My Son and War

Painfully typed in from the American Legion Magazine, Vol, 156, No. 1, pp. 30-31 | January 2004 | Frank Schaeffer

[FreeReign]

I read this article in the laundromat yesterday. I found it to be a powerful indictment on "Military Families Speak Out." It is not online at the American Legion Magazine Web site, so i typed it in.

This "Military Families Speak Out" thing is really starting to backfire and look for it to continue.

How could the DNC be so shortsighted on this? Or are they doing this on purpose?

[ALOHA RONNIE]

NEVER FORGET


...JOHN KERRY called us American Soldiers fighting against Terrorists during the Vietnam War...

...TERRORISTS.

http://www.TheAlamoFILM.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1320




...MEL GIBSON was inspired to do his "PASSION of the Christ" while filming the real story of we American Soldiers fighting against Terrorists during the Vietnam War in...

..."WE WERE SOLDIERS"

http://www.TheAlamoFILM.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=39081



I wonder who got it right..?




Signed:.."ALOHA RONNIE" Guyer / Vet-"WE WERE SOLDIERS" Battle of IA DRANG-1965

http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_collection.htm
(IA DRANG-1965 Photos)


NEVER FORGET

[Colt .45]

My having enlisted during the Vietnam era, I tend to view skeptically such outpourings of patriotism from some folks. It may seem ungrateful, but it was a hard lesson learned in those days by a naieve youth. Now I think some of it is genuine, but some o it is merely "bandwagon jumping". I think the following poem describes it best for me -

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees! - Rudyard Kipling

Too many Americans are too willing to set back and take it easy. Let the other poor schmuck do it. But there are those out there who are a part of my "Band of Brothers" that know what an honor it is to serve.

If we are mark'd to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires:
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England:
God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one man more, methinks, would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made
And crowns for convoy put into his purse:
We would not die in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is called the feast of Crispian:
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian:'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispin's day.'
Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day: then shall our names.
Familiar in his mouth as household words
Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day. - Henry V, Shakespeare,

Lastly to those who are too busy to take the time to serve, you fall into the category of the following. -

"War is an ugly thing but not the ugliest of things; the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse."

"A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight; nothing he cares about more than his personal safety; is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." - John Stuart Mill

[Pahuanui]

Your question proves that you aren't paying attention, so why anyone would bother answering ....some of us are hopeful that others will wake up.

I've been paying most precise attention to what is going on in both places. I have very close friends there in the military who paint a different picture.

We have done astounding things in both Afghanistan and Iraq.

Define astounding. We are indeed doing some admirable things there. I see nothing at all that would justify, historically, if one is cognizant of the past 100 years of Iraqi history, describing what is happening there as 'astounding'. Please support your contention.

If you cared, you'd listen to the troops who are there, volunteering to risk their lives for freedom, and a better future for their families, or listen to the Iraqi people - not the Ba'athists and enemies of America our free press use as sources, but the many bloggers, and the new Iraqi free press...

Don't try to patronize me, and please don't bore me.

If you really care, spend a few hours here. Be warned, if you really care, and learn, it will be difficult repeating the popular AP anti-war pap without at least a twinge of a guilty conscience in the future...and you may even lose a few elite, popular friends.

I have no 'elite friends' to lose, thanks.

It may come as a surprise to you, but those who think freely, and consider all sides and sources of information, might just come to different conclusions than you already, apparently, have.

[baseballmom]

Wonderful article, 'pod.

Thanks so much for taking the time to type it up.

[2111USMC]

Thanks for your hard work 'Pod.

Proof that some of the people "get it".

Semper Fi!

[rdb3]

[sauropod]

Try getting a job in one of the services as a civilian and serve that way.

[sauropod]

I prefer to think of it as honor a father is paying to his son for making the choice he did while still going through the exercise of thinking the whole thing through.

[sauropod]

"Thanks. I don't mean to be so passionate about supporting our troops and their efforts in the War on Terror but I can't forget the first battle, The World Trade Center/Pentagon/Penn plane crash."

