from IEDs, troops who flaunt their “sexual orientation” in foreign countries where pink camouflage uniforms are frowned upon, will be in greater danger of being beheaded?
I read the following account of Marines from Camp Pendleton with a mix of pride, sadness and anger. Lt. Will Donnelly, Lance Cpl. Brandon Pearson, and Lt. Robert Kelly, were better and more accomplished men than their killers had the capability or ability to ever be. Staff Sgt. Jason Rogers, from Brandon Mississippi, was another Marine who gave his all. This story of former Marine Guereña is disturbing. He never fired his weapon? He was hit by 60 rounds? May justice be served when this is all sorted out.
The Air Force “contributed” eight of its own in a single attack, again an attack of betrayal by an Afghan – the pilot, no less. Lt. Col. Frank. Bryant Jr, Maj. Philip D. Ambard, Maj. Jeffrey O. Ausborn, Maj. David Brodeur, Master Sgt. Tara R. Brown, Capt. Charles Ransom, Maj. Raymond G. Estelle II, Capt. Nathan J. Nylander – seven men and one woman, who served and were killed. Wasn’t that “killer” pilot surprised when he landed in his new home, and found out that there are no 72 virgins, or 30 pieces of silver?
The deaths of photojournalist Tim Hetherington and bagpiper Steve Layton were not technically military deaths, but these men were in service to the troops. I consider both to be honorary soldiers. Mr. Hetherington used his talents to highlight the grit and grime of the life of the ordinary troops. Mr. Layton used his talents as a bagpipe player to send fallen troops on their way to eternal rest, and followed through with looking out for the families of the fallen, long after he had played the final notes of Amazing Grace or Going Home. The article on Mr. Hetherington described him as a “gentle man. A gentleman.” This is a description that could have probably been used about Mr. Layton.
There was another soldier about whom was written:
“His life was gentle: and the elements so mixed in him, that nature might stand up And say to all the world--this was a man.”
The soldier in question was General Thomas Nelson, one of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence. He gave his health and his wealth to the newborn country. From our more “practical” 21st century perspective, we would probably ask if he had been crazy to offer to have his own house blown up in order to deny its use to the British – the enemy. In this 21st century, how many American kids are being taught about this man, one of the pioneers in a long list of men who were willing to give their all, including life, liberty and wealth to their country? Again, I definitely should not try to hold my breath.
However, there are kids who give hope that the history of men and women of valor will be preserved by using the tools of our modern age. Enter Jordan Brown, still in school and raising funds to honor World War II Veterans who participated in D-Day operations. Richard "Ricky" Gilleland III is showing the traditional sources that Tech is the new way. It sounds almost unbelievable that a teenager could have “created the only digitized record of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans laid to rest at Arlington.” These kids, I mean young men, could be spending time in more youthful pursuits, yet they have chosen to honor our fallen troops, using their own talents. Jordan and Ricky, I salute you. The rest of us are not worthy!
When I began this article, I had almost a nightmare vision of a day when young Americans who have been indoctrinated with the thought that their country is “bad,” will no longer want to willingly serve. My nightmare scenario has been erased as I read the stories of heroism of fallen Veterans, and the selflessness of two young men. The True Meaning of Sacrifice, by Maj. Gen. Patrick Brady also helped to reaffirm my hope that America will continue to be served. I concur with his message:
“Our message today is to our youth from those who sacrificed their youth that liberty might grow old. Over many years and countless battlefields, over the bodies of millions of dead, it’s a message that the values of courage founded in faith and sacrifice based in love will lead to an incredible capacity for service to others – and eventually to the security of America. Peace is the ultimate victory of all warriors.”
I would, if I may, add to his message, my prayer that the youth are blessed with wise leadership, both civilian and military, that each life is perceived to be valuable, treated as such, and not merely another statistic in the operational functioning of the military.
This account of the Defending Freedom Memorial Dedication is filled more with hope and pride, than grief. Yes, “thank a soldier, thank a vet.” Honor our fallen Veterans. Never forget the sacrifice of each and every one. As I was finishing up this article, the news came over the radio that another seven American troops were robbed of their lives by the usual roadside bomb, the weapon of cowards. To put this in very blunt terms – without the sacrifice of our troops, there is no America. In terms of sheer liberty, they do keep the US world going around.
Mea culpa. I almost forgot to include the troops who were massacred at Fort Hood. They died on the "battlefield" of political correctness. While typing this, I am listening to the Hugh Hewitt Show which is a tribute to injured Marines helped through the Semper Fi Fund. It is a litany of injuries caused by IEDs, punctuated by determination, grit, hope, love, support and patriotism. There is no self pity. “Phenomenal recovery” is a description that I keep hearing. In short - a mini picture of the real America. Here is a musical toast to you - The Warrior Song!
