it's readily apparent, we quickly forget!
“WAR! What is it good for? Absolutely nothing!” Or possibly everything; depending on one’s perspective. To explain; this past Friday, the 19th of May (2023), I was returning home from working out of State. At the Dallas airport (DFW), I’d boarded my flight and was awaiting takeoff. Although, before things got underway, the captain came over the loudspeaker and announced we were carrying a deceased soldier home to San Antonio. His mother and father were onboard as well. Traveling with them was another service member accompanying in support. Taxiing to the runway, the airport fire department had two trucks, one on each side of the aircraft with hose cannons spray the plane in honor of the young man’s sacrifice, his life. He was twenty-five years old. When we landed in San Antonio, the captain requested everyone remain seated until the family deboarded. The flights beginning, and end, a solemn experience.
Well, in another time, April 1975, Saigon fell, and America’s involvement in Vietnam was over. The country was in shambles. But was that one or both? So, while adding salt to wounds self-inflicted, America also humiliated itself on the world stage as every country on earth watched the remaining troops evacuate those they could while leaving untold numbers of Vietnamese civilians to die at the hands of the North Vietnamese. Yes, the very ones our government promised to protect. As well, the South Vietnamese government in short order would learn the pitfalls of aligning with a government deceptive in practice as promises made would become promises broken. Worse, the end result being 56,000 plus Americans died for absolutely nothing, average age twenty-two. Our government, all too willing to have sacrificed them for its ability to gain power, money, and glory. And the 56,000 doesn’t even mention those who came home maimed or would later die from being exposed to Agent Orange, a defoliant. Let’s not even talk about the suicides that have followed. And all of this was in the supposed name of democracy.
Now, going farther back timewise, Korea, the forgotten war, was another exercise in America sending troops to die in combat while the government was knowingly unwilling to win. Signing an armistice, the war has yet to be officially ended. Although, going yet again a little farther back in time, during WWII, the nation sent its men and boys to fight a war that questionably started militarily, but ended politically, even though there was a clear winner. While Vietnam and Korea were both political from beginning to end, there was also a clear loser in each. In the years to come, Afghanistan would follow and prove the same as Vietnam and Korea, setting an American pattern.
Yet, a stone’s throw from today, as the sun crests the horizon, we’ll be rising to greet another holiday. A paid day off from work for get togethers, cookouts, yardwork, or just laying around as we enjoy the traipsing end of spring and the beginning heat of summer. Better still, there will be a plethora of sales to get people out shopping. Yet, in our day-to-day robust preparing for the day there are those untold thousands who can no longer do the things we take for granted. Their lives having been snuffed out by the travesty of war. And not just one war, but multitudes of them, starting with the American Revolution, and following along with the yet to come attempts to inflict democracy in other countries. The truly sad part: understanding most of us have no idea about, or the where, why, and what purpose for any of them. We just enjoy three days of weekend bliss.
So, partly for me, to remember those lost, I hold our country’s flag tight to my chest, as there was a time when I saluted the colors having worn the uniform of the day myself. Although today, if I’m around them at a ceremony or parade, I stand erect, while my hand covers my heart. If my head is under cover (hat), I remove it. But when I see others around me who have little respect for their country or the sacrifice others made, at times I’d like to cry. Memorial Day being an example of my tears.
To convey part of my reason, growing up on military installations, respect and honor was built into every aspect of our lives. In the theater, before the movie played, everyone stood for the national anthem. At end of day, the base flag was retired, Retreat was played, and if one was outside, they stood at attention, faced the flag (even if they couldn’t see it) and put their hand over their heart. If one was in a car, they stopped, exited, and if in uniform, saluted. Things never expected from or required by those who’ve never served or lived the military life. I spent my childhood living this lifeway around men who understood the ramifications of their job. Most of them went to war and some never returned, their lives never known outside a squadron, and now only remembered by their families or surviving retired pilots when they get together and reminisce.
In remembrance of this upcoming “holiday,” I’d like to present six names of men who paid the ultimate price, having made the ultimate sacrifice. As well, in an attempt to further convey the importance of remembrance, understand at their time of death, they were separated from family fighting a war their government created. Being overseas, there was no opportunity for a final – I Love You! Of the six, I’d met four of them, but I was too young to even think of remembering who they were. Some were never recovered, their remains still where they augured in, being in enemy territory. Now imagine their families, their parents, their kids and whatever memories they hold, or the lack of ability to have those lost present while we celebrate this holiday:
Jim Peuter – Korea
Albert Plecha - Korea
Connie Mack Gravitte – Vietnam
Terence H. Griffey – Vietnam
Gary A. Glandon – Vietnam
Clairborne P. McCall – Vietnam
Me never having served in combat; I cannot even begin to understand the magnitude of the sacrifices made by those who have. And that’s why I now find myself willing to stand in line for hours to shake the hand of a combat vet but unwilling to give a second glance at those considered highly acclaimed. Worse, I do not understand the reasoning behind the infatuation with the “stars” we pedestally elevate who have actually done nothing to deserve the amount of admiration and respect given. So, for me, in my life, when I raise a toast, instead of saying salud, I proclaim – Siempre! (always). It’s my way to remember those we will never know who gave their all for our supposed land of the free, except, and I won’t digress. Another day maybe!
Some years back at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Barbara and I were watching the changing of the guard, being the last presentation of the day open to the public. It was in the fall when the tree colors were at their peak and the air was cold. Being at day’s end when somewhere outside Arlington, Retreat started playing. Then another Retreat, and another Retreat, and yet another. It was a moving experience beyond my ability to convey, as we watched the guards change guard. Something every American should experience, especially at the exact time slot we experienced. So, as I grow older, I know most, having never served, will never understand those who sacrificed, nor probably even care, as our very own government shows them the same disdain.
In closing, I do pray Ukraine, or Taiwan, or another country is not yet again our next Korea, Vietnam, or Afghanistan. The nation can ill afford to politically continue sending its youth to die on battlefields with no purpose but to enrich another. And by dismissing past mistakes to foist them again on citizens today while proclaiming democracy is deception at its best. To relate, I find prophetic words penned thousands of years ago: There is no remembrance of men of old, and even those who are yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow. (Ecclesiastes 1:11)