I actually wrote this several years ago, and hadn't thought of it in all this time. A discussion I was having refreshed my memory, and I thought I'd share here- it may not be good. It may not be everyone's cup of tea. But I (having been one of the people I'm talking about in the piece) have always felt a bit of pride in it.
So, here you go.
July 2nd, 1863- Colonel Joshua Lawerence Chamberlain, commander of the 20th Maine Regiment, was tasked to defend the left flank of the entire Union force. Placed on a small rise known as Little Round Top, Colonel Chamberlain and his men withstood advance after advance, turning the Confederates away despite the untenable situation of having only 30% of the force he started with and being very nearly out of ammunition. Knowing that another assault would break his defense- and endanger the whole Union Army- Colonel Chamberlain gave the order to fix bayonets and counterattack. Leading the remnants of his regiment with drawn sword, the charge he ordered effectively broke the spirit of the Confederate forces, providing the necessary time for a proper defense to be organized.
Our nation, in it's 200 plus years of existence, has witnesed several acts of selflessness, bravery, and decisiveness in the face of overwhelming odds. Regardless of origin, race, or position, the men and women carrying out these actions have one thing in common- they called themselves Americans.
Sergeant Michael A. Donaldson, U.S. Army, Company I, 165th Infantry, 42d Division. Place and date: At Sommerance-Landres-et St. Georges Road, France, 14 October 1918. Citation: The advance of his regiment having been checked by intense machinegun fire of the enemy, who were entrenched on the crest of a hill before Landres-et St. Georges, his company retired to a sunken road to reorganize their position, leaving several of their number wounded near the enemy lines. Of his own volition, in broad daylight and under direct observation of the enemy and with utter disregard for his own safety, he advanced to the crest of the hill, rescued one of his wounded comrades, and returned under withering fire to his own lines, repeating his splendidly heroic act until he had brought in all the men, 6 in number.
I'm not writing this to ask anyone to rethink their political views, or to make any particular point. Our nation is currently at war- the reasons and aims are not important to this little missive, because I simply want to highlight the human side of conflict, and to explore the reasons that men and women in uniform do the things they do. Our personal feelings about whether our government is right in the use of our military have no place here- I'm simply trying to bring the fact home that there are people of flesh and blood doing amazing things for love of duty, for love of freedom, and for love of the brotherhood of man.
Signalman First Class Douglas Albert Munro, U.S. Coast Guard. Citation: For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry in action above and beyond the call of duty as Petty Officer in Charge of a group of 24 Higgins boats, engaged in the evacuation of a battalion of marines trapped by enemy Japanese forces at Point Cruz Guadalcanal, on 27 September 1942. After making preliminary plans for the evacuation of nearly 500 beleaguered marines, Munro, under constant strafing by enemy machineguns on the island, and at great risk of his life, daringly led 5 of his small craft toward the shore. As he closed the beach, he signaled the others to land, and then in order to draw the enemy's fire and protect the heavily loaded boats, he valiantly placed his craft with its 2 small guns as a shield between the beachhead and the Japanese. When the perilous task of evacuation was nearly completed, Munro was instantly killed by enemy fire, but his crew, 2 of whom were wounded, carried on until the last boat had loaded and cleared the beach. By his outstanding leadership, expert planning, and dauntless devotion to duty, he and his courageous comrades undoubtedly saved the lives of many who otherwise would have perished. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
As a nation, we pride ourselves on doing what we feel is the right thing. In defending and standing for freedom, for the right to choose- almost every time we've been forced to take up arms, it has been to aid a people or a country in the exercise of the most sacred of rights, the right of self-determination. To live, to work, and to worship as they see fit without fear of oppression or recrimination. That may not be the publicly announced reason, it may not be what you believe yourself- but that is what the soldiers, Marines, sailors, and airmen who risk themselves every day believe. Having been one of them, having found myself and my comrades under fire a few times, I can honestly say that the aims of our servicemen and women are honorable and just at their core. These aren't bloodthirsty killers, watching and waiting for the chance to take a life- in fact, there is no one who fears the onset of war more than they do. It is the ability to carry on in the face of that fear that makes them stand out.
