Thursday, August 19, 2021

Remember

US Army Photo

The old soldier leaned heavily on his cane. He grew slightly misty eyed as he looked down at the gravestone sitting in the sunshine just outside the nation's capital. He had known the man buried there, had served with him in two wars. Had held him as he died on a snowy hilltop in Korea.

He knew his own time was coming, and soon. He was nearly a hundred years old, he carried shrapnel from a Chinese grenade in one hip and had been scarred badly on his right leg when a friendly aircraft had dropped its load of napalm an instant too soon. All of his friends were dead. Just that morning he had attended the funeral of his great-grandson, killed in action in yet another foreign war for which he could see no good reason.

Perhaps he had grown cynical over the years, who could blame him? He had killed, he had seen the men serving in his unit be killed, or worse, maimed so that the rest of their lives were dogged by pain and regret.

He had been lucky, neither German, North Korean, Chinese, nor North Vietnamese bullets and grenades had injured him to the point that he couldn't function. Sure, he chuckled to himself, he could tell when it was going to rain well before most folks. Some of that was the damage his body had had inflicted upon it in three wars. Some of it was, he chuckled again, simply the irony of making it to old age.

Many of the men, and now women, that he knew hadn't been so lucky. He'd also lost a son and a great-grandson to the wars which the politicians had said were "necessary." Two of his grandsons, and one granddaughter, had seen the elephant. They didn't talk about those things with their spouses or their friends. But they did talk with their Grandpa, usually after a bad day or after some new outrage on the news.

The old soldier was beginning to wonder what had happened to the country he had spent most of his adult life fighting for. Had the suffering and all the death been worth it? He was no longer sure.

But as his youngest great-grandson had said that morning at the funeral of his brother, "We can't quit Grandpa, otherwise all this has been for nothing."

Young Stephen had shaken his head, then wiped a tear from his cheek as he had said that, then he'd straightened his uniform, he was a midshipman at the Naval Academy of all things, and returned to rigid attention as Taps was played.

The old soldier sighed, saluted the grave of his oldest friend, then turned to limp down the hill to where his family awaited him. It all had to mean something, didn't it?

He was no longer sure. But he and his family served and had always served, he still felt that they lived in the best country on Earth, regardless of which crop of politicians were in charge. Something had to change, he knew that, but he doubted that he would live to see that change.

As his grandson, father of the man they had just buried, held the car door for him, the old soldier looked back up the hillside one more time. He knew that his next visit to this place would be in a casket, drawn by horses, the mournful thump of the drums taking him to his final rest. He would be in fine company here.

He regretted nothing.



58 comments:

  1. For some of us it seems to be the family business. We've been involved since 1631 When John Sanford was "Cannoneer of the Fort" in Boston. We've been luckier than most as I know of no deaths while on active service. All of my first cousins, male and female, on both sides of the family and my siblings served. All of my nephews but one type 1 diabetic also. All the women of the next generation that married were/are married to servicemen, and my grandson is currently on active duty. I have never previously written this down but this morning's post has jangled too many nerves. Old Guns

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  2. Splendid writing!

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  3. Hopefully those still in the military as well as those who HAVE been in the military will choose the correct side when the festivities begin. Even though their senior "leadership" will not.

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    1. We have to go by the Constitution.

      Not many in the "leadership" will, most of the troops might.

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    2. I agree. I took and administered the oath numerous times, haven't been released from it. There are a LOT of domestic enemies doing bad things from positions of power. Time's coming.
      My lot are "boots" compared to Old Guns, arriving 16 or so years later. Still, "we" responded to the callout 19 Apr 1775 and we will again.
      Boat Guy

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    3. The oath holds with me as well.

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  4. We’ve handed them a protected flag, every time. What they do with it is on them.

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    1. Many of them can be classified as traitors, others are simply incompetent. At least it seems so to this old sergeant.

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    2. I would hold the first category as "most" Sarge. Incompetence cannot be used as an excuse any longer.
      BG

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  5. Lightning in a bottle Sarge. Felt like I was there....

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  6. Sarge, I have had to re-read this three times before commenting. It is a very powerful read. And it asks a great deal more questions than what it answers, really.

    (To be clear, I write this only from a civilian point of view.)

