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- Above and Beyond (http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=63)

- - Anniversary (http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16147)

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Reaper (Post 187016)

We can learn a lot from our own history.

TR

True enough. I learned a lot from my Godfather-he was there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Reaper (Post 187016)

Correct.

What a story on Guadalcanal, on the ground, in the air, and at sea.

Army and Marine units mixed together and thrown into the desperate fight. The USS Washington, the sole remaining combat effective battleship in the Pacific, duking it out against 14 enemy combatants and becoming the only US battleship to sink an enemy capital ship since the Spanish-American War.

See Sergeant John Basilone who won the Medal the night before PSgt Paige.

Reread "Guadalcanal Diary" for a taste of the way we used to fight. We can learn a lot from our own history.

TR

My grandfather was there. (IIRC - 1st Marines / 1st regiment / 2nd battalion / E company)

He gradually spoke more and more about it as he aged.
What he had to say was at times inspiring and at others, very sobering.

Beyond that, it wasn't so much what he said with his words, but rather what his eyes communicated.
My father detailed in recent years what my grandfather couldn't bear to say directly.

For bearing all these burdens, known and private, my respect and gratitude goes out to all combat veterans.

The old Marine was recalled to active duty on July 10, 2002 (last 2 verses of Marine Corps Hymn).
Semper Fi!

Another Anniversary we missed

Oct 21st 1957 the first American soldier was killed in Vietnam. Significant that he was a Special Forces Captain from 1st Group. A wrealth was laid in his honor at the West Point cemetary as Captain Harry Cramer was also the First Academy grad KIA in SouthEast Asia. The Special Forces medic who attended to Harry stated unequivocally that several Viet Cong (VC) mortar rounds were fired at the Special Forces advisors coincident with the initiation of the ambush drill. His son later served in 1st SFG. RIP