So That Others Might Be Free, Part V
I have to come to the defense of the Vietnam Memorial. It is not just a ‘V-shaped hole in the ground.’ It’s probably the best design for its purpose: to list the names of the men who fell in Vietnam. I don’t believe other war memorials do this on a national level. Indiana, where I was born and raised, does have a memorial that lists some of the fallen Hoosiers from the Civil War.
Yes, the war was mis-managed (mis-micro-managed?), but I think the brass was afraid of a repeat of Korea: cross that line and face the Chinese hordes.
I had the privilege of meeting some of the ‘Unlucky Few’ while attending A school at Great Lakes back in 80-81. These men were OSVETS who transfered to the Navy for an education. The stories I heard from them both appalled and fascinated me. How could you sit on the corpse of your enemy–the enemy you just turned into a corpse–while eating your rations is something that I… would… never…
But never say never. I wasn’t there. Or he was pulling my leg.
Yeah, I’ve heard a lot of criticism of the Vietnam Memorial. But it was probably the most cost-effective way to list the fallen where all could see. Imagine trying to find a fallen loved one who was listed on a Washington Monument-type memorial.
Well stated, Skipper. I am with you.
I might have met your Dad. It was a long time ago.
Memorials are for living. Your heart is for the dead.
Just remember, that is the best ‘memorial’.
Posted by Steel Turman
05/30/2005 at 09:06 AM
THAT was well-stated Steel… Maybe I’m wrong about the Vietnam Memorial. It is kinda like we wanted to hide it in the ground. Or is it?
Seems to me that the very design reflects the type of war that was fought. Mostly underground. It also serves as a ‘Wailing Wall’ for the U.S.
Yes, memorials are for the living. But memorials are only memorable if the living remember why the memorial is there.
When I was on the 8th grade field trip tp DC in the spring of ‘84 my class stopped at the ‘Nam memorial.
One of my classmates was looking for her dad’s name on the wall. He was a US Marine who was killed in combat a few months before she was born.
She never knew him.
When she came back to the bus in tears after finding her dad’s name another"classmate" proceeded to tell her that her dad DESERVED to die because he was a “baby killer”.20+ years later I’m still raging about that.
RIP Brave Warriors.
Thank’s for helping to keep me free.
Posted by Annoying Little Twerp
05/30/2005 at 11:13 AM
Day is done, gone the sun,
From the hills, from the lake,
From the skies.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.Go to sleep, peaceful sleep,
May the soldier or sailor,
God keep.
On the land or the deep,
Safe in sleep.Thanks and praise, For our days,
‘Neath the sun, Neath the stars,
‘Neath the sky,
As we go, This we know,
God is nigh.Three different versions of “the words for Taps”. There is no “official version”. The first stanza was the one I most often heard.
Perhaps someday, there will be much less reason for men to bear arms, to keep what they hold dear free, but human nature being human nature, I fear that day, if it arrives at all, is wrapped in the mists of time, far into the future.
OCM’s last line above says it all....
“Peace and remembrance everyday...”My Dad served two tours in ‘Nam with the Army, and came back.
An Uncle served in ‘Nam as a Marine. He went over as one person, and came back as someone else.
Their names won’t be on any Wall for the whole Nation to remember - but their names will always be honored in my heart.
Posted by quidni
05/30/2005 at 11:38 AM
There was so much controversy over the Vietnam Memorial. I know of no other memorial that captures the darkness of that war with such strength and stark reality. Its beauty lies within that starkness. And I know of no other memorial where people can go and cry and copy names of loved ones and leave flowers and letters. That wall provides a release in many ways; the least of which is to see the name of a loved one listed. There is a special building in DC where park rangers gather up the ‘memorials’ people leave at the wall. There is something about that that is a release for the living and an extra memorial for the lost.
As well, the bronze statue of the three soldiers will make you stop and think..real hard.
Posted by Phoenix
05/30/2005 at 01:02 PM
Barb,
Consider some of your rage ameliorated. I just took on some it. What a horrible story.
Posted by Phoenix
05/30/2005 at 01:03 PM
No greater love....