    In every army and in every age, there has come a point when service to the State becomes at best immaterial and at worse useless. The Armies of Imperial Germany faded away to the Wehrmacht and then West German/German army of today; Rome's armies became at some point less about Rome and more about the regional power holders that survived it. To ask any of those that served in those times was it the right thing to do, they most likely would have said yes; it was the patriotic thing to do. Looking back in history, perhaps the answer would have been no (Always acknowledging that often there was no choice but to serve and that no-one can foresee future events).

    But states, and the ideals that motivate those that serve them, always pass away.

    One could ponder, I suppose, what if those that served had not showed up at critical points in history, effectively disabling a state's ability to act? The military is a very specific and very costly example of that, but it could be extended to other things as well: what if civil servants would not administrate, if taxpayers denied the state revenue? Certainly not at all on par with the service that results in the potential sacrifice of life, but related in the sense that the state ultimately counts on such things to survive.

    I do not have answers; I never seem to about such critical matters. All I ever end up with questions. But like the protagonist in today's story, perhaps it is time we seriously ask them.

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  7. The old soldier was beginning to wonder what had happened to the country he had spent most of his adult life fighting for. Had the suffering and all the death been worth it? He was no longer sure.

    That struck a nerve. With a grandson now a 5th generation soldier whose father died at 41 from service related injuries, I see what is happening to this country and am sickened.

    Yes, we fight on because we must. We owe that much to the generations past.

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    1. We honor and revere the past and its heroes. But, the fight, the struggle, is for the future and our progeny.

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    2. Always and forever, we must make a stand.

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  8. "We can't quit Grandpa, otherwise all this has been for nothing."

    Most powerful eleven words I've read in a long time. Right along with "We the People", "When in the course of human events" and "...support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic...".

    Well done, Sarge.

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  9. A powerful piece of writing and a great lead to our world today. I can't think of anything positive to say about this this morning... so I'll stop.
    Have a great Thursday!

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  10. Excellent writing. As I read it I was reminded of this picture.

    https://apanational.org/images/uploads/galleries/hussey_tom_11.jpg

    More and more, everyday, I find myself seeing myself as the man gazing in the picture.

    Beginning with a maternal Great Great Great Great Great Grandfather that fought in the Revolutionary War, my family has served our Nation during every conflict in its short history. I am proud of that fact. I love this country and hate the current direction.

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  11. We have... become France.

    A strong people, with excellent soldiers, controlled by idiot leftist and outright socialist city folk and feckless politicians.

    Most of our senior military aren't military, they are politicians also. Vying for top spots in cabinet positions or for cushy seats in the military industrial complex, or outright bought by our enemies known and unknown as lobbyists and consultants (often while still in uniform.)

    France. We are what we hate and ridicule.

    National socialist France, from the way our 'betters' are acting (the uniforms and dress of our Dear Leaders are still sharp.)

    And, funny, a lot of our military 'leaders' are approaching the fruit salad comic opera level of uniform of the NorKs.

    Dammit.

    An excellent post, by the way. You do politics with an elegant hand, not outright saying (usually) what you mean but making the reader really ponder your words, which means the point explodes in their brains like a deep penetrator.

    Dammit, all you wanted to do was be left alone and write nice stories....

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    1. We no longer have leaders, we have the nomenklatura.

      Adhering to the politics du jour seems to be the only qualification necessary.

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  12. Strikes an old chord. I was the last and would not recommend it to my daughter or nephews as a profession. Does make me want to pick up and reread, Once an Eagle. It was the endless wars of the 20th century that made America what it is today, not the interludes.

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    1. We need Sam Damon. He hasn't been in uniform in a LONG time, at least two or three generations. There were several "Sam Damons" in WWII and I was privileged to serve with one who started in Vietnam and served past 9/11, but he's gone now. "Perfumed Princes" are what we have now.
      Boat Guy

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    2. I knew a couple of Sam Damons, also far too many Courtney Massengales.

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    3. Hell... Courtney would be better than this lot...
      Boat Guy

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  13. Worthy of Phib posting it as a thought provoking "Fullbore Friday" item. One of your best pieces yet, and there are many great ones.

    Will be pondering this for a while. Probably wondering what the words "all enemies foreign and domestic" really mean- do they require physical action, aid and comfort, or are mere inaction and incompetence sufficient grounds to qualify?

