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Ask a Vet
Author: TriSec    Date: 03/12/2013 10:31:29

Good Morning.

Today is our 4,174th day in Afghanistan.

We'll start this morning as we always do; with the latest casualty figures from our ongoing war, courtesy of antiwar.com:

US Military Deaths - Afghanistan: 2,178
Other Military Deaths - Afghanistan: 1,080

We find this morning's cost of war passing through:

$ 1, 431, 933, 750, 000 .00


While our focus here has always been Iraq and Afghanistan, from time to time we veer into the historical. Today is going to be one of those days.

We'll start in the Pacific Theater of Operations in WWII. The conflict there was so vast, that it's often difficult to get a grasp on the immense distances involved and the strategy behind the moves of both Imperial Japan and the United States. But since I've actually been to Manila and have stood on one of the battlefields, we'll start there. We should all be familiar with the story of the invasion, US withdrawal to Bataan, Macarthur's withdrawal, and the surrender and loss of the islands for 3 years. It's one thing to be a soldier in that situation, but did you know that a large number of nurses were captured by the Japanese?


SAN ANTONIO — On New Year’s Day 1942, the young American civilian nurse wandered through a dark, empty hospital, hours before Japanese forces invaded Manila, the capital city of the Philippines. No military members were left to raise the American flag or play “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

At sunrise, she walked alone on the road to her family’s home and an uncertain future as the sound of advancing enemy troops thundered in the distance.

San Antonio resident Dorothy Davis Thompson, now 96, captured that night and the terrifying days that followed in “The Road Back: A Pacific POW’s Liberation Story,” published in 1996 by Texas Tech University Press.

Her tale of survival during World War II as one of 3,000 allied civilians held at the Santo Tomas Internment Camp became a lesson for her children: Jack Thompson Jr., 62; Margie Camp, 60; and Peggy McCray, 56. While growing up on the East Side, it taught them that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

“We just called it mom’s story,” McCray said. “It was a little daunting knowing what she went through.”

Her mother was one of the 16 million men and women who served in uniform during World War II.


Fast-forward to 1945...it's one thing to fight for the continent of Europe; it's a large landmass, and most of us are at least familiar with the geography and political divisions. But again in the Pacific....there were hundreds of islands that were fought over because of where they happened to be. Iwo Jima is one of those miserable little islands. Nobody would have given it a second glance, but because it lay directly under the bomber route from Guam to Japan, it became the most important piece of real estate on earth for a few weeks in early 1945. We should all be familiar with the battle, and once the war was over, the US rapidly abandoned it at Japan took it back. Right now, on this day, it's the 68th anniversary of that titanic struggle. The island itself is so remote and difficult to get to that Japan only opens it once a year for veterans to visit.


DALLAS — Nearly 70 years after the Battle of Iwo Jima, Bill Schott is ready to remember it.

Schott, who lives in Haltom City, survived one of the bloodiest battles in the Pacific Theater without a scratch, but he struggled with the memories of what he saw in 1945.

He was just 18 when he served as a Marine parachutist in the 5th Division, which suffered the most casualties of any unit in the 36-day battle.

“I saw a minister friend of mine and he told me, ‘Bill, when you get those thoughts, think of something beautiful — a beautiful sunset, beautiful fishing, whatever you like — to take your mind off of it.’ ”

As a result, Schott remembers little of what happened. But now, at 87, he’s hoping to fill the void.

The Dallas Morning News reports Schott is one of 15 American World War II veterans who are traveling to the island on the one day of the year the Japanese government allows veterans and their descendants to visit.

“I’m hoping when I go back and I sit on the sands of Iwo Jima, I will maybe get a glimpse of what I did,” he said.

Three of the 15 veterans live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and their trips are sponsored by Daughters of World War II, a nonprofit organization founded by Laura Leppert, wife of former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert.

American Airlines donated one round-trip ticket, and Leppert’s organization raised money for the others to fly for free.

The veterans will attend a symposium in Guam before visiting Iwo Jima for about five hours Wednesday. They will attend a memorial service overlooking the landing beaches and meet Japanese veterans.

Last year, Leppert made her first trip to the island with two veterans.

“Because they landed on the beach, they hadn’t seen it from the air before,” she said. “When they see it from the air, some start to cry. They think about everything they saw; they think about their buddies.”

Leppert’s late father, George Broderick, fought at Iwo Jima but rarely spoke of it.

“I don’t think the vets wanted their family to know what they had to do to stay alive and save their country,” she said.

It wasn’t until her father was dying of cancer that he opened up about his experiences in the war.

Now she is working to help World War II veterans preserve their memories.

“The vets are so appreciative,” she said. “They didn’t think anyone cared anymore.”


Finally this morning, we'll head to our own backyard here on the East Coast. There was a burial at Arlington National Cemetery the other day. It would have been utterly routine, as there are burials there every day, except the men interred served aboard the USS Monitor.


It was likely the last Civil War burial at Arlington National Cemetery. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus delivered remarks at the funeral. Media from outlets across the country scribbled notes in the back row.

Despite all the attention, the funeral of two Monitor sailors on Friday was just like every other in one way: Sailors were honoring lost shipmates.

“The country and the Navy have a long memory, particularly and rightfully so when it comes to fallen heroes,” said Cmdr. John Fancher, commanding officer of Virginia-class attack sub Minnesota, under construction in Newport News, Va.

