Veterans Day is November 11th:
On November 5th, I was the after dinner speaker for the monthly meeting of the Davidson, NC chapter of the Military Officer's Association and, since Veteran's Day was approaching, I first gave a short tribute to veterans. Now, I would like to share my words that night with my readers---many of whom are vets.
Good evening ladies and gentlemen....
I’ve been invited to tell my story about one of my combat missions in Vietnam but, if you don’t mind,I would first like to pay a
short tribute to Veteran’s Day which occurs next Tuesday, the 11th.
In 1776, several of my wife’s ancestors--- and maybe some of mine and yours---were poorly equipped to do so but they still took up arms and fought gallantly against the British Redcoats during the American Revolutionary War. Would this country have ever been the land of the free if an estimated 25,000 Americans had not died in that war of independence?
In 1812, my wife's ancestors again heeded the call to arms to stop the British Empire from conscripting U.S citizens into the British navy...from encroaching our borders...and, from inciting the Indians. Nearly 2,200 Americans died in that war and thousands more died from disease and other harsh causes before the stirring defeat of the British in the Battle of New Orleans.
In 1862, my great, great grandfather removed his rifle from the mantle over the fireplace in his mountain home and made a long march to do battle at various sites in the Shenandoah Valley during the American Civil War---our most deadly war ever---to fight against what he perceived to be a racial injustice.
On September 17th, 1862… Several of my wife’s ancestors fought for a noble cause… amidst row after row of tall corn stalks on the rolling hills of the Antietam battle field. By the end of that long, bloody day… 22,000 bodies piled one on top of another …but, somehow, her great grandfather made it through---only to later become a POW for the duration of the war. If not for the three million Americans who fought, and the 600,000 who died from battle or disease … Would we have a black American president elect today?
In 1944, my wife was the oldest of three siblings---at age five---when her thirty year old dad gave up his deferment that he had because of his job… and he joined the Army. Eleven months later, on December 3rd--- on a frigid cold night near Julick, Germany---his company was deliberately making their second attempted attack through a minefield under blistering machine gun fire. My wife’s father was killed by a mine explosion---one of 400,000 plus GI’s who lost their life in the second world war.
In 1945, after most of my uncles had returned from WW11---the Second World War---I was old enough to grasp the ever lasting trauma of one uncle's heroic service as a Marine in that war. I will never forget the very short anwser that I heard my dad receive after he casually asked his ex-Marine brother what it was like to be in on the invasion at Guadalcanal in August 1942. "Just be glad that you weren't there", my uncle said. But, my uncle was still luckier than the 400,000 plus GI's who lost their life---over there.
From 1950-1953, 35,000 Americans lost their life in the Korean War…The Unknown War… The Forgotten War… Does it seem we have totally forgotten their sacrifice?
Between 1950---when the first American advisors arrived in Vietnam---till 1975, over 58,000 Americans died to stem what President Eisenhower and presidents after him felt was the attempted take over of Indochina by the communists.
I could go on but, suffice it to say, that hundreds of thousands of Americans have died for what they felt was a just cause, and, today, we have about 23 million vets living amongst us and nearly three million of them have some type of permanent combat disability. We owe them---the dead and the living--- our foremost gratitude because our current liberties were paid for with a steep price---by our veterans and their families.
Sadly, as a result of my rescue, there are men… now veterans… who bear the scars of combat… both physical and psychological scars…as a result of their action to rescue me during what was considered an impossible mission by all involved. So, If there are any veterans present today…or widows of one…would you stand up please? (And, if you're one who is reading this at home, I salute you sir...madam.)
In the photo below, left to right, are my wife's sister, Joyce Cox, Todd Fields, and my wife, Shirley Garrett Fields. The two sisters stand before their father's grave---in the Netherlands.
This year, why not give a book that has an inspirational true story to a relative or friend who is a veteran, or who is still on active duty??? Why not buy a copy of "The Rescue of Streetcar 304" and give it as a gift to your special "vet", or mail a copy to one of the many men and women serving abroad....The book provides vivid and riveting detail about real heroes who fought bravely for three days to save a fellow aviator, and, after your recipient reads the book, he or she will have a better understanding that this country does appreciate those who have served, or are serving in the armed forces around the world today. And, it will provide a spark to lift their morale. If you want an easy method to mail a vet a copy---go the the book signing page for the procedure, and a phone number.
In observance of Veteran's Day 2007, Kenny was in Washington, DC signing copies of his book at both of the Smithonian Institute's National Air & Space Museums. On November 10th, he was at the Air & Space Museum on the National Mall (downtown), and on November 11th, he signed books at the Udvar/Hazy Air Museum (near Dulles airport). Over 150 visitors bought Kenny's book---many to give as a Christmas gift to a veteran....