Commensurate Honorarium

I was working in my yard last evening; my nearly 60ish neighbor, who I hardly ever see —much less speak to —walked over to where I was pulling weeds.

He asked, “Did you hear about Michael Jackson?”

Of course, I knew that Jackson was pronounced dead a few hours earlier, but I replied, “No … what now?”

“Oh gosh,” he said, “He just died at a hospital in Los Angeles.”

“Really,” I asked. “You mean the singer?”

“Yes –Michael Jackson, the king of pop. So young, too,” he said.

“Well, what about ‘Too Tall’ Freeman,” I asked.

“Who?”

“Oh, you didn’t hear about Major Ed Freeman, an Army chopper pilot during the battle for Ia Drang Valley? “

“No, afraid not,” he answered.

“He passed away last August; Medal of Honor recipient.”

“Never heard of him,” he said.

“Well then, what about Major Bruce Crandall?”

“No, I’ve never heard of him either,” he replied.

I pursued my line of questions: “Have you not even heard of the battle for Ia Drang?”

“No,” he answered.

“So then, if I understand this … you don’t know anything about two Army majors, both of whom won the Medal of Honor for saving the lives of more than seventy troops; who, over a period of ten hours, continuously flew helicopters into a hotly contested LZ during a battle that defined all subsequent conflicts in the Vietnam War; but you do know about the death of some fruitcake-child-molesting singer who accomplished not a damn thing for his country. Is that right?”

I suspect my neighbor won’t speak to me again for at least a year … and that’s fine. The question remains: why do America’s true heroes die anonymously, with no mention of their passing in the mainstream media, while idiotic people who are not fit to shine the shoes of men such as Ed Freeman and Bruce Crandall gain so much notoriety, and command the awe of an adoring public?

As long as we have citizens like this running around claiming the title American, don’t talk to me about morality.

From the film, “We were soldiers, Once …” recounting the battle of Ia Drang Valley. Then LtCol Hal Moore, U. S. Army, who commanded these troops, served as the principle advisor in the making of this film. Disable Playlist device in sidebar before starting YouTube presentation.

Remember Me

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I salute the individual who put this tribute together, a young lady by the name of Lizzie Palmer, age 15.

An additional note: Airmen, soldiers, sailors, and Marines who participate in military funerals never outlive witnessing the pain, the suffering, or the tears displayed by surviving family members. These are the kinds of experiences that military veterans never talk about with their own loved ones; if you haven’t been there, you can’t understand the emotions rendered by such sad events.

Sixty-five Years Ago

SOME GAVE ALL; ALL GAVE SOME
6 June 1944
_______________

Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force!

You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.

Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely.

But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory!

I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory!

Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Let us not forget the tremendous courage demonstrated, nor the sacrifices made by our fathers on this occasion, 65-years ago today.

Memorial Day, 2009

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I put this together as a reminder of the tremendous sacrifices rendered to the American people by our parents and grandparents. I selected the Pacific War because it closely parallels the exceptional music score written by Richard Rogers for a 1950s television documentary entitled "Victory at Sea.” In any case, I hope my readers will enjoy the performance of the U. S. Marine Corps Band and reflect upon the fact that our parents and grandparents purchased the liberty we enjoy today at an incredible cost.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

This tradition continues today. As a post-script to this video, let me add a few words that are popular in an email making the rounds. The average age of our warriors is 19 years; the typical male is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who under normal circumstances is considered by most of society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country. He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his own car than wash his father's, but he has never collected unemployment either.

Our soldier, sailor, airman, and Marine is a recent High School graduate; he was probably an average student, pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left to serve, or swears to be waiting for his return. He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and a 155mm howitzer.

They’re 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when at home because he is working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk. He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark. He can recite to you the nomenclature of his weapon; he knows how to clear a jam.

He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional. He can march until told to stop, or stop until told to march. He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without spirit or individual dignity. He is self-sufficient; he is ready to assume command of his unit.

He has two sets of field uniforms; he washes one and wears the other. He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry. He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts. If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food. When he gets that care package from back home, he’ll share his Mom’s cookies.

He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like hands. He can save your life - or take it, because that is his job. He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay, and still find ironic humor in it all. He has seen more suffering and death than he should have in his short lifetime; he’ll take those memories with him to the grave.

He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and is unashamed. He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to 'square-away those around him who haven't bothered to stand, remove their hat, or even stop talking. In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home, he defends their right to be disrespectful.

This young person is paying the price for our freedom, just as his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather did. Beardless or not, he is not a boy. He is an American fighting man; he and others like him have kept this nation free from well over 200 years.

