I’m surprised that the cadets know what the Medal of Honor is. How long before mentioning it will be forbidden at the service academies?
This is a story from 1976.
Talking about men who were cadets almost 50 years ago.
Back then they knew what it was and what it meant.
Agreed. How long till participation Medals of Honor for all?
Oh, they know.
I was in Normandy, France on June 6, 2004 for the annual memorial. This happened to be the 60th Anniversary of D-Day.
My brother and finished walking the beach and hiked up the short trail that takes you to a back entrence to the Cemetery Americain, which was closed to unauthorized people for the event. It was guarded by what looked like a full company of US Army personnel, perhaps 60 to 80 soldiers, mostly sitting around laughing and chatting at the time, just being available as they were ordered to do.
A man and woman were talking next to a parked bus. My brother — a World War II historian — instantly recognized Medal of Honor winner Walt Ehlers from seeing him on the History Channel. This, just after my brother had recognized and talked to Franz Gockel, who was a 17-year old German machine gun operator on D-Day, who my brother also recognized from the History Channel.
Then one of of the soldiers noticed that Ehlers was wearing the medal of honor. He bolted back to the group of soldiers beckoning them over and yelling at them to “come here, come here!”. They blew him off, hurling insults and rolling their eyes.
“No guys. He is wearing the Medal of Honor!”
I have never seen people move so fast. They were on their feet and mobbed Ehlers in the blink of an eye. We barely had time to move out of the way.
Yes, this was 20 years ago but I don’t think foot soldiers have changed that much in that time. Many people who enlist are till immensely patriotic. The Brass are getting are woke and trying to beat it out of them, but I wouldn’t sell the foot soldiers, sailors, airmen short on their patriotism. I think its alive and well in the rank-and-file.
Recruiting doesn’t go to well with liberals.