Posted on 05/20/2005 6:22:29 PM PDT by Dubya
Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day 2005 Message From the Secretary of Defense
I am pleased to join millions of Americans in honoring the brave men and women in uniform -- those who serve today, those who have fallen in battle, and those veterans who proudly served in the past. My father volunteered to serve in the Navy after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Millions enlisted to battle against the tide of tyranny then threatening the world. And I was privileged to serve in the Navy some 50 years ago. Now, more than 50 years later, I count my time in uniform as a most important period in my life. Thousands, if not millions, of others who have served undoubtedly feel the same way.
Military service has always been one of our country's most noble callings. America has long been the defender of liberty -- the country that has stepped forward to defend those who could not defend themselves. This was true from our country's early days at Lexington and Concord, where the earliest citizen soldiers defended their farms and homes, their new country, and the cause of freedom.
In the years that followed, the U.S. armed forces have become freedom's champion -- at Gettysburg; in the forest of the Argonne; on the beaches of Normandy and Iwo Jima; in the air during the Berlin blockade; and today in places like Kabul and Baghdad.
This new war we face has required our military to adapt its thinking, and challenged us to prepare in new ways. Yet whatever the mission, whatever the challenge that lies before us, each of you who are serving our country are confronting it with grit and courage. I thank each of you and your families for your service to our country.
When my father passed away some 30 years ago, I found a letter in his papers that he had received from then secretary of the Navy, James Forrestal -- who later became the first secretary of defense. Secretary Forrestal apparently sent this letter to all those who served to arrive after they had returned to civilian life. Noting the historic achievements made by the U.S. military, he wrote: "You have served in the greatest Navy in the world. ... It crushed two enemy fleets at once, receiving their surrenders only four months apart. It brought our land-based air power within bombing range of the enemy and set our ground armies on the beachheads of final victory. ... For your part in these achievements you deserve to be proud as long as you live. The nation you served at a time of crisis will remember you with gratitude."
That letter to my father now hangs on my office wall in the Pentagon. It is a reminder to me of our country's fighting spirit. And I see that same spirit in the actions of the men and women in uniform every day. It is that spirit that we honor on this holiday: the selfless duty and devotion passed down from generations who served before, and the courage of those who sacrificed their lives in service to our country.
Our country is proud of every member of our armed forces -- volunteers all -- and we are deeply grateful to those who have sacrificed for the cause of liberty. May God bless each of you, may God bless your families, and may God bless our wonderful country.
Donald H. Rumsfeld
News Archive http://www.defenselink.mil/news/May2005/20050520_1242.html
Take a servicemember to lunch!
He dropped out of high school in 1934 since he was oldest of 4 children and needed to work to help out. He was hired at Curtiss Wrights as an apprentice machinist. On Dec 8 when he reported for work the union shop steward gave a speech where he reminded the workers that while enlisting was patriotic, war materiel was equally as important. Their division was making the engines that powered the B-17. Dad was single and a master machinist so he stayed on
In 1944 he married with me and he was now building the engines for the B-29. One day he got home from work and the draft notice was sitting on the table. I was one and sitting on my Mom's lap. He called his shop steward and said that if he had to go it would be in the Navy! He became a gun crew leader since his mechanical experience mitigated when he got to gunnery school. He was assigned to Liberty Ships and were designated the "armed guard" for the Merchant Marine. From June of 1944 to Oct 1945 he made one trip to Chile and received his "Neptune Initiation". He made 7 Atlantic crossings through torpedo alley and participated in the Invasion of Southern France. He never fired a shot in anger but he did his duty as millions of others did and DO today!
The Greatest Genration!! You betcha!
Earlier thread here http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1407378/posts
Instead of reporting to the Army with his draft notice he went to the Navy recruiter and enlisted in the Navy. The Draft Dodging label he placed upon himself and it was a family joke which I chose to share.
My Dad was very patriotic. We were returning from a Sunday trip to Lake Hopatcong. As we drove through Paterson NJ it was past dusk and the Flag was still flying at City Hall. He drove to the police station and insisted that the flag be properly lowered and stowed according to flag protocol. We went back to City Hall and the whole family stood at attention and saluted while two police officers, (WWII veterans as well), performed the task.
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