I can't either. I lost a good friend that had an office in the basement of the Pentagon that day.

[sauropod]

Glad you saw this. I meant to ping you.

[White Eagle]

My son graduates as Valedictorian of his high school this June. When he started making plans for after HS, the first thing he decided on was time in the military. We talked about West Point and Annapolis, but he decided he wanted to go to college and ROTC. He got an early acceptance into the program, then he selected a school.

His mother and I went with him to the Navy recruiting office at Fort Sheridan, and I actually made a little speech to him before I let him sign the paper. "You realize that with 4 years of college, 4 active and 4 reserve, you'll be 30 before you get the DD214. And the purpose of the military is to kill people and break things. That's what you're signing up for now, because the Navy may let you change your mind in the next few years, but I won't."

He agreed that he knew what he was getting into, and then he signed. A good friend of his from school is working on West Point, where his older brother graduated a few years ago. The older brother has been in Iraq since the deployment last year.

I haven't heard much from other parents in the senior class about all this, but what I have heard is positive. When our son leaves this summer for his first summer training and then off to college, it will be hard to not worry about him all the time, but I've found that you worry about your kids all the time, regardless of how old they are or what they are doing.

We don't live in a rich Volvo neighborhood like the author of this article, but there is still a sense that only a selected few will step up to defend this country. As long as we have leaders who use the military wisely, and as long as we decide that we want to be the greatest country in the world, we will have to watch our children take on the big jobs and hope for their safe return.

[sauropod]

I would only say to you that those who wear a uniform do not have the market cornered in patriotism.

If you have hung around this forum for any length of time at all and perused the rallies for the troops/ counterprotests/ protests against His Slickness/ impeachment proceedings protests/ and protests against algor stealing the 2000 election you would know better.

Sorry. I'm not buying.

[sauropod]

Great post. Go Army :-).

[MEG33]

With all the important things pointed out to you,I'll add that you missed the sarcasm of one who is a pacifist(except as a cyber warrior insulting the vets,military and their families).

[ohioWfan]

The problem is that no one ever bothers to stop and question why our sons and daughters are dying.

The statement is absurd because it is sweeping in scope (NO one ever bothers), and it implies that military families just send their sons and daughters willy nilly into wars that they haven't thought about.

It makes absolutely no sense unless you are presuming that military parents, spouses, and members of the military themselves are shallow and stupid.

Of COURSE conservatives question why 'our sons and daughters are dying.' Just because you personally 'never hear' what you want to hear doesn't mean that your assessment is valid. It isn't, and your subsequent reasoning and conclusions are a complete distortion of reality.

Like I said.......absurd.

[armymarinedad]

I've been paying most precise attention to what is going on in both places. I have very close friends there in the military who paint a different picture.

I also have been paying close attention to what is going on in both places. I have a son who just left Iraq that has been there for 13 months. I have another son who is in the Stan. I have been getting phone calls from them on a regular basis. Our little town is one of the first stopping points for returning troops and I have had the opportunity to talk with dozens of them. We have had close to 200 flights come through here. You can listen to the view of the liberal press if you want but I trust the people who fought there to tell me what is going on. I have talked to all ranks from joes to generals and they believe in the mission. They see improvement in both countries. They know it will take time to complete the mission but they know they are up to the task. Many will gladly return when called. The nurses returning from Ramstein kept talking about the wounded who just wanted to get back to their unit not back to the US. They have seen the devastation and horror of war but they know their mission is the right thing to do.

[arasina]

Wonderful article. Thanks for typing it in for us, sauropod.

Howlin: Got your ping list handy for a good read and an interesting thread?

[Old Sarge]

Could y'all use a little kitty toy tonight?

[ohioWfan]

Thank you so much for that ACCURATE assessment of what's going on in Iraq and Afghanistan.

For some, political bias distorts the ability to understand what's really going on. Usually it's from those on the left. Sometimes......obviously...... it's not.

Our son will be coming home in a matter of weeks from a year's duty in Kuwait and Iraq. He tells the story that your sources tell.

The mission is just.