May God bless you and may He bless Hiram, wherever he is!
John, Tonk, Meek ~~~ Mega-Pings please.
Posted on 02/21/2004 10:50:26 PM PST by redrock
Okay.....so where do you draw the line???
I mean....just how do you decide????
This person did this....that person did that. ALL did as they were asked by their Nation...and yet....some in this Nation are trying to paint some as "Good"...and some as "Bad" based on where they spent their time in the service of their Country.
So...where do you draw the line???
The Democratic's are trying to paint one person (John Kerry) with the the words "Good"..based upon his time spent on active duty in Vietnam.
They are also trying to paint another (George Bush) with the words "Bad"....based upon his time spent as a member of the National Guard...stateside.
The Democrats are trying, both directly and indirectly, to say that one type of service is Honourable....and the other not.
George Bush spent his time in service as a member of the National Guard. It was at a time when many, not wanting to go to Vietnam, went into the Guard...or the Reserve....or got College deferments..or if they went into the service...tried to make sure they were assigned to Germany or stateside.
Did George Bush enlist in the National Guard to avoid going to Vietnam??? Maybe. But even if he did....so what. It's what people did in those days. It's what people do now.
More importantly...he served his time...and did his job. The job his Nation asked of him.
John Kerry enlisted in the Navy....and he DID go to Vietnam. He served roughly 4 months. Got 3 'bandaid' Purple Hearts...which somehow is supposed to make him a better person than George Bush who has none. Does the number of Purple Hearts decide which person is more 'valuable'?? or able to make command decisions??? or lead this Nation??? (as an afterthought....I have 2 Purple Hearts....neither are of the 'bandaid' type...does that mean I'm not worth as much as John Kerry?? I guess according to the Democrats....I'm not).
The Democratic Party would have you believe (and the parading around of John Kerry's "Band-of-Brothers" also tries to establish it as a fact) that serving in the National Guard somehow makes you less of a person....or makes you less able to lead a Nation....somehow makes you less of an American than anyone who has spent time in combat.
The Democratic Party would have you believe that ANYONE who has not spent time in combat does NOT qualify to be a part of that grouping .......our "Band-of-Brothers".
The Democratic Party would have you believe....that George Bush does not qualify.
The Democratic Party would have you believe....that the soldier of the following story does not qualify.
----------------------
"Cornbread"
I was in my third month in Vietnam. A combat medic. I was eighteen....and in way over my head.
I had just come back from a patrol.
From the moment we landed in the LZ...we had taken casualties. Both dead and wounded.
For the next 4 days we fought almost non-stop with North Vietnamese Regulars. Tough soldiers who gave as good as they got.
Arriving back at the base....I was covered in sweat....more than smelly...covered in mud...and the blood of those I had worked on....covered in the bits and pieces of my friends. I went to check on those wounded we air-lifted out.
After checking on them ....I went to the mess...to get some coffee and food in me.
The cook there ( another young soldier....name of Hiram from somewhere in the Mid-west) tried to get me to talk...and maybe lighten up a little. I kinda complained about the food....and started on some wierd rant about not having any cornbread...(I love cornbread....have since I can remember)
It's just one of those things that happens I guess. I was severly depressed...I missed my family (ok...I missed my mom most of all)....and sitting there covered in the mud and blood I guess I was losing it. In my entire life it was the lowest point....the one time I actually was close to hurting myself.
...and there I was ranting on and on about cornbread.
I stormed out of the mess...and kinda just walked around for around an hour before going back to my quarters...(hooch). I was still angry...and depressed when I went inside. It was like everything at once was happening in my head...and my heart.
...and there on my bunk (actually almost exactly in the middle...funny how you remember certain things) was a plate.
...and on the plate was a pile of cornbread.
Fresh and hot.
Hiram had somehow found the cornbread....baked it...and put in my quarters.(He later told me that I looked like I 'needed it'.....)
At that moment.....(it was like I was just re-connected with home...with reality....with all the love my family had raised me with.) all the anger left....and I just sat there with some silly grin on my face.
Funny thing....but I firmly believe that stupid plate of cornbread saved my life.
So...the Democrats can tell everyone that unless you've been in combat....you're not a hero.....that you cannot be a part of "The Band-of-Brothers".
..and I will loudly tell them that they are dead wrong.
Because on that day a life was saved.
Saved by a person who never got close to combat.....who never went thru a morter attack....or a fire-fight with NVA. A person who was a cook....
NO...the Democrats are wrong....
Hiram, a cook, is part of my "Band-of-Brothers".....and always will be.
George Bush,a member of the National Guard, is also.
...as is every single person, male or female, who had put on the uniform. That's all it takes to be a member of a special club.
The Band-Of-Brothers.
As for getting it out to another place...I have no real idea how...or if what I write is good enough for them.
I really do appreciate what you have said...
redrock
It is very brave of you to put forward such a deeply personal memory. Thank you for your service to our country.
Not only does this post show us that all service is valuable, but even more important, it shows the hand of God reaching out through the most humble of deeds. Wherever he is, may God bless Hiram, and God bless you.
redrock
May God Bless the United States of America.
redrock
May God bless you and may He bless Hiram, wherever he is!
John, Tonk, Meek ~~~ Mega-Pings please.
"George Bush, John Kerry, Vietnam, a
"Band-of-Brothers" and.........Cornbread ... Mega-Pings please.Certainly. Thanks for the post, Redrock.
Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my General Interest ping list!. . .don't be shy.
It was a difficult one to tell.
redrock
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