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Posted on 03/24/2002 11:33:16 PM PST by Snow Bunny
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There ain't nuthin' like an Arizona sunrise!
Now I just need a better camera to capture 'em!
This is a good one. Those guys are the real heros.
Thanks for bringing my thoughts to them.
My cousin was a conscientious objector in during the Vietnam war. But being from our family, he knew where his duty lay. He went to the Army recruiting office, informed them of his CO status, and volunteered to join up, only as long as he could be a medic. He was accepted, went to basic, went to medic training, and went to Vietnam. I was on leave at his home Christmas of 1984 and we were talking about his experiences in Vietnam. I asked him "Rick, how many people did you save?" He got quiet, and started crying, and told me that no one had ever asked him that before. Instead, they always wanted to know how many he had killed, and couldn't understand when he tried to explain.
Here's to the medics that came, no matter the call.
Semper Fidelis,
Norb
"May We Never Forget Their Valor"
Vietnam medic receives Medal of Honor three decades late
by Brooke Ruivivar
WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Feb. 9, 2000) - Alfred Rascon was a hero to the soldiers in his platoon after his actions in March of 1966 in the Long Khanh Province in Vietnam.
In a ceremony at the White House Feb. 8, President Bill Clinton presented Rascon with a Medal of Honor that was decades in the making. He commended both Rascon and the soldiers who nominated him for two separate battles. For Rascon, the honor came for his actions in Vietnam. For his platoon mates, the praise came for their persistent fight to attain a Medal of Honor for Rascon.
Secretary of the Army Louis Caldera echoed Clinton's thanks to Rascon's former platoon mates at a ceremony to formally induct Rascon into the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon.
"Without the efforts of his former comrades at arms, who were so persistent in the halls of Congress and the White House and here, in insisting that Alfred Rascon's heroic deeds be recognized, there would be no Medal of Honor ceremony today," Caldera said. "A special thanks goes to them ... and to Congressman Lane Evans, who sponsored the legislation authorizing the Pentagon to waive the time period for these awards from years past so that we may recognize deeds like Alfred Rascon's."
Those deeds occurred on March 16, 1966, when Rascon was a 20-year-old specialist assigned as a medic to the Reconnaissance Platoon, 1st of the 503d Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate), according to his award citation. His platoon drew intense enemy fire and Rascon risked his life to save other soldiers. He repeatedly put himself in the line of fire to protect wounded platoon mates, sheltering them from grenade blasts, shrapnel and machine gun fire.
Although he was wounded himself, he managed to crawl across the field and retrieve extra ammunition for a machine-gunner, which his citation said helped his platoon win the battle.
When the enemy fire subsided, he would not give up his duty as medic, directing the evacuation of critically wounded soldiers treating their wounds. Finally, assured that the soldiers were receiving the help they needed, he allowed his own wounds to be treated.
"On that distant day, in that far away place, this man gave everything he had, utterly and selflessly, to protect his platoon mates and the nation he was still not yet a citizen of," Clinton said. "Later, [Rascon] said with characteristic modesty, 'I did it because I had to, and that's all there is to it.' "
Rascon, born in Chihuahua, Mexico, has lived in the United States for most of his life. He said he felt compelled to volunteer to join the Army to give back to the country that had given his family so much, although he did not officially become a citizen until 1967, after his first tour of duty in Vietnam.
"You have taught us once again that being American has nothing to do with place of birth, racial or ethnic origins, it comes straight from your heart," Clinton said.
Rascon's desire to serve his country can be traced back to his childhood, Clinton said.
"He grew up near three military bases, and fell in love with the Armed Forces. At the advanced age of 7, wanting to do his part to defend America, he built a homemade parachute, and jumped off the roof of his house," Clinton said.
"Unfortunately, in his own word, the chute had a 'total malfunction,' and he broke his wrist. But as usual, he was undeterred. He graduated from high school and enlisted in the United States Army. Appropriately, he became a medic for a platoon of paratroopers."
After Clinton presented him with the Medal of Honor, Rascon's name and picture were unveiled in the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes during a ceremony led by Secretary Caldera.
"Mr. Rascon, by virtue of his stirring acts of heroism and courage, now joins the hallowed company of other heroes listed here on the roll call of honor in this sacred hall," Caldera said.
"Alfred Rascon risked his life and suffered grievous injuries to save the lives of his fellow soldiers in the face of overwhelming odds ... [but] to [him], the events of that day were nothing more than doing his duty."
Rascon had little to say about the honor.
"Above all, I want all of you to be very much aware that the Medal of Honor for me is not mine. It ends up being that of those individuals who were with me that day in Vietnam," Rascon said.
"I am not a hero, I am just a person doing his duty as he would have any other day."
He fought back physically, emotionally and spiritually, became a Junior High teacher, married, now owns a Bed and Breakfast, which he does the maintenance on from his wheelchair.
He is a model of strength and courage to everyone who knows him, a model of the love of Christ, his Lord, and he is the least handicapped man I have ever met.
And therein lies the essence of true heroism. A hero is not what he percieves himself to be, rather by his self-sacrifice a man (or woman) becomes a hero in our eyes.
When offered the choice between doing what you've been trained to do and what is expected of you, or doing only enough to keep yourself from harm, the hero does his duty for his brothers without regard for self.
For all who are out there now, be they regular or reserve, man or woman, young or old...your country loves you, and expects only the best of you and for you.
Salute
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War has come to our shores. It was committed on American soil. We have been able to live in Freedom only because of those who have fought in the past wars giving life, limb and all the sacrifices for us to live in Freedom and go about our day without fear. 
This is the Freeper version of the USO Canteen. Where soldiers could come and feel a small part of being at home. It is a place where you that have family in the military can post a thought to a loved one that might be able to read it far away from home. A place where we that support our military can help support them, post to them, fun graphics showing the price in America and our troops. Poems, quotes, cartoons, or articles of how America is behind our troops.