God bless America, as the saying goes, "land of the free, because of the brave!"
Some politicians, entertainers, and all of the other “important” folks in society may have an inflated view of themselves and their power, and think that they really “make the world go round.” They are mistaken. Sadly, oftentimes they saddle up on the bruising accomplishments of the warriors who fight for us, and claim the glory. In reality, it is the young men and women of America, who go into real service, offering up limbs and lives, who do make this world go round. They sacrifice so that we can invent, invest, inveigh against the US – whatever activities our little hearts desire. When one reads the biographies of the Veterans who gave their lives, it is sometimes surprising to see how down to earth they were, as they downplayed indescribable acts of heroism. Mr. Buckley was described as “only a corporal,” during World War I. Age reduced him to “frail, stooped and hard of hearing.” But notice that conversely, he was “sharp of mind.” The following sums up for me, the character and strength of the man:
“And he proudly held a sepia-toned photograph of himself in his doughboy uniform when he was interviewed by USA Today in 2007. ‘I was a snappy soldier,’ he said. ‘All gung-ho.’
“But the Army took him in August 1917 after he had lied about his age, and he volunteered to be an ambulance driver, hearing that that was the quickest path to service in France.
“After retiring from steamship work in the mid-1950s, Mr. Buckles ran a cattle farm in Charles Town, and he was still riding a tractor there at age 104.”
He lied about his age in order to be allowed to serve his country, and was driving tractors at 104 years of age! I am tempted to declare “they don’t make them like that anymore,” but fortunately for the rest of us, “they” do.
My heart was filled with pride as I read about Mr. Frank Buckles. Sorrow slowly filled my heart as I read about Marine Clay Hunt. He managed to leave the battlefield with his life intact. He battled the inner demons that plague many of our warriors, by trying to help others battle those demons. He ultimately lost the battle away from the battlefield. Two Purple Hearts, tireless outreach to other Veterans, his other charitable efforts, the love of family and friends, were not enough to fight off those inner demons. His and the other numerous cases of suicide by Veterans, demonstrate the mental stress that these warriors undergo, in addition to the physical strains. They pay a heavy price in the war theater and then many times come home to unemployment, broken marriages, homelessness, and innumerable other ills, including a prison cell, if they dare to kill the enemy in a politically incorrect manner. The following sentences will stick with me for a long time:
“‘Clay was always a fighter,’ Wordin said. ‘He was always a guy to stick things out and he basically quit life, and I was mad that he felt he had to do that at that particular time.’
“Hunt’s friends and family count him a casualty of war — just like his buddies who died in the battlefield.”
Ultimately, Mr. Hunt is responsible for making the decision to end his life, but we all bear a little bit of the responsibility whether it is by taking their service for granted, or in many cases being downright hostile to our troops. This attitude is not confined to the public at large. Many times the “cannon fodder” is viewed as very expendable by the “brass.” I cannot pretend to understand what was going on in the mind of Clay Hunt, but I do know that sometimes life gets to be too much, and one does want to give up and give in – and that is just life from a civilian perspective. Imagine life from the perspective and reality of the horrors of war…
This book review of author Toby Harnden’s Dead Men Risen, tells us about the “failure of Coalition forces to come to grips with neutralizing IEDs.” It has been almost a decade since this war effort was undertaken in Afghanistan. Work on “neutralizing IEDs” should be high on the priorities of this engagement. It definitely should take precedence over the “winning hearts and minds,” strategy that is getting these troops killed. It does my heart good when I see photos of our troops interacting with the children in Afghanistan and Iraq, but I am slowly coming to the conclusion that this hearts and minds strategy is not a winning strategy, unless it is simultaneously accompanied by “saving lives of troops,” and “snuffing out the lives of tons of terrorists.”
Instead we have a full scale homosexual battlefield reeducation program being pushed on troops while they are in a war theater fighting for their lives? I will keep repeating:
I do not give a damn what ‘sexual orientation’ a person has in serving his or her country. His or her activities in the bedroom should not be considered in determining his or her fitness for serving his or her country on the battlefield! Serve. Return to civilian life to whatever activities keep you engaged.
I really think that this push is intended to destroy the US Military, by forcing troops to be caught up in social issues instead of military realities. Has anyone thought that instead of ducking from IEDs, troops who flaunt their “sexual orientation” in foreign countries where pink camouflage uniforms are frowned upon, will be in greater danger of being beheaded?
