Posted on 07/05/2024 10:36:45 AM PDT by george76
On the occasion of his 100th birthday, United States Marine Corps and World War 2 veteran Carl Dekle reflected on his long life and the blessings he’s enjoyed in an interview with Tampa’s Fox 13. The Silver Star recipient recalled the Battle of Guadalcanal and his gratitude that the Lord brought him home and says that he would do it again if he had to — and if he were the right age.
In full uniform for the interview, Dekle said:
“Most important thing in my life was serving my country. I don’t think I could take away from that…It was an honor for me to serve my country and if I had to do it again and I was the same age. I would do it. I guarantee you.
…
“You just remember everything’s beautiful and live every day to the fullest. Just enjoy everything you possibly can. And here I sit at 100. They tell me I’m 100. I don’t believe it sometimes. Because I don’t need to worry about age. I’m not going to, I just keep on keeping on.”
As one of many in the “Greatest Generation” who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today, but one of the few still living, Dekle has a unique perspective on our country and what has happened to it over the years. He spoke about how beautiful life is and the world is, then broke down crying, saying, “This is not the country we fought for.”
On his 100th birthday, Marine and World War II veteran, Carl Dekel said he loves his country and that's why he's worried about the future of America. Watch and listen. pic.twitter.com/y1fensLA4C
— Wesley Hunt (@WesleyHuntTX) July 2, 2022 “People don’t realize what they have … Nowadays I am so upset because the things we did, and the things we fought for, and the boys that died for it, it’s all gone down the drain. Our country is going to hell in a handbasket. We haven’t got the country we had when I was raised, not at all.”
He also made a powerful statement regarding the direction that the United States of America is headed:
“Nobody will have the opportunity I had … That’s not what our boys, that’s not what they died for … It’s just not the same. That isn’t what we fought for.”
Watching this man who sacrificed so much for our country, who watched his brothers-in-arms die for it, weep, believing it was in vain, is heartbreaking.
As America gets ready to celebrate 246 years of independence, a FOX News poll showed that just 39 percent of Americans are proud of the country today, compared to 69 percent of people proud of the country in June of 2011. An astounding 56 percent say they are not proud of the country today.
Former congressman Sean Duffy explained why people should be proud of the United States of America, including the fact that veterans such as Carl Dekle fought for our country, for the freedoms our country offers:
“When it comes down to it, we need to be proud of who we are. Don’t let anyone tell you or your kids that we should be ashamed of this country, because there’s so much to be proud of. Since 1776, the United States has only grown stronger and stronger and stronger. We’re the most innovative and creative country in the world.”
Although the polls may seem grim this year, we live in the greatest country on earth. Even those who bash the country remain in America. The freedoms that Dekle and his generation fought for are the reason why people are able to criticize America while simultaneously enjoying the country’s benefits.
“We’re the land of opportunity. People travel far and wide to come right here to America. We’re the most generous country in the world. We give and give to other countries who aren’t as fortunate because we want to help people.” Duffy continued. “What other country sends their young men to other parts of the world to fight, not for power, not for money, but solely for other people’s freedom? And we’re the most free country on this earth.”
There are millions of citizens who are proud to be an American. They will fight for her like our veterans, our heroes fought for her. America will always be the land of the free and the home of the brave. We must preserve the American Dream. Times may be difficult now, but when times were difficult for our heroes, they did not give up. They fought, fought for our freedom, fought for the American Dream, and fought for We The People, and won. As Ronald Reagan said:
“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”
The American Dream is alive and well. We live in the land of opportunities. We can’t take the freedoms we have for granted, as these freedoms are not free. We must preserve the land that we love and cherish.
Postscript: Sergeant Carl S. Dekle passed away in August 2022. The article has been updated with the corrected spelling of his name.
Yep. The third world walked right across the border and got paid to do it by our own government. Commies run everything.
Exactly it was all a wasted effort on that generation, total waste and glad my kids choose a different path than the Military!
We watched fox13 Tampa for two hours this morning 8 am to 10 am. NOT A THING in there about this story.
Well, they did it to themselves. They came home and raised the hippie generation!
I’m actually glad my Navy-vet father isn’t alive to see the state of his beloved United States.
He died a couple years into the Obama regime and was already very sad and cynical about the future of our country.
He would be heartbroken if he were alive today
Yeah, I'm so glad we surrendered the military, schools, big businesses, judges, prosecutors, and the streets to the leftists. /s
Since World War I leaders with a global vision like Woodrow Wilson for starters then FDR and so on have been weaning us gradually away from the vision of the Founders and the Constitution.
...my father, my father-in-law, four uncles and an aunt who served as a yeoman in the WAVES, all of whom have passed on, all served in the Second World War....were they alive to see the state of our country today, they would be heartbroken...
About a year ago in my hospitals ER I met a Marine vet from WW2.
:Ernie’’ told me he was ‘’101 years young!’’.
Ernie survived Tarawa. My heart goes out to these men. God how I hate what liberals have done to our country.
Conservatives are afraid they will be seen breaking the law as the Law needs breaking and often...maybe some cracked heads as well.
Yep. Sin, more sin and now excessive sin and NO fear of God. Hide and watch, wait and see.
Exact same here.
“This is not the country we fought for.”
You got that right brother!
This all because of Democrats!
That is the only problem the USA
really has. Everything else can be dealt with
but you can’t reason with self centered idiots.
You fight for what is known at the time you fight. The future is not your to see.
Those who fought in 1776 probably never thought of the Mexican War. Those in 1812 probably never thought about the future Civil War. Those in the Civil War never thought of the first world war and those then never thought of the second world war. Those there never thought of Korea or Vietnam, and they never thought of the Middle East.
Wasted effort!?!?!?
Thats not true.
The most naive generation put their lives on the line to bring socialism back here to the States and got everything they wanted for decades.
Most of them just didnt understand what they were wishing for.
The only thing unusual in this story is that those that take up arms for socialists generally dont live long enough to experience buyers remorse.
I think it is more because of Godless liberalism. That is what started it and eventually the Godless liberals filtered into and took over the Democrat party to the point where we are now. There IS no actual Democrat party anymore, it is the party of Godless liberalism, and treason.
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