31 January 1968: Tet Offensive began in South Vietnam Tuesday, Jan 31 2012 

Hero and History and Military and Military History and Truth and US Air Force and US Army and US Marines and US Navy and Veterans , , , 1IDVET 14:34

Let’s not forget our brothers-in-arms from Vietnam. To those that served thank you. To those that died, rest in peace. All gave some, some gave all.

This day in history:

On January 31, 1968, some 70,000 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces launched the Tet Offensive (named for the lunar new year holiday called Tet), a coordinated series of fierce attacks on more than 100 cities and towns in South Vietnam. General Vo Nguyen Giap, leader of the Communist People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN), planned the offensive in an attempt both to foment rebellion among the South Vietnamese population and encourage the United States to scale back its support of the Saigon regime. Though U.S. and South Vietnamese forces managed to hold off the Communist attacks, news coverage of the offensive (including the lengthy Battle of Hue) shocked and dismayed the American public and further eroded support for the war effort. Despite heavy casualties, North Vietnam achieved a strategic victory with the Tet Offensive, as the attacks marked a turning point in the Vietnam War and the beginning of the slow, painful American withdrawal from the region.

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BLACKFIVE: The Last Known Sighting of an American Hero Friday, Sep 2 2011 

Hero and History , , , 1IDVET 10:23

Go to Blackfive and make sure you check this out:

BLACKFIVE: The Last Known Sighting of an American Hero.

Sign the petition:

To:  United States

A PETITION TO PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH TO AWARD THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM TO C.R.”RICK” RESCORLA FOR HEROISM AND GALLANTRY BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY ON SEPTEMBER 11,2001.

MR. RESCORLA CAME TO THIS COUNTRY AS AN IMMIGRANT TO BECOME AN OFFICER IN THE ARMY. MR RESCORLA SERVED WITH SUCH DISTINCTION AS AN OFFICER IN VIET NAM THAT ALL WHO SERVED WITH HIM CONSIDER HIM THE BRAVEST MAN WE HAVE EVER KNOWN. HE WAS HIGHLY DECORATED FOR HIS BRAVERY AND LEADERSHIP IN COMBAT. HE BECAME A US CITIZEN AND SOUGHT A HIGHER EDUCATION OBTAINING A BACHELOR AND MASTERS DEGREE AT UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA AND FURTHER OBTAINING A LAW DEGREE BEFORE SERVING A AS TEACHER AT USC LAW SCHOOL BEFORE BEING LURED TO THE WORLD OF COMMERCIAL BANKING. MR. RESCORLA’S SPECIALTY WAS SECURITY AND SECURITY LAW. IN 1993 HE WAS THE LAST MAN OUT OF THE TRADE TOWERS AFTER EVACUATING EVERYONE. ON SEPT.11TH IN SPITE OF BEING TOLD HIS BUILDING WAS NOT IN DANGER, HE IMPLEMENTED THE EVACUATION PLAN HE HAD DEVELOPED FOR HIS FIRM, MORGAN STANLEY. AS A DIRECT RESULT OF HIS EFFORTS THAT DAY AND HIS QUICK ACTION, OVER 2600 EMPLOYEES WERE SAVED. MR RESCORLA WAS LAST SEEN GOING UP TO RESCUE PEOPLE WHO WERE UNABLE TO GET DOWN. HIS ACTIONS REFLECT THE VERY BEST ABOUT AMERICA, ITS CITIZENS AND ITS DREAMS.

THE UNDERSIGNED URGE YOU TO RECOGNIZE MR RESCORLA BY BESTOWING THIS HIGHEST HONOR TO THIS MOST DESERVING MAN.

Sincerely,

 

Great Loss to America… Monday, Aug 8 2011 

Afghanistan and Hero and Military and Terrorism and US Air Force and US Army and US Navy , , , , , , 1IDVET 05:31

To the many SEALs, Soldiers, and Airmen that were lost over the weekend may your spirits be at rest now. Your duty is done.

Rest in peace.

And to their families for raising such men, my sincerest condolences for your loss.

Please read Onward.

 

D Day Remembered… Monday, Jun 6 2011 

Hero and Military and Truth and US Air Force and US Army and US Navy and Veterans , , 1IDVET 06:18

Today is the 67th anniversary of the invasion of Europe.

June 6, 1944, 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France. General Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which “we will accept nothing less than full victory.” More than 5,000 Ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion, and by day’s end on June 6, the Allies gained a foot- hold in Normandy. The D-Day cost was high -more than 9,000 Allied Soldiers were killed or wounded — but more than 100,000 Soldiers began the march across Europe to defeat Hitler.

It was the largest amphibious operation conducted in history.

It was a turkey shoot for the Nazis.

Yet they kept on storming the beach until there was a beach head.

Thousands were killed and wounded to start the liberation of Europe.

Medics were in high demand.

Eventually, Europe was liberated from the Nazi tyranny.

We remember their service, sacrifice and dedication to the freedoms that we all enjoy to this day. Without them, the world would be considerably different today.

To all the men and women that made this day what it is, I salute you all for a job well done.

Here are some related posts:

Before D-Day, there was D-38, at Slapton Sands.

Currahee! The Airborne goes in.

D-Day – We weren’t the only ones there, we had Allies

D-Day, the Navy on the beaches

Sixty-seven years ago …

June 6, 1944: D-Day in Normandy

D-Day: 67th anniversary

 

Honor the Fallen… Monday, May 30 2011 

Coast Guard and Hero and Military and US Air Force and US Army and US Marines and US Navy and Veterans 1IDVET 07:47

Today we honor the fallen.