Private First Class William B. Baugh, U.S. Marine Corps, Company G, 3d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. Place and date: Along road from Koto-ri to Hagaru-ri, Korea, 29 November 1950. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a member of an antitank assault squad attached to Company G, during a nighttime enemy attack against a motorized column. Acting instantly when a hostile hand grenade landed in his truck as he and his squad prepared to alight and assist in the repulse of an enemy force delivering intense automatic-weapons and grenade fire from deeply entrenched and well-concealed roadside positions, Pfc. Baugh quickly shouted a warning to the other men in the vehicle and, unmindful of his personal safety, hurled himself upon the deadly missile, thereby saving his comrades from serious injury or possible death. Sustaining severe wounds from which he died a short time afterward, Pfc. Baugh, by his superb courage and valiant spirit of self-sacrifice, upheld the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
There are so many stories we never get to see, tales of triumph and tragedy we never hear. Even in the instant- report, media- fed frenzy that accompanies any modern day conflict, the small contributions are almost always lost by the focus on the big picture. We see the explosions, the airstrikes, the now cold columns of burnt out tanks. What we don't see is the field medic who fights as hard to save the life of an enemy as he would one of his own. We never see the hesitation in the eyes of a young Marine before he pulls the trigger and the enormity of what he's about to do strikes him. We don't see the Infantryman touching a photo of someone to his cheek before his patrol leaves the safety of friendly lines. We never see the sorrow of a leader at the orders he has to give, risking the lives of his men and the enemy alike. We see the sanitized version, the inhuman side- and I can see why the opposition exists. We miss the personal attachment to events, the feeling shared by those who have faced grave danger together.
Captain Steven L. Bennett, U.S. Air Force. 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron, Pacific Air Forces. Place and date: Quang Tri, Republic of Vietnam, 29 June 1972. Citation: Capt. Bennett was the pilot of a light aircraft flying an artillery adjustment mission along a heavily defended segment of route structure. A large concentration of enemy troops was massing for an attack on a friendly unit. Capt. Bennett requested tactical air support but was advised that none was available. He also requested artillery support but this too was denied due to the close proximity of friendly troops to the target. Capt. Bennett was determined to aid the endangered unit and elected to strafe the hostile positions. After 4 such passes, the enemy force began to retreat. Capt. Bennett continued the attack, but, as he completed his fifth strafing pass, his aircraft was struck by a surface-to-air missile, which severely damaged the left engine and the left main landing gear. As fire spread in the left engine, Capt. Bennett realized that recovery at a friendly airfield was impossible. He instructed his observer to prepare for an ejection, but was informed by the observer that his parachute had been shredded by the force of the impacting missile. Although Capt. Bennett had a good parachute, he knew that if he ejected, the observer would have no chance of survival. With complete disregard for his own life, Capt. Bennett elected to ditch the aircraft into the Gulf of Tonkin, even though he realized that a pilot of this type aircraft had never survived a ditching. The ensuing impact upon the water caused the aircraft to cartwheel and severely damaged the front cockpit, making escape for Capt. Bennett impossible. The observer successfully made his way out of the aircraft and was rescued. Capt. Bennett's unparalleled concern for his companion, extraordinary heroism and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Air Force.
I guess what I'm trying to say here is that there are reasons for us to question why our troops are sent to the places they are, and that many feel that force is never a viable way of handling things. I can't, and won't attempt to, sway anyone's personal convictions. We're allowed that here, and in the free nations of the world, and the right to voice an opinion should never be abridged. I guess what I'm asking is this: despite political views, despite feelings that the war is unjustified...or the opposite side, if you do feel that we're doing the right thing, I ask everyone to take a moment and place yourself in the position of one of those involved. If it's your way, say a small prayer for those who believe they're doing what's right. Don't blame someone for doing what they've sworn an oath to do. I'm asking everyone to be proud of them, even if you aren't proud of those who ordered them to go and fight. These are individuals who do what they do willingly and freely, and ask for nothing in return. A simple measure of gratitude and respect is not too much to give.
In closing, I'd like to share something- a quote from our current Secretary of State, Colin Powell. When asked if our involvement in Iraq was an example of nation building, General Powell responded with the following: "We have gone forth from our shores repeatedly over the last 100 years . . . and put wonderful young men and women at risk, many of whom have lost their lives, and we have asked for nothing except enough ground to bury them in."
I think that says it all.
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