I'm hoping you have heeded Sarge's "guidance" and are having a peaceful and reflective Memorial Day.. It will not surprise me to find that this is so with our readers.
I found it interesting at Mass yesterday as the Deacon is leading us in the Prayer of the Faithful, his voice started wavering as he offered up a prayer "for those who moved into your care while serving in the Armed Forces". Took him a few tries to get through it. Looked around and there were quite a few people wiping their eyes.
All Veterans.
Mrs J and I were among them. We all know people who didn't get the opportunity to retire.
So, here's my list.
1. Joe. Was my Flight Commander in ROTC and graduated a year ahead of me. Graduated from UPT and was assigned to an F-111. Guidance system in his jet failed one night and flew him and his WSO into a mountain in New Mexico.
2. Rocket. When I was Flight Commander in F-15s, he was one of my guys . Died in a freak mid-air collision with another F-15. That one still leaves a mark.
3. Marty. Army LTC. My point of contact on the Army Staff at the Pentagon when I was on the Joint Staff. Good guy, Funny, quick with a joke, but always came through with what he said he could do. (Not a common trait in the Pentagon.) Dropped dead of a Heart Attack at his desk.
4. Harry. USMC LtCol. He'd been my advisor in SAMS for my thesis. The subject was "Proper employment of Tactical Airpower". Suffice it to say, he didn't always agree with my recommendations on using Marine air in conflicts. He listened well, fought hard, countered well and agreed when needed. The document was infinitely improved by his inputs. Left Leavenworth and took command of a Battalion at Camp Pendleton. Drowned while trying to rescue one of his Marines caught in a flash flood.
5. Ross. One of my students in the IP upgrade program at Holloman. He'd been an A-10 pilot and had a bit of a rough time learning how to teach air to air. Not surprisingly, he was quite skilled at teaching strafing. Made it through the upgrade program and was assigned to one of the other squadrons. Lived with his new bride across the street from me. Killed in a mid-air when the solo student in the other aircraft lost sight pulling lead for a gunshot and didn't inform Ross of that fact. Both students and Ross were lost.
None were lost in combat. I have three more on my list that were. Many of you also will know some that have and will remember them. As it should be. The ones I'm remembering today were lost either training for combat or supporting that training. Since the best way to minimize losses in Combat is to train as hard as possible for it forcing the folks looking for trouble to think twice before engaging us, IMHO, that justifies remembering them.
Enjoy your barbecue and beer today. They would have and that's as it should be.
But remember, it's a whole hell of a lot more than a "...long weekend."
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| Disgusting! Source |
Today, our only airworthy B17 “Sally B” will perform a fly past at the American Cemetery and Memorial, Cambridge.
ReplyDeleteThat's cool to watch. I'd seen "Nine O Nine" a couple of months before she crashed. She flew a couple of times over my house, but I didn't get any pictures, now she's gone. Please get some pictures while you can.
DeleteEvery once in while the complete and total cluelessness of some folks, who really oughtta know better, is just breath-taking.
ReplyDeleteThat's all I'm gonna say...
I think the Latin word for politician is "Clueless".
Deleteand... That's all I'm gonna say. ;-)
What I would post here in reply to the VP would get me tossed off this site thus...........
ReplyDeleteMaybe so....but a lot (an awful lot) of people are thinking it. Just sayin'
DeleteBehold The Zeitgeist, The Spirit of our Age.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your list, Juvat.
They were good folks. They deserve more, but certainly nothing less.
DeleteI knew 4 of the Force Reconnaissance guys killed in the CH-46 crash on the USNS Pecos. Horrible to do during a training mission. "Horsehead" Ed Smith: Recon Team Leader par excellence. Killed in Iraq, only casualty for his battalion.
ReplyDeleteThere is a memorial in the park across the street for a young LtJg that lived in this area. he was killed on the Cole in Yemen by that bomb blast. I put flags on his memorial every year.
I remember exactly where I was when I found out Joe had been killed. It was a Friday night after a long week. The Reagan Buildup was in full force, and we'd been on the Early Go. That was a 0330 wakeup for an 0430 brief for 3 sorties then debrief, depart for home NLT 1630 so we could do it again the next day. M-F. I was beat. Came home, had dinner and was watching the news mentioning the crash and the Pilot and WSO names. Time stopped for a while.
DeleteI feel like I'm remembering a holy day from a long ago civilization, or a far away land this year.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, der vp sums up the current state of affairs.
Lot of truth in that first statement, STxAR. Holy Day, indeed!
DeleteYou mean, the person sitting in the VP's chair, right?
My dad was always a bit subdued on this day, that happens when you've lost too many to count easily. And while we think of military losses on this day, and very rightfully so, I also try to think about the fallen men and women from other less well known (or even unknown) branches of the government who have given their all in service to our country, in some cases while working in military operations. I have known a couple of terrific folks who are now represented by stars on a wall in northern VA - may we never forget the sacrifices of any of our fallen brothers and sisters.
ReplyDeleteAgree, wholeheartedly, Tom. While shoeclerks abound in the DC area, unknown to many there are actual hero's working out in the field. They deserve a little more recognition than a name on a wall, as you said.
DeleteThanks
My appreciation is even greater this year for their sacrifices, defending our country.
ReplyDeleteAt a time when it appears there are people actively seeking to destroy that which they defended.
Worrisome, it is.
John Blackshoe
Worrisome, indeed!
DeleteInfuriating? Absolutely!
Those friends and acquaintances that died while I was in the service were also not war time loses. They died when something went wrong with their C-130. Two died in a no go-around approach in the wilds of Alaska making sure our borders were secured during the Cold War. One died when the wing came off the C-130 during a training mission in Arkansas. Another died when the C-130 he was on went down during departure from an airbase in West Germany, again during the Cold War.
