For those that don't understand why we go to war....

RevXtreme 1 · 03-03-2009, 02:07 PM

For those that don't understand why we go to war....

Sorry I have been absent for the past few weeks.

Unlike when I was very young and was raised with the utmost respect for our veterans, my first 5 years of life our family lived at the Waupaca, WI Grand Army Home. My Father was the "Chief Engineer" and along with his job we were provided housing on site. I remember all the parades, military funerals, and daily visits to the retired from WW1 who now lived at the home.....so when I read about, see, and talk to those that are against any conflict to preserve & allow for a democracy...or to head off another attack against us here at home, the feeling of just how clueless so much of our population is and how they take our freedoms for granted angers me.

My Father passed away the Sat before last and we had to fly to WI to say goodbye, and his funeral was a military honors affair and the pride, respect, and determination in the eye's and actions of the VFW members was one of the most emotional events in recent years. Here is a small window into his story of serving in the Navy:

" A few years ago Tom Brokaw wrote a series of books about what he called "The Greatest Generation" . They grew up during the depression, then went to war to save this country and the world from Japenese & German domination. My Father was part of that generation.
On the evening of January 9, 1945, on board the battleship U.S.S. Colorado off the coast of Okinawa, Japan, 30 men were in the port gun control platform when a shell from the USS Pennsylvania, whick had been firing at a Japanese kamikaze plane, hit it. Of the 30 sailors in the platform, my Father was only 1 of 5 that survived and could still stand. For the next 30 hours, he and his buddies stayed at station and continued the battle with the blood, guts, and brains of fellow sailors he had lived & worked with on the battleship covering him & his buddies.

Two years earlier, he was one of tens of thousands of 18, 19, and 20 year olds (and plenty younger that lied about their age) who joined to fight for their country, knowing they might not come home. We owe them, and our current active soldiers a great debit; we owe them our freedom.

So for those that are out there protesting our involvement in conflicts around the globe, and think that the current threat of radical islam is not something to be concerned about and their "if we leave them alone, they will leave us alone" attitude, open your eyes and read a little history on our past conflicts (not all done right I acknowledge), and get your heads out of the sand.

And with todays rules of engagment, our soldiers have their hands tied & the current administration wants to tie tham more! You should always be able to fight with the same rules your enemy uses.

Tracy Lewis

MRS. XTREME · 03-03-2009, 02:39 PM

Oh Tracy I am so sorry to hear about your father !!!!

My family is a PROUD

military family (USMC) !!!!

This world is getting scarier by the minute and I for one hope I am not here to see what the end looks like !!!!

I believe "AN EYE FOR AN EYE" all the way !!

Way to many people take our FREEDOM for granted !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thebeepster · 03-03-2009, 03:43 PM

Hard to read that without a tear in your eye! Sorry to hear about your Dad, but I know your family is proud. Amen to everything said in your post!! God Bless America!

Ted G.
Proud to have served (USMC)

Ms. AntiVenom · 03-03-2009, 04:15 PM

Yo might know I was a bit worried about you, I'm very sorry for your loss, and extend our condolences.

My Pawpaw was also from The Greatest Generation. It pains me to know that my kids will not know men that great at my age.

gmjunkie · 03-03-2009, 08:32 PM

I'm truly sorry to here of your Fathers passing!

I lost my dad last September,He too was a Veteran of "The Greatest Generation" and it's real hard to fill that void!

Shadow · 03-03-2009, 09:09 PM

Tracy,

Sorry to hear about your dad. Sounds like a hell of a guy!

That battle you described where they were hit by a shell and remained at thier gun station....that's true heroism!

God bless your dad, you and the rest of the family.

R.I.P. Sir!

Gordon
(a proud former Coastie)

Rich427 · 03-04-2009, 10:56 AM

Tracey,

I am sorry to hear about your loss!

Rich

als2052 · 03-04-2009, 11:57 AM

Sorry for your loss. Your Dad sounds like quite a guy. May he rest in peace...

Mark Dalton · 03-04-2009, 01:06 PM

I'm very sorry to hear about your father.

The WWII generation was the most inspiring group of men and women this country has ever produced and I'm glad to see our current generation of service men/women are following in their footsteps. Not because they're at war, but because it means the ideals and dedication born so long ago lives on. The nay sayers of today would truly have to "walk a mile in their shoes" to understand what that means.

Kap142 · 03-04-2009, 04:12 PM

Tracy, I'm sorry to hear of your fathers passing.

Some solice should be taken in knowing he was a man of true honor who without thought for self, stood for the country against all and any outcome and through things many of the younger generation can't concieve.

God bless.

Ken