The Hallmark of our Corps

Today is a day for remembering the Marines with whom I served during my career; it is a day of celebrating what the United States Marine Corps does for the American people, and what it did for me. To all Marines, past and present … I salute you.

Semper Fidelis,

Mustang out

Welcome Aboard

I am proud to congratulate Private Daniel Good upon his graduation from the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. Daniel is a native of Manassas Park, Virginia, and the son of proud parents Lynnie Mehus and David Good, also a natives of Virginia.

After high school, Daniel enrolled in undergraduate studies, completing his first year with excellent grades. It was during his second semester that Daniel decided to commit himself to serving his country as a United States Marine.

According to his cousin, a good friend, Daniel is the “strong and silent type, who lives Roosevelt’s admonition, ‘Be sure you’re right, and then go ahead.’” In literature, Daniel earned the reputation of a deep thinker, and one who is able to develop keen insight to complex issues; he has an intense interest in genealogy and American history.

“Daniel is the first Marine in our family; we’re all very proud of him,” his cousin told me.

Private Good reported to Camp Geiger, North Carolina for infantry/field skills training on 7 July 2009.

A personal note for Private Good:

Life will present you with formidable challenges, but none of these will be more challenging than the crucible of Marine Corps Recruit Training. You have already achieved more than most young men and women are capable: you have earned the title United States Marine.

I have no doubt that the normal course of life will test your personal attributes. You will have many opportunities for notable achievement. You may receive medals for courage, certificates for your efficiency, and promotions for your combat skill and leadership … but there is no greater recognition than the acknowledgment you will receive from our citizens: they will instantly recognize you as one of their American Marines. Whether you serve for four, or forty years, once you are admitted into our unique fraternity, you are always a Marine … and every other Marine is your brother or sister.

May God grant you favorable winds, and following seas ...

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Staff Sergeant Darrell Powers: Currahee

Former Staff Sergeant Darrell Powers, United States Army fought in the famed Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Regiment, 101st Airborne Division during World War II. This is the unit featured in the popular television series, Band of Brothers. Sergeant Powers came from Clinchco, Virginia; he passed away of natural causes on 17 June 2009 —another of America’s true heroes who faded away with not a single mention by the national media.

Staff Sergeant Powers jumped into Normandy on D-Day, 6 June 1944 along with the other members of his now-famous company. After the airdrop, prevailing air currents moved Powers away from the designated drop zone and separated him from his company. He and another solder joined up and eventually located, and rejoined their company. Powers remained with Easy Company throughout the rest of the war. He participated in Operation Overlord (Normandy), Market Garden, and the Battle of the Bulge.

After Germany’s surrender in 1945, Powers suffered serious injuries in a vehicle accident enroute back to the United States; his lengthy treatment and recuperation caused him to remain in Germany long after Easy Company returned home.

Actor Peter Youngblood portrayed “Shifty” Powers in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers, appearing in all ten episodes.

Staff Sergeant Powers’ decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with combat "V," Presidential Unit Citation, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, the French Croix de Guerre (with Palm), the Belgian Croix de Guerre (with 1940 device and Palm), the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army, and the Belgian Fouragere.

We can never repay our debt of gratitude to men like Staff Sergeant Powers, but we do know this: he is not standing alone.

Commensurate Honorarium

I was working in my yard last evening; my nearly 60ish neighbor, who I hardly ever see —much less speak to —walked over to where I was pulling weeds.

He asked, “Did you hear about Michael Jackson?”

Of course, I knew that Jackson was pronounced dead a few hours earlier, but I replied, “No … what now?”

“Oh gosh,” he said, “He just died at a hospital in Los Angeles.”

“Really,” I asked. “You mean the singer?”

“Yes –Michael Jackson, the king of pop. So young, too,” he said.

“Well, what about ‘Too Tall’ Freeman,” I asked.

“Who?”

“Oh, you didn’t hear about Major Ed Freeman, an Army chopper pilot during the battle for Ia Drang Valley? “

“No, afraid not,” he answered.

“He passed away last August; Medal of Honor recipient.”

