This morning, as I put my flag out, I noticed it looked like rain. I put it out anyway and, in less than 5 minutes, I had to bring it in from the downpour. No sooner had I brought it in than the rain stopped, the sun shone and it became a beautiful day. So, back Old Glory went and there she flies proudly and properly this sad but glorious day of remembrance.
I have been reading a lot of columns and articles about the day and what it means to folks. About the best article I read was in the on-line edition of the WSJ. Here is the link:
http://professional.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303610504577419973285034422.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop&mg=reno64-wsj
Read it and think.
JC
Monday, May 28, 2012
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Memorial Day 2012
It is the Memorial Day weekend and I have done a lot of reflecting. During my military career, I served twice in locales where there were men who sought to do us harm. First was in Korea in 1962-63. I commanded A Co, 8th Engineer Battalion, 1st Cav Div in the Spoonbill and the DMZ. It was the 10th anniversary year of the Armistice and the N. Korean's sent many patrols south with the intent of doing mischief, including assassinating the President of South Korea. There were occasional firefights and ambushes of US troops on work parties or on DMZ patrols. We all carried weapons with ammo issued and the weapons loaded and locked. In October of '62, the USSR tried to introduce rockets into Cuba and the Cuban Missile Crisis came about. In Korea, we didn't know the particulars but we knew we went to DEFCON 2, issued ammunition, put demo charges in the demo chambers on the bridges across the Imjin River and closed the lanes through the many minefields in the DMZ area. We all updated our wills and were prepared for war. Thank goodness, President Kennedy and the JCS managed to defuse the situation and a nuclear holocaust was avoided.
Then, 4 years later, I was in Vietnam. The first 1/3 of my tour I was assigned to the Engineer Section, US Army, Vietnam in Saigon. I was a major and that was a fairly typical staff assignment. But I was not happy and asked the Engineer, MG Robert Ploger, if I could be released to an in-country engineer assignment in a combat unit. He said if I could find a home, he would release me. I spent about 10 days flying about the country (in between my regular duties on the staff) looking for a unit with a vacancy. I heard about the 196th Light Infantry Brigade, one of the separate brigades in country, which was located in Tay Ninh Province, about 65 miles NW of Saigon. I flew there, met with the out-going engineer and the Brigade commander, BG Richard Knowles. I was accepted and a few days later, packed up and went to Tay Ninh. The brigade was engaged in Operation Junction City and I joined them in the field. I was with the brigade and participated in all brigade combat operations until I rotated back to the States in June 1967 for attendance at the USACGSC.
While I was not in direct combat in the 196th, there were occasions when we received fire and returned it or called in artillery to suppress it. I lost a number of friends and acquaintances in on-going operations and on engineer missions. To this day, I think of them each and every one and wonder "what if"...
A couple of days ago, I received a brief snippet from Joe Galloway, who was present during the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley and who, along with then-LTC Hal Moore, wrote "We Were Soldiers Once, and Young". I would like to share it with any and all who read my blog:
Then, 4 years later, I was in Vietnam. The first 1/3 of my tour I was assigned to the Engineer Section, US Army, Vietnam in Saigon. I was a major and that was a fairly typical staff assignment. But I was not happy and asked the Engineer, MG Robert Ploger, if I could be released to an in-country engineer assignment in a combat unit. He said if I could find a home, he would release me. I spent about 10 days flying about the country (in between my regular duties on the staff) looking for a unit with a vacancy. I heard about the 196th Light Infantry Brigade, one of the separate brigades in country, which was located in Tay Ninh Province, about 65 miles NW of Saigon. I flew there, met with the out-going engineer and the Brigade commander, BG Richard Knowles. I was accepted and a few days later, packed up and went to Tay Ninh. The brigade was engaged in Operation Junction City and I joined them in the field. I was with the brigade and participated in all brigade combat operations until I rotated back to the States in June 1967 for attendance at the USACGSC.
While I was not in direct combat in the 196th, there were occasions when we received fire and returned it or called in artillery to suppress it. I lost a number of friends and acquaintances in on-going operations and on engineer missions. To this day, I think of them each and every one and wonder "what if"...
A couple of days ago, I received a brief snippet from Joe Galloway, who was present during the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley and who, along with then-LTC Hal Moore, wrote "We Were Soldiers Once, and Young". I would like to share it with any and all who read my blog:
"They shall not grow old,
as we
that are left grow old.
Age shall not
weary them,
nor
the years condemn.
At the going down
of the sun,
and
in the morning,
We will remember
them."
-- Lawrence Binyon,
1915
Have a safe and reverent Memorial Day. God Bless all who serve and who have served.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Today, President Obama presented the Medal of Honor, posthumously, to Leslie H. Sabo, Jr.
"Spec. Leslie H. Sabo Jr. of Elwood City, Pa., was serving with U.S. forces near the village of Se San in eastern Cambodia in May of 1970 when his unit was ambushed and nearly overrun by North Vietnamese forces.
Comrades testified that the rifleman charged up from the rear, grabbed an enemy grenade and tossed it away, using his body to shield a fellow soldier. And shrugging off his own injuries, Sabo advanced on an enemy bunker that had poured fire onto the U.S. troops – and then, pulled the pin on his own grenade.
"It's said he held that grenade and didn't throw it until the last possible moment, knowing it would take his own life but knowing he could silence that bunker," Obama recounted. "And he did. He saved his comrades, who meant more to him than life." The award was given to his widow, Rose Mary. Thus, after 40+ years, this hero receives the recognition he so richly deserved. God Rest Leslie H. Sabo, Jr.
I'm just sayin'
And another thing. How many have seen this in the MSM? The US Special Forces and some Russian troops are doing a joint international exercise in Colorado. Part of the scenario is the deal with a terrorist attack at Denver International Airport. Now, to my way of thinking, President Putin is not exactly a trustworthy ally. Why then are we sharing operational procedures and techniques with them?
I'm just sayin'
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/us-russian-soldiers-train-colorado-16371083#.T7VaZlJbIYU
"Spec. Leslie H. Sabo Jr. of Elwood City, Pa., was serving with U.S. forces near the village of Se San in eastern Cambodia in May of 1970 when his unit was ambushed and nearly overrun by North Vietnamese forces.
Comrades testified that the rifleman charged up from the rear, grabbed an enemy grenade and tossed it away, using his body to shield a fellow soldier. And shrugging off his own injuries, Sabo advanced on an enemy bunker that had poured fire onto the U.S. troops – and then, pulled the pin on his own grenade.
"It's said he held that grenade and didn't throw it until the last possible moment, knowing it would take his own life but knowing he could silence that bunker," Obama recounted. "And he did. He saved his comrades, who meant more to him than life." The award was given to his widow, Rose Mary. Thus, after 40+ years, this hero receives the recognition he so richly deserved. God Rest Leslie H. Sabo, Jr.
I'm just sayin'
And another thing. How many have seen this in the MSM? The US Special Forces and some Russian troops are doing a joint international exercise in Colorado. Part of the scenario is the deal with a terrorist attack at Denver International Airport. Now, to my way of thinking, President Putin is not exactly a trustworthy ally. Why then are we sharing operational procedures and techniques with them?
I'm just sayin'
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/us-russian-soldiers-train-colorado-16371083#.T7VaZlJbIYU
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
I'm just sayin'
This is my first attempt at blogging. I hope to update this blog 2 or 3 times a week. I will post things which I find of interest, personal, sports, politics and State of the World commentary. Hope you all enjoy it.
JC
JC
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