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« on: May 13, 2015, 06:44:20 PM » |
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The Patriot Post - Alexander's Column 5-13-2015
From The Federalist Patriot
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Armed Forces Day 2015
Honoring American Patriots
By Mark Alexander
May 13, 2015
“When we assumed the Soldier, we did not lay aside the Citizen; and we shall most sincerely rejoice with you in the happy hour when the establishment of American Liberty, upon the most firm and solid foundations shall enable us to return to our Private Stations in the bosom of a free, peacefully and happy Country.” —George Washington1 (1775)
Your Patriot team necessarily devotes a lot of time and bandwidth to the analysis required for problem solving. That means more often than not, we must focus on what’s broken rather than what works well.
That has never been more true than now, under the reckless and feckless tenure of the current “Commander in Chief2,” who has succeeded in reducing both our domestic and foreign standing to levels that make even Jimmy Carter’s “great malaise” look favorable.
In years past, the political discourse in DC was punctuated by occasional periods of acute acrimony, but now such discord is the new norm. The din of that rancor can, unfortunately, obscure our perspective of the enduring goodness of our nation, both historic and present.
Under this pall, I’m all the more grateful for those occasions when I can pause and take account of those things that are good and right with our great country.
This week, for example, we observe Armed Forces Day. Though it will receive nothing more from the White House than an obligatory proclamation, outside the Beltway, millions of Patriots offer due honor and respect for those Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines serving our nation.
After World War II, President Harry Truman called for the establishment of a designated day to recognize the extraordinary service and sacrifice of Americans in uniform. On 31 August 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of a unified Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy, Marine and Air Force observations. Three weeks earlier, the separate service branches were unified under the newly formed Department of Defense.
While The Patriot Post still observes and promotes the establishment dates for each of our military service branches, it is fitting that we devote the third Saturday in May in recognition of all military personnel.
So, please pause with me for a moment while I share a few personal observations about our Armed Forces, American Patriots3 who wear the uniforms of each service branches.
Two weeks ago, I was humbled to make a new friend in Sgt. Sammy Davis (USA Ret.). Sammy is better known as “The Real Forrest Gump” because his combat experience and the ridicule he was subjected to upon returning home was written into the popular film.
Sammy was awarded the Medal of Honor4 for his actions on 18 November 1967, in an area near Cai Lai in the Republic of Vietnam. While serving with Battery C, 2nd Battalion, 4th Artillery, 9th Infantry Division, then-PFC Davis was involved in heavy action during a night attack by a reinforced Viet Cong Battalion. During the action in which his squad fired a 105mm howitzer with beehive rounds directly into the enemy, Davis defended the gun position with a machine gun providing covering fire for his gun crew until an enemy recoilless rifle round scored a direct hit on the artillery piece, blowing the crew and Davis from their positions.
Davis returned to the scorched gun and began firing directly into the attacking enemy while ignoring his own safety. He was wounded again when an enemy mortar round exploded nearby. Although badly injured, Sammy returned to his position and continued firing until he had expended all rounds.
Then, after hearing calls for help from across the nearby river, Sammy, who was unable to swim because of his injuries, used a flotation device to get across the river, where he both defended and rescued three of his fellow soldiers, who were also badly wounded. Once back across the river, Sammy refused medical attention and returned to the fight, joining another howitzer crew until the enemy broke contact.
Sammy’s motto is, “You don’t lose until you quit trying.” And he never did quit. As is the case with all the Medal of Honor recipients I’ve met over the years, Sammy is a model of humility and civility (unless, of course, you mention the traitorous John Kerry5 or Jane Fonda6). He embodies all that is good and right about America.
I ended that week at another military event chaired by a retired Vice Admiral submariner, who serves on The Patriot Post’s National Advisory Committee7. That event featured our nation’s Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Jon Greenert — yet another humble warrior. |
