I had an opportunity this morning to reflect on the Veterans Day holiday,
it is a gorgeous day and I am very glad to have made it back with no
problems. I was blessed.
I also thought of a member of the Rockville Rotary Club, Dr. Steve
Cromwell. In June, a few years back he mentioned to me that he knew
exactly where he was 50 years ago that day. After landing in the first
wave, he was a medic on Omaha Beach tending to the wounded during
the Normandy Invasion. Dr. Cromwell is easily the bravest man I have
ever known.
Then, a few years ago I was driving on the Norfolk Naval Base. A
plumber’s van pulled up beside me and there was a fellow sticking his
head out shouting at me. I couldn’t understand him, so I pulled over.
This burly plumber walked up to me, gave me a big hug and told me
“welcome home.” It was then that it struck me he had seen my Viet Nam
veterans license plate. This was a common greeting between Viet Nam
veterans and this was the first time anyone had ever said that to me.
The reception that I had received in San Francisco circa 1972 was a little
less cordial.
He went on to tell me about his post traumatic shock, his bout with
drinking, and that he was getting better; he hardly ever woke up at night
anymore.
I was touched by the incident and wondered if I was doing what I could
to raise awareness in the community concerning those that had
sacrificed for our country. I have known and respected many heroes, but
had I done anything to recognize these men and women?
So, I decided I could at least do a program or two to recognize our
veterans.
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Titled:
Lest We Forget
In 1918, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day in the eleventh month,
the world rejoiced and celebrated. After four years of bitter war, an
armistice was signed. The "war to end all wars" was over.
The First World War left nine million soldiers dead and 21 million
wounded, with Germany, Russia, Austria-Hungary, France, and Great
Britain each losing nearly a million or more lives. In addition, at least
five million civilians died from disease, starvation, or exposure.
For the most part, the people of Europe greeted the outbreak of World
War I with jubilation. Most patriotically assumed that their country
would be victorious within months.
By the end of 1914, well over a million soldiers of various nationalities
had been killed on the battlefields of Europe, and neither for the Allies
nor the Central Powers was a final victory in sight.
On the western front--the battle line that stretched across northern
France and Belgium--the combatants settled down in the trenches for a
terrible war of attrition. In 1918, the infusion of American troops and
resources into the western front finally tipped the scale in the Allies'
favor.
Germany signed an armistice agreement with the Allies on November 11,
1918.
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World War I was known as the "war to end all wars" because of the great
slaughter and destruction it caused.
Unfortunately, the peace treaty that officially ended the conflict--the
Treaty of Versailles of 1919--forced punitive terms on Germany that
destabilized Europe and laid the groundwork for World War II.
November 11 was set aside as Armistice Day in the United States, to
remember the sacrifices that men and women made during the war in
order to ensure a lasting peace. On Armistice Day, soldiers who survived
the war marched in a parade through their home towns. Politicians and
veterans gave speeches and held ceremonies of thanks for the peace they
had won.
On November 11th we still have the opportunity to remember the efforts
of those special people that have served and died in service to our nation.
In remembering, we pay homage to those who bravely responded to their
country's need.
On November 11th, we wear poppies, we pause for two minutes of silent
tribute, and we attend commemorative ceremonies in memory of our
war-time dead.
Poppies are worn as the flower of remembrance, a reminder of the bloodred flower, which still grows on the site of battles fought in France and
Belgium. Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, during the terrible bloodshed
of the second battle of Ypres, in the spring of 1915, wrote the poem “In
Flanders Fields” of these flowers which lived among the graves of dead
soldiers.
The flowers and the larks in the poem serve as reminders of nature's
ability to withstand the destructive elements of war by men, a symbol of
hope in a period of human despair. The poppy was adopted for symbolic
purposes after the First World War.
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A French woman, Madame E. Guérin, suggested to Field-Marshall Earl
Haig of the British forces that women and children in devastated areas of
France could produce poppies for sale. The first British Poppy Day
appeal was in November 1921 and has been continued since in Britain
and in other countries. In America, many of the poppies which we wear
are made by disabled veterans. We wear the poppies as reminders of
those who died while fighting for peace, and as reminders of the horrors
of conflict and the beauties of peace.
Also, in 1921, an unknown World War I American soldier was buried in
Arlington National Cemetery. This site, on a hillside overlooking the
Potomac River and the city of Washington, became the focal point of
reverence for America's veterans.
Congress voted Armistice Day a legal holiday in 1938, twenty years after
the war ended. But by now Americans realized that the previous war
would not be the last one.
World War II began the following year, and nations great and small again
participated in a bloody struggle.
My friend, then Hospital Corpsman Steve Cromwell remembers this war
well; he participated in the Battle of the Bulge, had a ship go down
during the Normandy invasion, survived a kamikaze attack in Okinawa,
and was on the Missouri in Tokyo Bay for the surrender of Japan. A few
years ago, the now Doctor Stephen Cromwell was summoned by the U.S.
Congress and presented a medal. It seems that he is the last living
survivor from the first wave of the Omaha Beach Landing. Finally, if you
haven’t already been impressed with Steve’s colorful history, he has not
missed a meeting at his Rotary Club in 49 years. I am proud of Steve
and his service.
Our own MM1 Bill Boyd recalls that On June 8th, 1967 he was on
routine operations in the Mediterranean Sea when the Captain
announced over the Public Address system (1mc) that the USS Liberty
had been attacked. They were instructed to proceed at flank speed to
offer assistance. Within 30 minutes Bill was in the center of a convoy
with close to 30 vessels. He was awed with how fast the convoy came
together. I’m proud of Bill and his service.
