Memorial Day: Honor and Reverence

http://patriotpost.us ^ | May 27, 2013 | The Patriot Post

[NKP_Vet]

The American Soldier

"He needs no eulogy from me or from any other man. He has written his own history and written it in red on his enemy's breast. But when I think of his patience under adversity, of his courage under fire, and of his modesty in victory, I am filled with an emotion of admiration I cannot put into words. He belongs to history as furnishing one of the greatest examples of successful patriotism. He belongs to posterity as the instructor of future generations in the principles of liberty and freedom. He belongs to the present, to us, by his virtues and by his achievements. In twenty campaigns, on a hundred battlefields, around a thousand campfires, I have witnessed that enduring fortitude, that patriotic self-abnegation, and that invincible determination which have carved his statue in the hearts of his people. From one end of the world to the other he has drained deep the chalice of courage. I do not know the dignity of their birth, but I do know the glory of their death. They died unquestioning, uncomplaining, with faith in their hearts, and on their lips the hope that we would go on to victory. Always for them: Duty, Honor, County; always their blood and sweat and tears, as we sought the way and the light and the truth." --General Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964)

[NKP_Vet]

"It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived." ~ General George S. Patton

[mardi59]

There is no pedestal high enough, there are not enough words to express the gratitude owed so many for their brave service.

They bring freedom to the oppressed, hope to the downtrodden, and give glory to a nation blessed by their bravery and honored by their presence.

God bless and keep all who have lost their lives in nobel pursuits, given their all for the rights of others. Their memory will forever be imprinted in the Golden Hall of Warriors remembered. The pedestal is high and I will forever look up to these heroes who deserve praise without ceasing, and prayers for their eternal rest.

God bless those who have served and are serving . You have my deepest gratitude and undying respect.

[ex-snook]

TO ALL FREEPERS WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE MILITARY ANYWHERE ANYTIME

[ex-snook]

42nd Infantry Division WW II France, Germany, Austria

[NKP_Vet]

Remembering on this Memorial Day my boyhood pal.....

Sgt Johnny Franklin Jackson, US Army
Born Oct 1, 1949
Died Aug 28, 1968
Quang Tri, South Vietnam

[mardi59]

Remembering on this Memorial Day my boyhood pal.....

Sgt Johnny Franklin Jackson, US Army
Born Oct 1, 1949
Died Aug 28, 1968
Quang Tri, South Vietnam

********

God rest his glorious soul. My deepest gratitude for his service, and prayers for his eternal rest. God bless you for never forgetting.

I am reminded of the Fighting Sullivans today. I am going to watch the movie and offer prayers for all Gods troops today.

[Puppage]

Amen.

[Cicero]

I’m remembering my uncle, Lieutenant Homer Caroli, who was killed at the Battle of Hurgten Forest in 1944, after having earlier fought in the Pacific islands and in Italy.

I last saw him as a little boy, when he came to visit my mother and me, while on a brief leave between assignments in the Pacific theater and then in Europe.

I pray for him every day, and for my other family members who have died. May God rest his soul, and the souls of all those who have given their lives for our country.

[M Kehoe]

For posterity I mention these two men...

Uncle Bob Bemis and Uncle Louis Provini. Thank you sirs for your service. To you it was all about duty, honor, country.

ATTENTION!

SALUTE.

Dismissed.

5.56mm

[coincheck]

I remember 1Lt James E. Magel, Co-Pilot, YP3 died in Viet Nam, March 31 1965, He used to baby sit me and my sister and younger brother. It was the first mission He and my dad flew together.

Of all the crew that flew into that hot LZ that day from HMM 163, only two were KIA Him and 1Lt Wendell T. Eliason.

We must remember them, too many have died and have no one to remember their lives, or that they gave all they had to preserve our freedoms.

[Does so]

My Dad, who turned 97 last month, has an excellent recollection of the SW Pacific theater in which he flew PBY "flying boats". Rescue, surveillance, patrol, bombing, dropping depth charges and torpedoes came with the VP-11 territory of the famed "Black Cat Squadron". His logbook is on the Internet, showing nearly 2500 hours when his duty was over.

Yesterday, when I read to him an account of Japan's "underwater aircraft carriers" (huge submarines with aircraft), he listened carefully, and interrupted me by saying, "Japan only made three of them". He was correct, of course.

Sadly, his doctor called me to say, "Your Dad is likely not to live another six months". Watching an old hero failing in health is tough. :(

[Churchillspirit]

Beautiful.

[GeronL]

I wish more of them would record their stories

[21twelve]

My old man (RIP) was on a mine sweeper in the Pacific. He told the story of hitching rides on PBY’s for fun. IIRC it was to resupply stuff to spotters on islands. The part I remember (and him too!) was dropping cigarettes/candy to the native women on the beach. Probably just an excuse to get closer as they were topless!

Glad you are able to spend quality time with your father this near the end. Last fall, with my mom a few days before she died at 94, she was still telling stories with names and dates, looking at old photos from the 20’s and putting names to faces of boys she had dated.

[21twelve]

Do you have a link to your father’s log book?

I just got a large box of letters that my mom had from my dad during the war. As a kid I would turn over the mop bucket and sit in our cellar and read those old letters. (Yeah - weird kid!)

[21twelve]

I opened up the box of letters that has been sitting for a few weeks. From the second letter I looked at - third paragraph talks about his plane ride!:

Sunday, 4 Feb, 1945

My Very Dear Mother & Dad & Sister!

Good evening - how are you all tonight? That's good - I am just fine, too! It's nice & cool tonight & the weather is just fine! We are still at anchor on our station [small minesweeper]. Don't know for sure when we will go in so we can get our mail, etc. But it is nice out here and we don't mind at all. We gets lots of work done and we get lots of rest & sleep. We take it easy - & we enjoy life! I've been beating the Captain pretty regularly in checkers lately - we have lots of fun.

.....

The war is going good now isn't it? The Russians are only 47 miles from Berlin and our forces are closing in on Manila in the Philippines. Seems to me the Germans should fold up pretty soon now - and we sure are going to town out here in the Pacific! There is more big news coming soon, too! The Japs sure will wish they had never started fooling with Uncle Sam!!

I am still thinking a lot of the swell plane trip I took the other day! That sure was one of the biggest thrills I have ever had!! I'll never forget it as long as I live! I only wish I had colored movies of it!!

I am wondering if Harry has arrived at his destination yet. I hope not. Maybe it will be all over before he starts his missions! I sure hope so! I'd much rather see him fly his missions against Japan!! [My uncle Harry was a bombardier and completed all of his missions over Germany. He never said a thing about being in the war.]

I guess I'd better close now and get to bed. Keep your chin up & don't work too hard!

P.S. I heard tonight on the radio that Orrins’ [a friend?] 11th Airborne Division is fighting south of Manila!

[Does so]

Yes. I’m sending it by PM.

[ex-snook]

They can record a one page with picture at WW II memorial. Can we done for them remotely. Really worthwhile for the future.

[ex-snook]

Check out recording your family member at Ww II memorial. You can put a one page summary of their activity and picture. It’s really worthwhile for the future if they still can provide or you know it.