“Never heard of him,” he said.

“Well then, what about Major Bruce Crandall?”

“No, I’ve never heard of him either,” he replied.

I pursued my line of questions: “Have you not even heard of the battle for Ia Drang?”

“No,” he answered.

“So then, if I understand this … you don’t know anything about two Army majors, both of whom won the Medal of Honor for saving the lives of more than seventy troops; who, over a period of ten hours, continuously flew helicopters into a hotly contested LZ during a battle that defined all subsequent conflicts in the Vietnam War; but you do know about the death of some fruitcake-child-molesting singer who accomplished not a damn thing for his country. Is that right?”

I suspect my neighbor won’t speak to me again for at least a year … and that’s fine. The question remains: why do America’s true heroes die anonymously, with no mention of their passing in the mainstream media, while idiotic people who are not fit to shine the shoes of men such as Ed Freeman and Bruce Crandall gain so much notoriety, and command the awe of an adoring public?

As long as we have citizens like this running around claiming the title American, don’t talk to me about morality.

From the film, “We were soldiers, Once …” recounting the battle of Ia Drang Valley. Then LtCol Hal Moore, U. S. Army, who commanded these troops, served as the principle advisor in the making of this film. Disable Playlist device in sidebar before starting YouTube presentation.

Remember Me

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I salute the individual who put this tribute together, a young lady by the name of Lizzie Palmer, age 15.

An additional note: Airmen, soldiers, sailors, and Marines who participate in military funerals never outlive witnessing the pain, the suffering, or the tears displayed by surviving family members. These are the kinds of experiences that military veterans never talk about with their own loved ones; if you haven’t been there, you can’t understand the emotions rendered by such sad events.

Sixty-five Years Ago

SOME GAVE ALL; ALL GAVE SOME
6 June 1944
_______________

Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force!

You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.

Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely.

But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory!

I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory!

Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Let us not forget the tremendous courage demonstrated, nor the sacrifices made by our fathers on this occasion, 65-years ago today.

Memorial Day, 2009

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I put this together as a reminder of the tremendous sacrifices rendered to the American people by our parents and grandparents. I selected the Pacific War because it closely parallels the exceptional music score written by Richard Rogers for a 1950s television documentary entitled "Victory at Sea.” In any case, I hope my readers will enjoy the performance of the U. S. Marine Corps Band and reflect upon the fact that our parents and grandparents purchased the liberty we enjoy today at an incredible cost.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

This tradition continues today. As a post-script to this video, let me add a few words that are popular in an email making the rounds. The average age of our warriors is 19 years; the typical male is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who under normal circumstances is considered by most of society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country. He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his own car than wash his father's, but he has never collected unemployment either.

Our soldier, sailor, airman, and Marine is a recent High School graduate; he was probably an average student, pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left to serve, or swears to be waiting for his return. He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and a 155mm howitzer.

They’re 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when at home because he is working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk. He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark. He can recite to you the nomenclature of his weapon; he knows how to clear a jam.

He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional. He can march until told to stop, or stop until told to march. He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without spirit or individual dignity. He is self-sufficient; he is ready to assume command of his unit.

He has two sets of field uniforms; he washes one and wears the other. He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry. He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts. If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food. When he gets that care package from back home, he’ll share his Mom’s cookies.

He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like hands. He can save your life - or take it, because that is his job. He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay, and still find ironic humor in it all. He has seen more suffering and death than he should have in his short lifetime; he’ll take those memories with him to the grave.

He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and is unashamed. He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to 'square-away those around him who haven't bothered to stand, remove their hat, or even stop talking. In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home, he defends their right to be disrespectful.

This young person is paying the price for our freedom, just as his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather did. Beardless or not, he is not a boy. He is an American fighting man; he and others like him have kept this nation free from well over 200 years.

Today’s warrior is also an American woman; she has earned her place of honor in our society. She stepped up to the plate along side her brother in arms; when her nation called, she answered. Our warriors have asked nothing in return, except our friendship, our respect, and our understanding. Remember them always, for they earned these three things with blood and suffering.