I read the following account of Marines from Camp Pendleton with a mix of pride, sadness and anger. Lt. Will Donnelly, Lance Cpl. Brandon Pearson, and Lt. Robert Kelly, were better and more accomplished men than their killers had the capability or ability to ever be. Staff Sgt. Jason Rogers, from Brandon Mississippi, was another Marine who gave his all. This story of former Marine Guereña is disturbing. He never fired his weapon? He was hit by 60 rounds? May justice be served when this is all sorted out.
The Air Force “contributed” eight of its own in a single attack, again an attack of betrayal by an Afghan – the pilot, no less. Lt. Col. Frank. Bryant Jr, Maj. Philip D. Ambard, Maj. Jeffrey O. Ausborn, Maj. David Brodeur, Master Sgt. Tara R. Brown, Capt. Charles Ransom, Maj. Raymond G. Estelle II, Capt. Nathan J. Nylander – seven men and one woman, who served and were killed. Wasn’t that “killer” pilot surprised when he landed in his new home, and found out that there are no 72 virgins, or 30 pieces of silver?
The deaths of photojournalist Tim Hetherington and bagpiper Steve Layton were not technically military deaths, but these men were in service to the troops. I consider both to be honorary soldiers. Mr. Hetherington used his talents to highlight the grit and grime of the life of the ordinary troops. Mr. Layton used his talents as a bagpipe player to send fallen troops on their way to eternal rest, and followed through with looking out for the families of the fallen, long after he had played the final notes of Amazing Grace or Going Home. The article on Mr. Hetherington described him as a “gentle man. A gentleman.” This is a description that could have probably been used about Mr. Layton.
There was another soldier about whom was written:
“His life was gentle: and the elements so mixed in him, that nature might stand up And say to all the world--this was a man.”
The soldier in question was General Thomas Nelson, one of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence. He gave his health and his wealth to the newborn country. From our more “practical” 21st century perspective, we would probably ask if he had been crazy to offer to have his own house blown up in order to deny its use to the British – the enemy. In this 21st century, how many American kids are being taught about this man, one of the pioneers in a long list of men who were willing to give their all, including life, liberty and wealth to their country? Again, I definitely should not try to hold my breath.
However, there are kids who give hope that the history of men and women of valor will be preserved by using the tools of our modern age. Enter Jordan Brown, still in school and raising funds to honor World War II Veterans who participated in D-Day operations. Richard "Ricky" Gilleland III is showing the traditional sources that Tech is the new way. It sounds almost unbelievable that a teenager could have “created the only digitized record of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans laid to rest at Arlington.” These kids, I mean young men, could be spending time in more youthful pursuits, yet they have chosen to honor our fallen troops, using their own talents. Jordan and Ricky, I salute you. The rest of us are not worthy!
When I began this article, I had almost a nightmare vision of a day when young Americans who have been indoctrinated with the thought that their country is “bad,” will no longer want to willingly serve. My nightmare scenario has been erased as I read the stories of heroism of fallen Veterans, and the selflessness of two young men. The True Meaning of Sacrifice, by Maj. Gen. Patrick Brady also helped to reaffirm my hope that America will continue to be served. I concur with his message:
“Our message today is to our youth from those who sacrificed their youth that liberty might grow old. Over many years and countless battlefields, over the bodies of millions of dead, it’s a message that the values of courage founded in faith and sacrifice based in love will lead to an incredible capacity for service to others – and eventually to the security of America. Peace is the ultimate victory of all warriors.”
I would, if I may, add to his message, my prayer that the youth are blessed with wise leadership, both civilian and military, that each life is perceived to be valuable, treated as such, and not merely another statistic in the operational functioning of the military.
This account of the Defending Freedom Memorial Dedication is filled more with hope and pride, than grief. Yes, “thank a soldier, thank a vet.” Honor our fallen Veterans. Never forget the sacrifice of each and every one. As I was finishing up this article, the news came over the radio that another seven American troops were robbed of their lives by the usual roadside bomb, the weapon of cowards. To put this in very blunt terms – without the sacrifice of our troops, there is no America. In terms of sheer liberty, they do keep the US world going around.
Mea culpa. I almost forgot to include the troops who were massacred at Fort Hood. They died on the "battlefield" of political correctness. While typing this, I am listening to the Hugh Hewitt Show which is a tribute to injured Marines helped through the Semper Fi Fund. It is a litany of injuries caused by IEDs, punctuated by determination, grit, hope, love, support and patriotism. There is no self pity. “Phenomenal recovery” is a description that I keep hearing. In short - a mini picture of the real America. Here is a musical toast to you - The Warrior Song!
God bless America, as the saying goes, "land of the free, because of the brave!"
Comments