Here’s a website that does just that:

Honor the Fallen

Here’s another:

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Honor Guard

If you are able,

save for them a place

inside of you,

and save one backwards glance

when you are leaving

for the places they can no longer go.

 

Be not ashamed to say

you loved them,

though you may

or may not have always.

 

Take what they have taught you

with their dying

and keep it with your own.

 

And in that time

when men feel safe and decide

to call war insane,

take one moment to embrace

those gentle heroes

you left behind.

 

-Maj. Michael Davis O’Donnell

1 January, 1970

Dak To, Viet Nam

 

Memorial Day Saturday, May 28 2011 

Coast Guard and Hero and Military and US Air Force and US Army and US Marines and US Navy and Veterans 1IDVET 06:48

Memorial day.

A day where we remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedom.

In loving memory of my friend Douglas Amuel LaBouff.
1969-2006
KIA Iraq
Rest easy, sleep well my brother.
Know the line has held, your job is done.
Rest easy, sleep well.
Others have taken up where you fell, the line has held.
Peace, peace, and farewell…

It is the
VETERAN,
not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.

It is
the VETERAN,
not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.

It is
the VETERAN,
not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.

It is
the VETERAN,
not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is
the VETERAN,
not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is
the VETERAN,
not the politician,
Who has given us the right to vote.

 

 

Required Reading… Wednesday, Mar 2 2011 

Coast Guard and Hero and Military and Truth and US Air Force and US Army and US Marines and US Navy and Veterans , , , , , , , , , 1IDVET 14:06

We, as a nation seem to have forgotten that we are at war.

I lost a good friend to this fucking war. I think about him all the time. One of the last things he told me in an email, was right after he was promoted to major, that I was the reason he decided to stay in the Army and make it a career. I was his platoon sergeant, he was the last platoon leader that I would have in the Army. He was my son’s godfather.

Yeah, it’s personal.

Go read this article from the Washington Post. EVERY American should be required to read it.

Lt. Gen. John Kelly, who lost son to war, says U.S. largely unaware of sacrifice

Before he addressed the crowd that had assembled in the St. Louis Hyatt Regency ballroom last November, Lt. Gen. John F. Kelly had one request. “Please don’t mention my son,” he asked the Marine Corps officer introducing him.

Four days earlier, 2nd Lt. Robert M. Kelly , 29, had stepped on a land mine while leading a platoon of Marines in southern Afghanistan. He was killed instantly.

Without once referring to his son’s death, the general delivered a passionate and at times angry speech about the military’s sacrifices and its troops’ growing sense of isolation from society.

“Their struggle is your struggle,” he told the ballroom crowd of former Marines and local business people. “If anyone thinks you can somehow thank them for their service, and not support the cause for which they fight – our country – these people are lying to themselves. . . . More important, they are slighting our warriors and mocking their commitment to this nation.”

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The Forgotten War… Saturday, Jun 26 2010 

Hero and Military and Truth and US Air Force and US Army and US Marines and US Navy and Veterans , , , , , , , 1IDVET 07:20

60 years later.

I read the book Battle for Korea: The Associated Press History of the Korean Conflict not that long ago. If you are interested, it is an easy read with a lot of AP photos from the war. I recommend it.

The men and women that fought in that war suffered greatly at the hands of the North Koreans, Chinese and the weather. They endured what most people couldn’t even begin to imagine.

I spent three winters in Korea. I know exactly how cold it gets and have a frame of reference when I read their stories of the bitter cold that sweeps across Korea out of Siberia. I don’t complain about the heat anymore.

Here’s a few posts around the web related to this.

God Bless these men and women. They deserve far greater respect and admiration than they’ve gotten.

60th anniversary of the Korean War

June 25, 1950. [Updated]


 

D-Day, June 6, 1944… Sunday, Jun 6 2010 

Hero and Military and US Air Force and US Army and US Navy and Veterans , , , 1IDVET 14:14

President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s D-Day Prayer

My fellow Americans: Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.

And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:

Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.

Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.

They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.

They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest-until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men’s souls will be shaken with the violences of war.

For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and good will among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.

Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.

And for us at home – fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas – whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them – help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.

Many people have urged that I call the Nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.

Give us strength, too – strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.

And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.

And, O Lord, give us Faith. Give us Faith in Thee; Faith in our sons; Faith in each other; Faith in our united crusade. Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.

With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogancies. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister Nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.

Thy will be done, Almighty God.

Amen.

 

Memorial Day 2 Monday, May 31 2010 

Coast Guard and Hero and Military and US Air Force and US Army and US Marines and US Navy and Veterans , 1IDVET 11:24

Another Veteran tells us what it’s like as a Veteran on Memorial Day. As a Veteran myself, it is probably the hardest day for me to deal with.

What Memorial Day Means to a Veteran
By T.J. Woodard

When I was a young seven-year-old, I noticed my neighbor’s mother crying. I learned that her brother-in-law, a helicopter pilot, had been killed in Vietnam. I felt bad about it, but to me, it was just a story.

When I was a high school student, my Uncle Bob, a police lieutenant, sat in our living room and told us of a police officer who had been killed in the line of duty. I remember Uncle Bob sitting there, wiping tears from his eyes as he explained the officer’s actions that day. Uncle Bob was on the scene and was about to take command when the shooting occurred. “It was a hell of a brave thing he did,” my uncle reported. Uncle Bob’s story was of valor and sacrifice, but still only a story to me.

Sacrifice became real for me many years later in Iraq. I was the executive officer (second in command) of a newly formed task force — Task Force Tacoma. We had the mission of preventing mortar attacks on the largest American air base in the country, the security “outside the wire” for 20,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and civilians. It was a difficult mission. The area was known as “mortaritaville” because of the constant threat of attack by rocket and mortar fire.

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