    On a much more trivial level, that is a great photo of an 81mm mortar section on the move. Guys in front all have the shoulder pads (but not really using them very much). Right to left they are carrying the barrel, the baseplate,and the bipod, all heavy and awkward loads. Not sure what the runt of the litter is carrying in the big box, but likely the sights and stuff for night time aiming stakes, etc, or maybe he is a medic. Rest of the guys have the ammo vests with pockets front and back. Guy way on the left with his back to the camera has an armband- medic? Note that the barrel carrier has removed the stacking swivel from his rifle as the damn things were about useless except for getting caught on stuff, so this was not unusual, and since the screws were heavily staked they did not just fall off.
    John Blackshoe

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    1. Thanks JB.

      I really like that photo, an excellent depiction of American fighting men in WWII.

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  14. An outstanding entry Sarge! Thank you for that.
    And thank you for magnificent writing about what my Dad refers to as " the brown shoe Army". He was a part of that Army from January of 1945 through Korea. His older brother is buried in Arlington and we're gonna try to get the Old Gent out there for a visit soon, likely to be his last.
    Boat Guy

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    1. Yup, the brown shoe Army, the soldiers who led the way back in the day.

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  15. Some thoughts:

    Slight allergy attack, but I was able to stifle it a bit.

    Was it worth it? It was worth it, especially if we consider the fact that for 20 years we kept the wolves at bay, and over there, with our sheepdogs sacrificing a lot for that 20 years of peace here in our own lands. It's worth it for other reasons too, but I'm sure others can offer those points up, or you and I can later on.

    Family business indeed- Me, my father, mother, grandfather, brother, 3 uncles, and now 5 nieces or nephews. A 6th will serve for sure, but he's aiming for the boat school to make that reality. He's far smarter than his dad and I were, and a better athlete, so he has a good chance. He has to be one of the best that Oregon has to offer. He surely knows it is worth it.

    It's a shame what has happened, but none of us should feel ashamed for we served honorably. Our leaders today have not.

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    1. Our "leaders" fail us, time and time again.

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    2. Dunno as I'd recommend someone that capable and talented be subjected to the horseshit that passes for curriculum these days. I've waved off every good young person who's asked me.
      Boat Guy

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    3. We can't surrender the institutions.

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  16. Just like in Law Enforcement, we owe the troops out there our thanks, because of what would have crawled out of the woodwork, if they had not been there. Thanks Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines!

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  17. The veterans in my family have always cautioned the younger generations that a term in the services may include being sent off to die for causes less than noble or worse, being put in conflict against your own countrymen.

    My uncle, a Korean War vat, cautioned me before I went into the Navy. My cousins and I discouraged the younger generations after seeing Afghanistan and Iraq turn into yet another Vietnam. (One cousin did 9 tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and another cousin made 7 figures contracting overseas.)

    The family went from 100% of males serving in the military to 3% in two generations. We had totally lost faith in the so called "leadership" and culture of the former shell of the United States.

    Just waiting for it to fall apart so we can rebuild it...

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  18. Airborne!
    Thanks Sarge. Dusty in here.

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  19. Well said, and yes, family business going back to the Revolutionary war...

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    1. We few, we happy few. From one generation to the next.

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  20. Dammit! Who stirred up the dust in this room. A great and poignant vignette.

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  21. Hey Old AFSarge;

    This has been the Family business since the Revolution, both sides of the War between the States and more. Us and those like us have paid the debt to the republic for our citizenship and I am totally disgusted by what I have seen, it is one thing to lose a hard fought campaign like Vietnam, the South was there for 2 years after we left and a lot of the units of the ARVN performed well even after the democratic congress cut their funding but eventually South Vietnam collapsed to a conventual invasion. But to see this travesty an the abject humiliation happen is hard to bear. Sure we no longer needed to be there but it was like there was no plan, no contingency no nothing and the blathering from the talking heads in the puzzle palace, from the clown from foggy bottom, and from the President* is like there were no adults in charge. WTF

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    1. The grown ups left the building on the 20th of January.

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  22. AND Milley spit in the faces of all those brave Americans with his political rhetoric as does the rest of the administration. example.....Biden and Afghanistan.

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Just be polite... that's all I ask. (For Buck)
Can't be nice, go somewhere else...

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