http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/05/30/drastically-decreasing-military-presence-decide-iraq-war-memorials/
I find this interesting, and I am somewhat torn deciding what the right thing to do is.
On one hand, I think that leaving the memorials in Iraq can do two things. 1) remind the Iraqi's of the sacrifices made by others in their behalf and 2) be a poke in the eye to remind the Iraqi's of the sacrifices made by others in their behalf and they had better not (*&%()*&)& it up.
On the other hand, I wonder how many should actually be brought home. I think the wall in the hospital in Baghdad is the most deserving and historically worthy, and also the most impossible.
On the third hand (genetic defect due to exposure to depleted uranium tank rounds) There are probably a lot of families that don't know that there are streets and facilities named after their loved ones. They deserve to know how much their brothers and sisters loved and honored them. For those here, that don't know, no facility is named after a living service member.
Two short stories...if you will bare with me.
April 2002, near Metz, France: LTC H.R. McMaster, then commander of 1st Squadron, 4th US Cavalry, staged an officer staff ride studying battles from the Franco-Prussian war, WWI, and WWII. We stopped at a small field, exited the busses and proceeded to stand on the side of the road and had a short discussion of the 37 American Infantry soldiers who held off a German Battalion of Infantry and another Battalion of Armor for over 18 hours. 30 lost their lives.
A french woman came out and started yelling at us to get off of her property and leave them alone !!!???? We were standing on the country road, and didn't so much as the touch the fence overlooking the fields. None of us dared laugh till we were back on the busses, but it was hilarious to watch him respond, "Do you know why you get to speak French instead of German? Because 30 Americans died in that field!!!" then stormed off. --- As a CW2 I had the privelage to serve on his Squadron Staff. Something to know about that man. You either love him and would follow him into hell, or hate him so much that you wish he would go there immediately.
and due to 3 ATV accidents and a hit & run car accident, I don't remember what the other story I wanted to tell was....when I started this 6 hours ago. Maybe I can add to it later.
The greatest honor I can think of, and one that there probably are no pictures of and nobody outside the military will ever see is....on a Fallen Angel flight, when a soldier is taken from the theater hospital to the airport where his body will be flown home, every soldier available goes to the helipad and salutes as that soldiers body departs. Only one Angel is on each helicopter even if there are multiple casualties from the incident. It is an honorable and heart rending sight.
--- Update---
As I wrote the next post, I remembered the other story I wented to relate. In regards to the fraternity of arms, regardless of the side of the conflict, there is brotherhood.
May 2006- Baghdad, Iraq. 8 American soldiers, sailors, and airmen arrived at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Baghdad. (W33 18.505 N 44 23.339E on Google Earth) This tomb is dedicated to the dead of the Iran-Iraq War. Although the museum at the tomb had been vandalized and all of the artifacts removed, the tomb and casket itself is still there. Although the Iraqi military had been a shambles, some soldiers had taken it upon themselves to guard their fallen comrade. As the Americans arrived, the guards gave them a leary look and kept watch from afar. The soldiers walked up to the tomb then took position in line facing the tomb. The senior officer, an Air Force Colonel, called the group to attention, then all rendered a crisp hand salute to the fallen soldier from another war. Once the simple ceremony of recognition was complete, the group broke up and "toured" the facility. Where only moments before the leary guards wanted nothing to do with the Americans invading this sacred site, suddenly the three guards came up, and in broken English, wanted to show all that remained of the tomb and explain what the symbolism of each structure meant.
As I write this, I am reminded of even more stories of comradarie and respect shown by allies and adversaries that demonstrate that there is truly a brotherhood among warriors. They may hate the enemy formations, but no warrior hates an enemy soldier, they are simply brothers who happen to be standing in the other formation.
Alan
2 comments:
The memorials to our fallen should not only remain there, but should be here, at home.It's up to the hosts, there or here, to appreciate what sacrifices our men and women made on whom's behalf. The memorial is more for those who survive than for the hero, as a symbol of potentially great meaning. It could be inspirational or squandered, as any gift can be.
Even though the Iraqi people tend to be a bit more civilized than the Afghanis, IMO, any memorials left behind will be desicrated by our enemies who will eventually regain their positions when we leave, assuming we ever leave. This will simply add insult to injury. The well-deserved tributes to our fallen warriors should be on American soil, assuming the countless studies that would be conducted by the EnviroNazi's permit it.
As for this holiday. Personally, i think it's sad that all we can devote to those who have given so much is one day a year. And just as sad is the fact that far too many people in this country (especially the younger ones) see this holiday as just another long weekend, another chance to gulp beer, get high, and burn some hot dogs on the grill. Could it be that they've grown up in an increasingly liberal culture that has taught them that they somehow have a right to expect others to sacrifice for them? We see evidence of this everyday and everywhere in todays America.
Rather than studying important topics such as gender indentification, ethnic sensativities, etc., every high-school and college student should be made to tour the Walter Reed Army Hospital where our wounded warriors are sent to be put back together. (somewhat) There they will see what true sacrifice really is. There they will learn the true cost of "their rights". There they will learn that freedom is not free. And they'll learn from those who actually had to pay the price.
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