Today’s warrior is also an American woman; she has earned her place of honor in our society. She stepped up to the plate along side her brother in arms; when her nation called, she answered. Our warriors have asked nothing in return, except our friendship, our respect, and our understanding. Remember them always, for they earned these three things with blood and suffering.

Return to Makin Island

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Hat tip: Colonel Tony Trezza, USAF (Retired)/former Staff Sergeant, USMC

Michael A. Monsoor, United States Navy

“Petty Officer Second Class Michael Anthony Monsoor, United States Navy, awarded the MEDAL OF HONOR (Posthumously) for service as set forth in the following citation:

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as automatic weapons gunner for Naval Special Warfare Task Group Arabian Peninsula, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom on 29 September 2006. As a member of a combined SEAL and Iraqi Army sniper over watch element, tasked with providing early warning and standoff protection from a rooftop in an insurgent held sector of Ar Ramadi, Iraq, Petty Officer Monsoor distinguished himself by his exceptional bravery in the face of grave danger.

“In the early morning, insurgents prepared to execute a coordinated attack by reconnoitering the area round the element’s position. Element snipers thwarted the enemy’s initial attempt by eliminating two insurgents. The enemy continued to assault the Element, engaging them with a rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire. As enemy activity increased, Petty Officer Monsoor took position with his machine gun between two teammates on an outcropping of the roof. While the SEALS vigilantly watched for enemy activity, an insurgent threw a hand grenade from an unseen location, which bounced off Petty Officer Monsoor’s chest and landed in front of him.

“Although only he could have escaped the blast, Petty Officer Monsoor chose instead to protect his teammates. Instantly and without regard for his own safety, he threw himself onto the grenade to absorb the force of the explosion with his body, saving the lives of his two teammates. By his undaunted courage, fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of certain death, Petty Officer Monsoor gallantly gave his life for his country, thereby reflecting great credit upon himself, and upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”

Petty Officer Monsoor was also awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his courage and leadership in earlier engagements.

Summary of Action

Crisp salute to: George Loar & Bob Thornton, Iwakuni Japan

Paying the Price

When 250 insurgents ambushed a platoon of U. S. Marines in the Farah Province of Afghanistan, they must have suffered a serious lapse in judgment. According to one (naturally) non-mainstream media source, the city of Shewan is a typical safe haven for insurgents, who use the city to plan and stage attacks against coalition forces in the Bala Baluk district. Elements of the 7th Marines (who typically do not shy away from confronting an enemy force), apparently decided to challenge the insurgents for control of an important supply route.

During a platoon-sized combat patrol encompassing ten kilometers, Marines moved in toward the city of Shewan when suddenly attacked. The Marines encountered a barrage of enemy rocket and machinegun fire. One vehicle was immediately disabled and enemy fire pinned down several Marines within the kill zone. According to Corporal James M. Mercure:

“. . . the Marines dismounted and laid down suppression fire so they could evacuate a Marine who was knocked unconscious from the blast. After recovering the Marines trapped in the kill zone, another platoon sergeant personally led numerous attacks on enemy fortified positions while the platoon fought house-to-house and trench-to-trench in order to clear through the enemy ambush site.”

“The biggest thing to take from that day is what Marines can accomplish when they’re given the opportunity to fight,” a sniper said. “A small group of Marines met a numerically superior force and embarrassed them in their own backyard. The insurgents told the townspeople that they were stronger than the Americans, and that day we showed them they were wrong.”

Corporal Mercure’s report said that during the battle, the designated sniper thwarted a company-sized unit by killing 20 enemy fighters with his devastatingly accurate precision fire. During the encounter, the lone marksman repeatedly and selflessly exposed himself to intense enemy fire during a critical point in the eight-hour battle for Shewan in order to kill any enemy combatants who attempted to engage or maneuver on the Marines.

“What made his actions even more impressive was the fact that he didn’t miss any shots, despite the enemies’ rounds impacting within a foot of his fighting
position.”

After calling for close-air support, the Marine platoon pushed forward and broke the enemies’ spirit as many of them dropped their weapons and fled the battlefield. By the conclusion of the battle, the Marines effectively reduced an enemy stronghold, killed more than 50 insurgents, and wounded several more.

“I didn’t realize how many bad guys there were until we had broken through the enemies’ lines and forced them to retreat. It was roughly 250 insurgents against 30 of us,” the sniper said. “It was a good day for the Marine Corps. We killed a lot of bad guys, and none of our guys were seriously injured.”

This is an oooraaahhh moment. Marines don’t like people shooting at them. People who do shoot at Marines are simply asking to have their asses kicked . . . and that is exactly what happened in Shewan. It doesn’t make any difference how large the enemy force is . . . and this kind of attitude derives from plain-old Marine Corps arrogance.

Hat tip: Woman Honor Thyself

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