November 11, 2011, - 10:32 am
On Veterans Day (& Every Day!), Thank You For Your Service (& Our Freedoms), American Veterans
It’s trite but eternally true: freedom isn’t free. And while today we honor our American veterans for the service they gave to this country, it’s something we should do every single day. I try to do it and I always thank soldiers and those with VFW hats or other insignia indicating they served. I’ve posted the pictures, below, several times before on this site. But they bear re-posting because they show the sacrifice, the agony, the emotion of those who serve so we can remain free. Without them and the grace of G-d, we might all be in burqas and keffiyehs, right now. And because of gutless politicians, authorities, and the mainstream media and pop culture, that may be coming soon anyway. Still, we certainly wouldn’t be free to say and do as we please, today, without our military. Without them there would be no First or Second Amendment and without those, no America. Without our brave men serving overseas and on our own shores, America would be a scary place . . . if it even existed at all. Never forget that.
Marine Staff Sgt. Mark Graunke, Jr., Iraq War Vet, Hugs Pearl Harbor Survivor/WWII Vet Houston James (Graunke Lost a Leg, Hand, and Eye Defusing a Bomb in Iraq)
Wounded American Marine Salutes President Reagan’s Casket
Some people are upset that there’s no mail or bank service today, and government offices are closed. Others are happy that as government employees they get the day off. But the point is to take some time out–have some reminders–of why we are all free to continue our business, our lives, our families, our ambitions, our freedom of speech, religion, and everything else every day of the week. And that’s because every single day, at risk of losing life or limb, our servicemen stand guard, so that we can continue our lives as we wish, without interruption or, worse, tyranny.
Today, I recognize and remember all of those who served, living and dead. I remember my own father, H.L. Schlussel, M.D., a U.S. Army veteran who served during Vietnam, my great-uncle, Maurice J. Schlussel, M.D., a career Army man who served during World War II and became the top U.S. Army medical officer for the South Pacific after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. I salute my cousin, Damian, a career U.S. Air Force soldier who served in Iraq, recently returned from an “undisclosed location in Asia,” and found himself in many other similar “paradises” I’d never wanna visit nor would you.
My Dad’s Army Uniform From During Vietnam
And I salute all of my brave and courageous readers who took the time to serve our country, not knowing what they would face and sacrifice along the way, but joining the U.S. Armed Forces to keep America safe and secure.
Yes, freedom is costly. Today, thank all of those who expended time, energy, limb, and even life to bear that cost for us . . .
G-d Bless You All. And Thank You For Your Service.
***
And for those of you who dodged the draft so others could serve and die instead of you, shame on you. That includes “conservative” “hero” and draft-dodger Ted Nugent, who should be behind bars for fraudulently obtaining a student deferment, though he was never a student, so he could go on tour, while other Americans his age died in Vietnam. After that scam no longer worked, he purposely wore the same clothes for a month and went to the bathroom in them, so he could be ruled unfit to serve. While his fans and others his age were maimed and/or murdered by the Viet Cong, he partied around America. And, yet, he somehow remains a hero of conservatives like Sean Vannity and the FOX News gang.
I’m also troubled that thousands of American men died and thousands more were maimed and lost limbs in the “service” of handing over Iraq from tyrant Saddam Hussein to even worse tyrants, Ahmadinejad and his puppetmasters, the Ayatollahs of Iran. These soldiers served and did as they were told, but their assignment in Iraq was misguided, and it’s a shame. We gained nothing by being in Iraq. We only lost–a lot!–there.
That is part of what Veterans Day is also about: respecting those who served, regardless of the assignment, the questionable assignment in the case of Iraq. And Afghanistan, where our soldiers are sentenced to do mindless “hearts and minds” bullcrap instead of fighting–and winning–a war, something they could have long ago achieved, were it not for generals and Presidents who see our military as a “nation-building” force, rather than a fighting one.
To all of you, Happy Veterans Day. We will never forget what you did for us so we could live our lives and be free.
Tags: America, bravery, courage, freedom, U.S. Armed Forces, Veteran's Day
The loss of limbs by remote bombing devices was completely unnecessary. Current technology allows for the creation of electronic devices that could have pre-detonated many of the bombs.
Similarly, a constant drumbeat of overwhelming air and tank power, instead of trying to win the hearts and minds of our enemies, would have saved many Americans from coming home in body bags or with broken minds and bodies. We did not win WWII by trying to win the hearts and minds of the Germans and Japanese (most the Italian people never had a desire to go to war, and overthrew Mussolini during the War..much to their credit). No, we bombed the — out of them until they surrendered.
Israel is making the same mistake the U.S. is. If you are going to go to war, do everything in your power to win. Because we have a bunch of sissy boys for President, we have not won a war since WWII (except Granada), and the Israelis have not had a complete victory since 1967.
If the enemy thinks you are soft, they will keep trying to destroy you. The West needs to re-learn this lesson taught by history since Roman times.
Finally, for those of you who think that Jews don’t fight, Jews made up 5% of the U.S. population during WWII, but 10% of the fighting force. My father, and three of my uncles served during WWII, with one getting five Purple Hearts, the Bronze star, and numerous other metals. Another uncle served during Korea.
During Vietnam, Jews again served in greater proportion to their percentage in the population. A cousin, a Marine Colonel was shot down over North Vietnam, MIA/KIA. Meanwhile, Pat Buchanan, who never fails to question Jews’ patriotism even though we came over with Columbus and have been here since the 1650, got out of Vietnam on a “bum knee,” which did not keep him off the tennis courts during the war.
During WWI, I had relatives that served, and a great uncle died serving during the Spanish American War.
Jews were among the first batch of West Point Graduates, Navy Academy Graduates, were among the first batch of Medal of Honor winners, etc.
A Jew, Hyman Rickover, created the nuclear navy. Over 100 years earlier another Jew, Commodore Levy, created the rules of behavior and punishment, for navy personnel. He eliminated corporal punishment.
Jews served as Generals, Captains, privates, etc. on both sides of the War between the States (Yankees call it the Civil War).
However, a salute to all those who have served, and a big badge of disgrace to people like Pat Buchanan who gamed the system.
Jonathan E. Grant on November 11, 2011 at 11:58 am