*MARTINI, GARY W.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, Company F, 2d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. place and date: Binh Son, Republic of Vietnam, 21 April 1967. Entered service at: portland, Oreg. Born: 21 September 1948, Lexington, Va. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. On 21 April 1967, during Operation UNION* elements of Company F, conducting offensive operations at Binh Son, encountered a firmly entrenched enemy force and immediately deployed to engage them. The marines in Pfc. Martini’s platoon assaulted across an open rice paddy to within 20 meters of the enemy trench line where they were suddenly struck by hand grenades, intense small arms, automatic weapons, and mortar fire. The enemy onslaught killed 14 and wounded 18 marines, pinning the remainder of the platoon down behind a low paddy dike. In the face of imminent danger, Pfc. Martini immediately crawled over the dike to a forward open area within 15 meters of the enemy position where, continuously exposed to the hostile fire, he hurled hand grenades, killing several of the enemy. Crawling back through the intense fire, he rejoined his platoon which had moved to the relative safety of a trench line. From this position he observed several of his wounded comrades Lying helpless in the fire-swept paddy. Although he knew that 1 man had been killed attempting to assist the wounded, Pfc. Martini raced through the open area and dragged a comrade back to a friendly position. In spite of a serious wound received during this first daring rescue, he again braved the unrelenting fury of the enemy fire to aid another companion Lying wounded only 20 meters in front of the enemy trench line. As he reached the fallen marine, he received a mortal wound, but disregarding his own condition, he began to drag the marine toward his platoon’s position. Observing men from his unit attempting to leave the security of their position to aid him, concerned only for their safety, he called to them to remain under cover, and through a final supreme effort, moved his injured comrade to where he could be pulled to safety, before he fell, succumbing to his wounds. Stouthearted and indomitable, Pfc. Martini unhesitatingly yielded his life to save 2 of his comrades and insure the safety of the remainder of his platoon. His outstanding courage, valiant fighting spirit and selfless devotion to duty reflected the highest credit upon himself, the Marine Corps, and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Posted by jackbrownii
05/30/2005 at 01:55 PM
Before anyone asks…
Those pics are ones I took at one of the mobile wall displays. I haven’t had a camera when I’ve been at the Wall in DC. I’m a film school student now, and one of my instructors did two tours in ‘Nam and was in both the Navy and the Army Reserve for a combined total of 28 years. He teaches early filmmaking, film editing and still photography. I took the pictures to show him them, I knew he was the only instructor at my school that would apprecaite them.
He started teaching at my school in 1972.
I was born in 1971. My father was training to go to ‘Nam in ‘67 as a medic, when he destroyed his left shoulder. He never shipped out. The Army decided his shoulder had some preexisting condition and sent him home.
Friends of his went and never came back.
When I was going into the Army in ‘89, he and I were having long talks about the ‘Nam era, about being willing to put your life on the line for your country, and about how one should live his life prepared to defense that country. He told me about lost friends, both friends that didn’t come back the same and friends that didn’t come back at all.
One of the guys that I went to basic training with went over to Gulf War I. He didn’t come back. The barracks he was in was hit by a SCUD, IIRC. I slept in the same room with this guy for eight weeks. Ate breakfast, lunch and dinner with him. Had long talks about where we were going, what we were gonna do, looked at pictures of his girlfriend, crawled through the mud with him. I found oput he was gone when I wrote him a letter six months after his death, and his mother told me.
One of my dearest friends who passed away last November at the age of 80 served in WW2, Korea and Viet Nam - he came through these wars unscathed & I delighted at his stories.......His son served in Viet Nam and came back a psychiatric nightmare - in & out of hospitals ever since, addicted to drugs, etc..........His father took care of him the best he could.......He finally found a military hospital in Topeka, KS who took him in & tried their darndest to help him.......When his dad, my friend, passed away last November his son, Rick, was unable to bear the thought that his father was no longer there to support him........He committed suicide within 2 weeks of his father’s death......The rest of the family is so sad, thinking “What could we have done to help Rick & prevent this from happening”.......I tell them that now Rick & his father are together again & God is watching out for them............Be sad but be happy as Bob & Rick will watch over all of you.................
Posted by Dottie
05/30/2005 at 09:36 PM
Another thought ........I visited the War Memorials in D.C. a few years ago when I spent some time with my son in Norfolk, VA.......As you all know my son Mike is currently serving in the Navy......Anyway we visited the Viet Nam Memorial & the Korean Memorial....I was moved by both of these Memorials ........Hopefully when the war in Iraq is over we will have a memorial to honor all those who died in this latest war......
Posted by Dottie
05/30/2005 at 09:43 PM
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