After the Second World War, Armistice Day continued to be observed on
November 11.
In 1953 townspeople in Emporia, Kansas began calling the holiday
“Veterans' Day” in gratitude to the veterans in their town. To this day,
the Emporia Gazette publishes the list of all veterans that live in the
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area, including a complete list of Emporia residents that have been killed
in combat, dating back to the Civil War. Today about 100 Emporia
residents are in the middle east.
Soon after, Congress passed a bill introduced by a Kansas congressman
renaming the national holiday to Veterans' Day. In 1954 President
Eisenhower signed a bill proclaiming November 11 as Veterans’ Day.
On Memorial Day in 1958, two more unidentified American war dead
were brought from overseas and interred in the plaza beside the
unknown soldier of World War I. One was killed in World War II, the
other in the Korean War.
Our Past President, Colonel Gary Goforth, USA, remembers his most
memorable military experience was participation in the ground war
phase of the first Gulf War. They entered Iraq on the western front with
the 82nd Airborne Division and expected to encounter chemical weapons
and a 1 million man army. Instead they found a demoralized Iraqi force
that quickly surrendered. He cared for several Iraqi casualties during
the initial drive into Iraq. Three days later he had trouble walking and
was evacuated to the Saudi-Iraqi border where they found a large tumor.
He was then air evacuated to King Khalid Military City where two skilled
neurosurgeons removed the tumor in a mobile hospital resulting in full
return of his motor functions. I’m proud of Dr. Goforth and his service.
Our own Captain Greg Wallace, USA-Ret., is reticent to discuss his
service in Viet Nam, but recalls his first trip over. When loading the
plane, we were invited to load Officers and Senior NCOs first. He was so
scared due to the stories we heard during training and preparation that
he didn’t want to be first. Since the process was the same when leaving
Viet Nam, he was more than happy to leave first on the trip back.
Rotarian Julian Thomas recalls spending 108 days off of Somalia on a
Navy Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH) amphibious ship.
I’m proud of Greg and Julian’s service.
Hospital Corpsman Robert Keller served with the Fleet Marine Forces
(FMF) Bravo Company, 9th Engineers, 1st Marines in a northern section
of Viet Nam. He recalls that a sergeant, a corporal and him decided to do
some ill advised exploring in a nearby unoccupied village, about a mile
from their defenses. Needless to say that was a "bad choice" even though
they all returned unhurt, it was only by the grace of god. They were
chased, fired upon and nearly captured. He believes that day he would
have been clocked as the “fastest man alive” retreating out of that village
and back to the comfort of his fellow soldiers. He learned a valuable
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lesson that day: Think before you act. He was also reminded, that if it’s
your time, not much you can do about it. But if it’s not, learn from the
experience. During his service he was introduced me to hundreds upon
hundreds of fellow soldiers, and he only recalls a few of their names.
But, it always seemed that regardless of the circumstance, or event, they
were all “brothers in arms.” He states that it was a great feeling to know
one had such a big family that cared about you. I’m proud of Robert and
his service.
Americans still give thanks for peace on Veterans' Day. There are
ceremonies and speeches. At 11:00 in the morning, most Americans
observe a moment of silence, remembering those who fought for peace.
After the United States' involvement in the Viet Nam War, the emphasis
on holiday activities shifted. There were fewer military parades and
ceremonies.
Veterans gathered at the Viet Nam Veterans Memorial in Washington,
D.C. to place gifts and stand quiet vigil at the names of their friends and
relatives who fell in the War.
Families who have lost sons and daughters in wars turn their thoughts
more toward peace and the avoidance of future wars.
In 1973, a law was passed providing interment of an unknown American
from the Vietnam War, but none was found for several years. In 1984,
an unknown serviceman from that conflict was placed alongside the
others.
To honor these men who are symbolic of all Americans who gave their
lives in all wars, an Army honor guard, The 3rd U.S. Infantry (The Old
Guard), keeps day and night vigil.
If you are unaware, the Unknown Soldier from the Viet Nam conflict was
exhumed and has now been identified as LT Michael Blassie. There will
be no more unknown soldiers.
While there were no unidentified members from the Persian Gulf war;
many men and women died in the pursuit of the national interests there
as well.
When I was still on active duty, the average age for the military was 19
years old. In the late 1980s I was responsible for Naval
telecommunications in the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific. I was
called in for a classified briefing; targets had been identified and a strike
would be conducted at a predetermined time. All possible measures were
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to be taken to ensure communications were available. All hands were on
station and as things usually go, minutes before the strike, targeting
data via satellite failed. A 19 year old sailor from Kansas, just like the
other thousands of 19 year olds serving in the military today, restored
that circuit in time to ensure a successful strike. I’m proud of that
young man and his service.
In 1986 the Korean War Memorial was opened to the public.
In 2004 the World War II memorial was finally opened to the public. Dr.
Cromwell was invited and given a front row seat.
Today, hundreds of thousands of American men and women serve
around the world in the interests of our nation. I hope that you will take
some time to reflect on their service, sacrifices, and contributions.
I know that I have not mentioned all of you with military service, but I do
want to tell you that I am thankful for all of your service. I also want to
say: Welcome home.
Please join me in saluting our service veterans for their service and
sacrifice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgl7eAVs4Jc
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Fun Stuff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGPKpIuX3cY
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