ReplyDeleteA salute to all who passed in combat or serving this country. Some of us didn't but were willing to put our lives on the line for Our Country. A salute to those too that have passed on past their service in particular my grandfathers, a great grandfather and my father. My great grandfathers survived the Battle of Gettysburg where he was wounded.
It would be very interesting to hear your great grandfather's story, even if it's second or third hand.
DeleteNot much of the story is known. He was a member of the 2nd New Hampshire Volunteers. He was wounded at Gettysburg. He removed the bullet from his leg with his pocket knife. My family is in possession of both the bullet and knife. He went to what I understand was the only Union hospital in the area where he was visited by President Lincoln as the President made rounds amongst the wounded. That appears to have been the end of the war for him since he was initially reported as MIA.
DeleteAnother thing not known until my father found it was that my great grandfather's brother was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions at Gettysburg. My grandmother never knew of this or at least didn't tell my father about it.
I have been fortunate to only know one who died while in service, SFC Paul Smith (MOH.)
ReplyDeleteI know lots of people who served and died afterwards, though. Dad, Colonel Leverette, Doug Farnsworth (B-58 pilot) and many many more.
Sad but not sad day. Day of Remembrance.
And, sad, but the escaped animatronic who's that thing in the picture's 'boss' said as much stupidity but it's not getting reported. "Stay cool out there." And yet they got 'more' votes than OMB. Grrrr..
To all the fallen, Godspeed.
And here's SFC Smith's story
DeleteThanks, Beans
https://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/smith/
DeleteFixed it for you.
A timely post my brother.
ReplyDeleteWell done.
Thanks, Sarge.
DeleteI remember those whose lives were shortened by their active duty injuries.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good point, WSF. There's probably WAY more of those.
DeleteAs I have gotten older, I have come to realize the fragility of life. We all assume that we will die of old age in bed. Not necessarily so. I started to become aware of this when a childhood friend tied of a drug overdose decades ago.
ReplyDeleteOne of the Lexicans published on the F/B page a bit about the preparation room at Dover, when the KIA from the Middle East are brought. A "behind the scenes" look, where the dress uniform will be put on the deceased in an almost reverent manner, even if the body is horrible mangled and the casket will remain closed.
Joe was my first close friend death. That's why the manner of learning it rattled me so.
DeleteMay those folks in the prep room, at the moment of death, be carried to heaven on angel's wings.
Amen, brother. Absent Comrades.
ReplyDeleteYep, Old NFO, Absent Comrades!
DeleteHand salute.
ReplyDeleteI remember Harry in the local news, sad day. Heroic effort.
He was a good man. Died doing his best to save "his guys". Pretty much the definition of an actual "Leader".
DeleteI never served. I did a lot of my growing up with my dad , USMC '41-'47, at his VFW Post 7041, and at KoC events. KoC was heavy with WWII vets, including one who had been Maquis ("Frenchy" Fecteau. Never knewhis first name, ended up pairing with him at parish work parties when I was 10 or 11 and he told me to call him Frenchy, not Mr. Fecteau). I was seriously considering enlisting in the Corps and one of my dad's friends, retired USMC major took me aside and told me,"Don't. " and explained why he had resigned his commission rather than go to Vietnam again. But growing up like that gave me a great respect for those who put on the uniform.
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/yiGU-0iElko
DeleteCan't say your Dad's friend gave you bad advise. The Military was pretty screwed up after Vietnam. It wasn't until Reagan took over (IMHO) that things started getting turned around. Then it was pretty good until the next D took power, it's been a long slow spiral down since.
Nice video. Nice church!
Thanks, Juvat. Basically the major told me that with the fall of Saigon, and the US making noise about going back into that quagmire, and given my grades and physical conditioning I would be prime meat for leading patrols through rice paddies and jungle (or whatever it is there). He didn't call it a charlie foxtrot outright, but he strongly hinted that the military was going to keep going downhill because the people running it couldn't find their butts with three scouts and grid coordinates.
DeleteI came on Active Duty in '78. Jimmuh was in charge. Graduated UPT in early '79 got through F-4 school in Nov '79. Arrived at Kunsan with ~80 hours in the F-4. The supply chain was so Farked Up that MX couldn't generate enough sorties to fill the schedule. Given that we were technically in a "War Zone", the qualified guys got to fly. 1 year later, when I PCS'd, I think I had a grand total of 150 hours. I'd lost landing currency 3 times. It's now 1981 and Reagan was inaugurated. By the time I PCS'd from Moody three years later, I had over a thousand hours in the jet. That's the reasoning behind my comment. And why I strongly dislike 5 of the 6 D presidents in my lifetime.
DeleteThat had to have been a hard year. I can’t imagine such a screwed up bunch of civilians giving orders to come up with something like that.
DeleteOh yeah, now I remember, I flew inSEA in 1965!
I can remember during Carter's time that the F-15 maintenance crews were so hard up for parts they would go to Radio Shack on their own and buy simple components.
Delete@D4/
ReplyDeleteDidn't get to SEA until '67 so guess you're the only fossil here older than me. :) A different world then..
I've got a list myself, none in combat. Two of them I knew very well that make me sad, and a few others I knew only by acquaintance. I had a good memorial Day and I only say that because I am happy to have the freedoms that they died for.
ReplyDeleteI was in the Pentagon on election day in 1980.The jubilation was both open and obvious. More than one congratulated me on taking part in the peaceful overthrow of the government that day. It wasn't exactly "the wicked witch is dead" but it wasn't far off.
ReplyDelete