Posted on 11/12/2006 6:57:13 PM PST by The Mayor
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T.G.I.F. at the Finest |
Every Thursday at the Finest  |
Please pass this to your prayer group.
Prayers up for David and Christina K. Godspeed to those soldiers.Prayers that all return safely to their families..May God's strength and comfort be with the families as they await the outcome of the mission.
Thank you MEG
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13, 2006 - The Defense Department's top civilian welcomed the Marine Corps' new commandant today during a change-of-command ceremony at the Marine Barracks here.
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld watched as outgoing commandant Gen. Michael Hagee passed the Marine Corps' battle flag and command to Gen. James T. Conway.
Rumsfeld praised both officers at the ceremony, citing Hagee's myriad accomplishments over the retiring general's long career.
As commandant, Hagee "left behind a Marine Corps that under his watch has become the best-trained, the best-led, and the best-equipped force in history," Rumsfeld pointed out.
Hagee has led the Marine Corps during some of the organization's most challenging times, Rumsfeld noted, citing the Marines' hard fighting in Fallujah, Ramadi and other parts of western Iraq.
As he looked at hundreds of Marines attired in their striking dress-blue uniforms, Rumfeld remarked that heroes aren't in short supply in the Marine Corps.
"We can say with pride that many of this nation's bravest young people are those who proudly wear the eagle, the globe and the anchor," the defense secretary asserted.
Rumsfeld pointed to the heroism of Marine Corps Cpl. Jason Dunham, of Scio, N.Y., the second Medal of Honor recipient from Operation Enduring Freedom, who gave his life to save his fellow Marines. On April 14, 2004, in the Iraqi town of Karabilah, Dunham covered an about-to-explode enemy grenade with his helmet and body, saving the lives of his fellow Marines. Dunham was seriously injured by the blast, and died of his wounds eight days later.
The defense secretary also recounted a meeting he'd had with a badly wounded Marine being treated at Bethesda Naval Hospital, Md. The Marine's fighting spirit was still strong despite his injuries, Rumsfeld recalled.
The wounded Marine had also expressed his wish, the secretary noted, that the American people would grant the military the time it needed to defeat the terrorists in Iraq.
"America is truly blessed to have young men and women like him willing to risk their lives in defense of our country and the cause of human freedom," Rumsfeld said. "Mike Hagee and I have been fortunate, we have been able to meet and know these fine, young people, every day, and see heroism up close."
The Marine Corps is also fortunate to have Conway step up to take over the reins from Hagee, Rumsfeld said. Conway led the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force in Iraq, the secretary recalled, and he had also shaped the minds of promising leaders at Marine Corps University.
The Marines and other members of the U.S. military "are in the hearts and the prayers of everyone here and the people all across our country," Rumsfeld said.
I loved the letter. Anyone (Kerry) should be able to understand this Marine's words. Thanks for this.
As usual, another great job! Thanks so much...
A woman made sure that there is one fewer forgotten soldier
By O.K. Carter
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
As tour guide Patricia Sowell listened to the tales of Marine veterans of the battle of Iwo Jima during a recent Metroplex reunion of 200 of the old veterans, she couldn't help but recall one of the most vivid memories of her childhood.
Summer 1945: A green military vehicle pulled up at her father's home, and two soldiers stepped out.
"For some reason they stopped at our house first," Sowell said. "What they told my father was that my cousin Ralph A. Barton Jr. -- the son of my dad's brother, dubbed Junior -- had been killed at sea on June 30 of 1945."
Barton, an Army Air Forces corporal, was 22. The end of World War II was only six weeks away.
The details of Barton's death are sketchy, but according to a letter from the ship's chaplain, Barton was killed instantly when a lifeboat came loose from its lashings and fell to the deck on the troop carrier USS Herald of the Morning.
"The soldiers told us that they had to bury him at sea," Sowell said.
"At the time he'd been married all of three months. I was a little flower girl at his wedding. He was just doing his job and his duty, nothing heroic, but he died serving his country just as surely as if he'd been killed at Iwo Jima or Leyte."
Sowell was young. Over the years she had a few military connections -- she was once ROTC Sweetheart at what was then Arlington State College -- and the recollection of her cousin and his death slowly faded. His widow eventually remarried but is now deceased, as are many other relatives, including his only sister.
"I'm all that's left," Sowell said.
But then came the reunion of Iwo Jima Marine veterans whom Sowell spent the day with.
"They were old guys, ages 78 to 100, and some in wheelchairs, but they all talked about men they had served with -- about men whose bodies were never recovered, about their friends whose bodies were never found," she said.
"It made me remember that day they told us about Junior, and I asked myself, 'What is there to mark his service, to at least provide some clue that he was here?'"
There was nothing but yellowing paper records.
So Sowell began checking, starting with suggestions from the ROTC unit at the University of Texas at Arlington.
The research was circuitous, from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to Social Security offices. It turns out that Barton was entitled to not only a memorial marker at a military cemetery but also a color guard, a rifle salute and a bugler playing taps -- the full military honors. Sowell applied for that.
The marker bearing Barton's name and the inscription "Proudly served" was finally installed this month in the Memorial Garden section of the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery in Grand Prairie.
That's why Saturday, Veterans Day, found Sowell standing alone beside the new marker for her cousin, 61 years, four months and 11 days after his body was surrendered to the seas off Eniwetok Island.
She forwent taps and other ceremonies, favoring a few moments of quiet reflection instead.
"It's really about him, not me," she said.
There are, of course, many forgotten soldiers. Far too many. But now at last there's one fewer.
O.K. Carter's column appears Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays. Carter also co-hosts P3: People, Politics and Possibilities at 9:30 nightly on Time Warner cable Channel 95. 817- 548-5428, okc@star-telegram.com
Heads up, Please say a Prayer for the safety of these Brave men..
Amen.... Thank you!
Thank you Dolly!
God Bless these guys.
and I agree with you!
I will pray for this family and for all the men and women and their families involved in this dangerous mission. I can't imagine being in Christina's place. How terrified she must be! Please, keep us informed about this family, Rus. I feel just sick knowing what she and the other families are going through right now. May God protect them all.
Excellent Pics Maj!
Thank you Meg... That tells it all.
Thank you, Dubya, for bring this to our attention.
Thank you for coming by..
Some great posts you've presented Dubya, and we have added David and Christina to our prayer list along with his comrades in battle.
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