Posted on 12/21/2001 6:30:52 AM PST by Jeff Head
The last time that any of his fellow prisoners heard from him, Captain Versace was singing God Bless America at the top of his voice from his isolation box. Unable to break his indomitable will, his faith in God, and his trust in the United States of America and his fellow prisoners, Captain Versace was executed by the Viet Cong on 26 September 1965.
Thank you so much for flagging me to this! I will pass it to all I know and send my letter tomorrow!
Sabertooth, please, could you use your ping list on this one? Thank you both!
"For that guy, duty, honor, country was a way of life. He was the finest example of an officer I have known. To him it was a matter of liberty or death, the big four and nothing more. There was no other way for him. Once, Rocky told our captors that as long as he was true to God and true to himself, what was waiting for him after this life was far better than anything that could happen now. So he told them that they might as well kill him then and there if the price of his life was getting more from him than name, rank, and serial number. I’m satisfied that he would have it no other way. I know that he valued that one moment of honor more than he would have a lifetime of compromises."
Cannot add to that at all ... there is no need.
No need to add anything...except a bump! And a ping!
I was so gratified to hear this. I talked to Duane Frederic this morning (he wrote the Staff Study used to help document and underscore the official request) and he informed me of the latest.
A wonderful Christmas present to America and to the memory of a truly great American and heretofore unsung hero.
Perhaps now his story of heroism, patriotism and valor will no longer be unsung.
BTTT
BTTT
I wish Doug Miller were still alive to see this happen. Hell,I just wish he were still alive. He spent thousands of dollars of his own money and untold hours of time visiting DC and trying to get this done. He and LTC Bob Howard were both involved in this,and both men knew a little something themselves about what it takes to be a hero. Bob Howard is the most decorated American soldier in HISTORY. More valor awards than Sgt Alvin York and Lt.Audie Murphy combined. Of course,he and Doug both are MOH winners.
BTW,if Bubba Bush doesn't sign this,he might as well go ahead and wipe his ass on the flag. I can't think of anything he could do that would be more disrespectful of America than not take the trouble to sign a simple document that would FINALLY give recogonition to one of the bravest and patriotic young heroes this or any other nation has ever known. I still get teary-eyed at the thought of Rocky stuck down in his hole in the rain the morning they came to execute him,singing God Bless America at the top of his lungs to inspire the other POW's while he waited for his executioners. THERE,by God was a hero and a MAN!
Thank you. That is the ultimate form of tribute,and the type of thing Rocky deserves. In MY opinion,it is a damn shame that every high schooler in this country doesn't know the names of Americans like Rocky. While they may know the full arrest records of pathetic losers like Snoop Doggy Dog,I doubt a more than a handful in the whole country even recogonize the names Audie Murphy or Alvin York. It's not only their loss,but the country's loss,too. My generation had REAL heroes to look up to.
Yea, you old farts were real lucky. LOL
Perhaps now, with his MOH and with the Plaza, we can start down the path of getting his name and his deeds the visibility and recognition they so richly deserve ... and that our nation so desparetly needs.
May felings about the good dieing young are best summed up by an old cowboy poem:
I've heard it said, so it must be true,
"that only the good die young" ...
Well, tough old cusses like me aint dead,
no, we'll stay 'til the last dog's hung.
Regards and God's best to you and yours for the hildays and throughout the new year.
And God rest Rocky's soul and that of James Rowe and the others of his compatriots who worked so hard for this day.
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