To Some, It Was a Short Day

I've read that the landing scene in "Saving Private Ryan" is the best portrayal of the actual event. Watching it causes a visceral reaction, and those that were at the landings on Normandy were forever branded with the ravages of a battle that changed the world. Many died before they ever reached the beaches, while some died trying to secure the beaches for the landing of more troops and supplies. Those that survived were destined to continue until Germany failed. Those that made it home would mostly never talk about their time during WW2, and quietly try to reassemble what were once the thoughts of young men. The bizarre thoughts of a one time paper hanger had marred their existence.

After 81 years, even the youngest that fought on D-Day are centenarians or gone. Pausing to remember them is important. What they fought against wasn't isolated, and the sentiments of those that hate are still present.

The Day After Memorial Day

I had a lot of thoughts yesterday. Reading posts about remembering, and how so many lost so much, with the fact many were just cannon fodder thrown at an enemy, left a loss of words. I know the results of war, and have friends that spent long hours in terror in Vietnam. They had stories, but none told about those they knew that didn't come back, except one. His brother-in-law was in a tank unit, and died horribly when the tank was hit. It burned, and he didn't get out. His high school photo showed a smiling face filled with the exuberance of youth. His photo while in Vietnam showed a thousand yard stare. My friend spent years suffering from a syndrome that didn't allow him to stay anywhere for any length of time. We lost contact, and the years that passed tell me I'll never see him again.

It is, what it is, but one day for honor doesn't seem enough. The theaters such as Vietnam show the unconscionable waste of life to satisfy the whims of politics. May we never see them again, but that's a foolish wish. The evil of the world is always present, and the battle of good over evil continues. 

Remembering

 Years ago, I had a conversation with a friend that was upsetting. He told of his time in Vietnam, the relief of making it through his year in combat, and his return. When he arrived in the states, the soldiers were ushered through an area outside the terminal to catch a bus. Outside, the protesters were spitting on any soldier they found, and voicing their dislike of the war in Vietnam. 

What a homecoming. Spending a year fighting for his country, having only one big thought on his mind, and being treated like a criminal at his return. His politics weren't discussed when he was inducted. A letter from Uncle Sam demanded his appearance for training, and after watching the horrors of war for a year, many of his peers, who didn't have a clue, were insulting him for his duty. 

He had a brother-in-law that didn't come back. In a tank unit, he burned to death while doing his duty. My friend showed me a photo of him in high school. He had that fresh cut look, a beaming smile, and the appearance of youth. The next photo my friend shared was of his brother-in-law in Vietnam. The youth was mostly missing, there was no smile, and his eyes were focused on something far away.

You can't forget those that never came back, or were killed in training. They're gone, but somebody lost someone they loved more than life, and their heartache will follow them to their own grave. Today is for their memory, and for those they left behind.

A Great Man Has Passed

 Chuck Mawhinney has passed.  Those that served with him, or read about his life, know a great man is now gone.

Time and Distance

Today is December 7, 2017. On this day, 76 years ago, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, killed thousands, and the United States became involved in a war already involving much of the world.

My father turned 18 near the end of the war, and didn't see combat, since the war ended. He was one of many men I knew that lived during that time, and are now long gone. The youngest during that time are approaching the century mark, and their days are numbered on this Earth. Their memories are still fresh, since they were branded by terrible events. 

For those that don't know much, those that fought spent years in brutal war. They fought for many reasons, but most fought without questioning their duty to protect the United States, and it was obvious the United States was under attack.

The distance of time removed the horror most felt after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Time, also, removed the years of blackout curtains, rationing, letters notifying of the loss of a loved one, and the hard work of those that kept the U.S. running, while most resources were being used for the war effort. Things were tough, and without the reference of someone that lived during that time, it's hard to fathom the emotional stress. Reading doesn't replace the expressions of those that suffered.

So, we now have constant Christmas songs on the radio, promises of the best prices for shopping, the daily garbage called news, and an entire sub-culture of people that are perfectly satisfied to live a life of mundane waiting, and the hope they can find a way to use their government stipend for some alcohol and cigarettes.

I'll say a prayer our nation is never forced to travel those straits again. There was no guarantee of winning the war, and the suffering to win was more than too many today could handle.

Oriskany (Re-Post)

I posted this a few years ago. At that time, it was a memory of a curiosity. 

While reading a post on Old NFO's blog, the ship became more than just a floating city of steel. 

A friend's father landed a jet on this carrier back in the early sixties. This is probably one of the last photos of the Oriskany as it was towed to final preparation before being turned into an artificial reef. Much of the ship had been removed, but it was still a magnificent sight as it passed our project location a few years ago.

It now sits on the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. Due to it's size, the island structure is around 80 feet deep, which is at the limits of sport diving. The flight deck is around 145 feet deep, which makes much of the carrier beyond the depths of sport divers.

* I have to add how big it was. what's most amazing is that one of the reasons for decommisioning was it wasn't big enough for modern requirements.

While You're Toasting, Raise a Glass For Them Too

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, a raid was planned, executed and a few heroes changed the world. 

If you take away the politics of the days, the fact the world was involved in a great war and only leave those that manned the planes that performed the raid, you find the threads of the fabric that make the United States so great. The served, honored a country, and did so without any anticipation of glory.

The survivors have met for the last time and made their final salute from a special bottle of cognac.  I have no cognac, but I have some scotch. Here's to those that were part of the Doolittle Raid. Thank you for your service and may God bless.