By Andy Weddington
Friday, 01 November 2019
The Japanese fought to win - it was a savage, brutal, inhumane, exhausting and dirty business. E. B. Sledge
Earl Bruce Heilman, also known as Dr. E. Bruce Heilman, died two weeks ago tomorrow.
I did not know Dr. Heilman.
Nor had I heard of him until Monday past. Regrettable; embarrassingly so.
I learned of Dr. Heilman in a text from our realtor (who helped with our current new home) who wrote in two texts,
" ... wanted to share with you this information about a relative whose funeral I attended yesterday (on my mother-in-law's side). He was so proud of being a Marine that we sang "from the halls of Montezuma" at the funeral. His experience as a Marine propelled him to do great things in his life. I thought of you several times during the service. He was 93 years old, and had just given a speech at the WWII Memorial in Washington DC 3 weeks ago. "
I asked the identity of her relative.
" ... My mother-in-law's cousin was Dr. E. Bruce Heilman. He was a national spokesman for Greatest Generations Foundation. His autobiography is titled "An Interruption that Lasted a Lifetime," as his time in service as a Marine affected his entire life. An interesting life to read about, or just Google. There's a YouTube of him speaking on "Why They Never Talked About It."
Awakened way too early this morning I eased out of the rack as not to awaken my still sleeping recently retired Sailor and watched the YouTube.
Sergeant Heilman, clad in Dress Blues, brings life to the writing of E. B. Sledge's classic 'With the Old Breed.'
E. B. Sledge - Marine (fought on Peleliu and Okinawa).
E. B. Heilman - Marine (fought on Okinawa).
I have read Sledge numerous times; riveting.
I have watched Heilman's YouTube once. Yet to read his autobiography but I will.
And I have enduring memories of a dear desert friend, Sergeant Major Ray Wilburn, USMC (1919-2018) - fought on Gavutu and was en route to Guadalcanal when ship was sunk - who told harrowing tales of combat in the South Pacific.
The experiences of Sledge, Hellman, Wilburn, et al. unimaginable.
In recent days Marine pals have sent me sundry articles about our new commandant's planning guidance and the direction(s) of the Marine Corps and warfighting.
Directions like integrating (the) genders at recruit training, moving away from amphibious shipping (due to vulnerability), and not shelving but challenging our MAGTF, the building block for forces (due to relevancy), are more than just conversations.
Is each the right direction?
Politics and word wars rage.
War, dismissive of politics and words, will sort each out.
But war's bottom line known; given.
Marines Sledge, Heilman, and Wilburn (many others too) gift us their experiences, memories, and wisdom to remind (us) of that horrible toll; to preserve freedom.
In nine days, Marines formally celebrate birthday 244.
For freedom, it's a big deal!
Ask a Marine.
Semper Fidelis.
Thank you, Nancy.
Sergeant Heilman ...
Speaks (remarks and Q&A - Why They Never Talked About It) ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKSwklfi678
Book ...
https://www.amazon.com/Interruption-That-Lasted-Lifetime-Eighty/dp/1434306747
Obituary ...
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/richmond-va/e-heilman-8895726
Posts
3 comments:
The current logic is, putting all our Marines on a few amphibs is too risky. These ships can be struck and sunk. The Navy is happy to concur. They don’t want to build and man amphibs now. But hmmmm? If it’s too risky for big deck amphibs why isn’t that true of the big deck carriers? And just a few days ago SecNav was talking about “Lightning Carriers”! These are big deck amphibs loaded with F-35s. Am I missing something?
For that matter, the United States is not so much “dispersed” and vulnerable to missiles armed with nuclear warheads.
Highly recommend the You Tube; the Doctor/Sergeant's optimism after all of his life experience alone is time well spent. Not to mention his recitation of Homer which is also exemplary. Thank you for the post.
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