ON BEHALF OF A GRATEFUL NATION
By Andy Weddington
Thursday, 12 November 2021
Duty is the essence of manhood. - George S. Patton
10 November - The U. S. Marine Corps 246th.
My 41st.
At reveille Tuesday morning my Sailor wife greeted, "Happy Birthday, Marine!"
Tradition 35 years. Too, her handmade card.
Marines.
In order, I dearly miss ... lance corporals (there's not another being on earth like them), peers, Marines and Sailors, mission.
As time, the Corps marches on.
Today's direction concerning to many an older Marine.
I read some of those concerns Tuesday; critical of the commandant.
Insightful, articulate, logical, and argued with conviction.
Objectively, emotion did not taint.
Thinking about readings and observations and conversations the past couple years last evening a thought occurred: Core Values - Honor. Courage. Commitment. Powerful concepts. But meaningless without context.
What context?
There's one purpose for having a United States Marine Corps. One. To fight and win supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States. And there's oath affirming; civilians and uniformed swear.
So without the umbrella word 'Constitution,' Honor. Courage. Commitment. meaningless, really.
Duty.
Scholar Victor Davis Hanson (family ties to the Marine Corps WWII) during a recent interview suggested every single general and flag officer (GOFOs) now on duty should be dismissed. Sent home. No exceptions. Sure some good ones would be caught in the purge but that's the necessary cost of business.
Second! the astute Dr. Hanson.
And so throughout Tuesday I reflected on many great Marines. During our quiet home dinner a cold beer raised in honor. Traditional cake-cutting? In spirit. Of rice, my reality. Here's to health, and the Corps.
Yesterday morning we attended a Veterans Day ceremony in our quaint downtown; a patriotic town.
Our mayor led the half hour ceremony - professional, to the point.
The guest speaker, a veteran and week ago won election to a town council seat, opened with ... "On behalf of a grateful nation ... "
Afghanistan flashed to mind. Recently, thirteen senseless deaths; eleven Marines, Sailor, Soldier. Americans abandoned. And still. A disaster. Preventable. Stupid. Incompetent and more so cowardly senior leadership. Inexcusable.
Grateful nation.
Haunting words.
A few hours later, on short notice, we assisted a neighboring senior living home with their short ceremony - replacing a faded and tattered outdoor flag.
A gentleman well into his 90's helped strike and hoist.
Mr. Hall was Army - one of seven brothers who fought in Europe during WWII. He led us in the Pledge of Allegiance then said how much the ceremony meant to him. He choked up.
Twenty veterans reside in the home. All services. About half physically able to journey outside to the flagpole. We greeted and shook their hands.
I previously met a Marine lieutenant colonel, pilot, who was not able to attend. And yesterday, post ceremony, was escorted to meet a long retired Marine sergeant major, not able to attend. We speak the same language.
And last night, after another quiet dinner and beer at home, shortly before Taps I learned - from deep yellowed, faded, and raggedy papers - Great Great Grandfather Malone was honorably discharged on the 30th of July 1865 following the 'War of Rebellion, 1861-1865.' (Now to research his service.)
Patriots.
Grateful.
Relevant ...
The trial of Kyle Rittenhouse.
Bottom line: Young Mr. Rittenhouse was in combat. His sense of duty, courage, and presence of mind noted; though armed, to flee and deescalate. But armed thugs chased and attacked. He killed two and wounded one. [As many an opining lawyer has clarified, the case is not about Mr. Rittenhouse's presence rather did he have a right and react lawfully to protect himself believing serious bodily harm or his life in danger. Yes.] Had he been a uniformed combatant, valor decoration forthcoming.
Mr. Rittenhouse's sense of duty and courage honorable - instructive.
On behalf of our nation's defenders, sworn or not, of the Constitution - of freedom - is grateful enough?
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1 comment:
Great work, Colonel. I too hold similar opinions of young Rittenhouse. He was one of the few, the idealistic few, that thought that they could assist where those whose responsibility is to "protect and serve" were ordered to stand down, as they had been told to do all over the country by the anarchistic politicians who sided with the hordes of destroyers. I was hoping during the trial that someone would've offered to smash that idiot prosecutor in the head a few times with a skateboard and see if he would've thought that it still wasn't a " deadly weapon" after 5 or 6 good whacks. Anybody that has an ounce of sense knows that the " skateboard" is the weapon of choice by antifa and now blm because the police can't confiscate their " innocent mode of transportation", even though they've cracked hundreds of heads with them during their years long rampages.
Also, your comment re getting rid of the generals is perfect. Too many have forsaken their oath and have sold out to the politicians and the swamp rats. The upper echelons of our military need to be " enema-ed" out of service and a " Reformation" undertaken before it's too late. ( I recently read an article about the proliferation of all the " 4 stars" in the services. It mentioned Gen. Marshall's refusal refusal to promote another one during the war. He said to the effect that "we have enough infighting with the 7 that we have now, I don't need another one". Imagine that. During WWII with a global war going on and almost 4 million US servicemen, ....only 7 " 4 stars". Today, with no global conflicts and less than 1.4 million serving, we have approximately 44 " 4 star" generals and admirals, not including that " admiral " guy with his three piece suit still attached, but thinks he's a girl. God help us all.)
Best regards to all......
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