The two sailors were buried with full military honors in a plot between the amphitheater and Maine Memorial in front of a large crowd of sailors and civilians.

“From the Marblehead men who rowed Washington across the Delaware, to these brave souls, to those who serve today in nuclear-powered carriers and submarines, sailors have always been the same; they are at heart risk-takers — willing, even eager, to brave the unknown to peer past distant horizons,” Mabus said during the ceremony at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.

Mabus selected the date for the interment to coincide with the anniversary of the Battle of Hampton Roads on March 8 and 9, 1862, in which the Monitor clashed with the Confederate ship CSS Virginia. The battle was the first of two ironclad warships.

And while none of the sailors on the Minnesota — nor any of the sailors’ parents — were alive when this battle occurred, they feel a special connection to the Monitor.

The Monitor came to the rescue of the first Minnesota, a wooden steam frigate launched in 1855. During the Battle of Hampton Roads, Minnesota became grounded. A Confederate ship was planning to destroy the vulnerable frigate when Monitor engaged the southern ship and gave the frigate a chance to escape.

“It’s the least we could do to come up here and pay our respects,” Fancher said.


And I'll just mention that I live near a battlefield, too. Saturday we were out snowshoeing along the Battle Road and visited the Paul Revere capture site.

History is everywhere...whether we remember and preserve it, or ignore and repeat it, is up to us.
 

46 comments (Latest Comment: 03/13/2013 01:11:38 by Raine)
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Comments:

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Comment by Mondobubba on 03/12/2013 13:08:22
Morning all. Rainy and dark here.

Comment by wickedpam on 03/12/2013 13:13:03
Morning

Comment by Raine on 03/12/2013 13:26:00
Good morning! It's oogy here too.

Comment by Scoopster on 03/12/2013 13:31:10
Mornin' all..

It's about to be dark & rainy here.. just kinda gray right now.

Comment by Mondobubba on 03/12/2013 13:31:26
Raine, the new Bowie album drops today. Are we excited?

Comment by Mondobubba on 03/12/2013 13:34:29
Speaking of precious, how about Paul Ryan's DOA budget for FY 2014. He wants to repeal the ACA. How 2011 of you, Eddie Munster.

Comment by Raine on 03/12/2013 13:35:35
Quote by Mondobubba:
Raine, the new Bowie album drops today. Are we excited?
I am now!




Comment by Raine on 03/12/2013 13:37:05

Correction: Her ghostwriter is making her word salad somewhat legible.

Comment by Mondobubba on 03/12/2013 13:42:22
Quote by Raine:

Correction: Her ghostwriter is making her word salad somewhat legible.



What do you think "how precious" means!

Comment by Scoopster on 03/12/2013 13:48:20
Quote by Mondobubba:
Speaking of precious, how about Paul Ryan's DOA budget for FY 2014. He wants to repeal the ACA. How 2011 of you, Eddie Munster.

2011, 2010 AND 2009!

Comment by Mondobubba on 03/12/2013 14:05:08
Judge blocks Bloomberg law, meanwhile in Mississippi

Comment by wickedpam on 03/12/2013 14:23:54
Quote by Mondobubba:
Judge blocks Bloomberg law, meanwhile in Mississippi



of course, isn't Mississippi one of the fattest states? hell, I wish these companies would pull back on the portion size of things - when I order a small iced tea and get something that used to be considered a large there is a problem

Comment by Mondobubba on 03/12/2013 14:53:11
Best man left bleeding after being hit in head by flying dildo I saw this in the Book of the Faces last night.

Comment by Mondobubba on 03/12/2013 14:55:33
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Judge blocks Bloomberg law, meanwhile in Mississippi



of course, isn't Mississippi one of the fattest states? hell, I wish these companies would pull back on the portion size of things - when I order a small iced tea and get something that used to be considered a large there is a problem



Yes it is. 1/3 of all Mississippians are obese. Creeping portion size is a (pardon the pun) a huge problem. When you ask for a large drink of choice and it is the size of an oil drum it is time to rethink portion size.


Comment by Mondobubba on 03/12/2013 15:13:30
Flying dildos stunned the blog?

Comment by Raine on 03/12/2013 15:18:22
Quote by Mondobubba:
Flying dildos stunned the blog?
Still cutting and dicing invites.

and an occasional finger...


Comment by Will in Chicago on 03/12/2013 15:21:45
Good morning, bloggers!! I hope that everyone is well. I am a bit worn out from some family headaches yesterday. (No subbing today, as my niece has to be somewhere and I am watching my great nephews. My grand niece Emily Rose is in the hospital again as she has two viruses, including a rhinovirus that seems to keep coming back.)

TriSec, once an old friend who is a Word War II vet gets out of the hospital, I will talk to him about sitting down with some local historians. The man is 92 and knows a lot about the Chicago area.


Comment by Mondobubba on 03/12/2013 15:31:10
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Flying dildos stunned the blog?
Still cutting and dicing invites.

and an occasional finger...



Don't bleed on the velum!

Comment by Raine on 03/12/2013 15:47:56
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Flying dildos stunned the blog?
Still cutting and dicing invites.

and an occasional finger...



Don't bleed on the velum!

I Know, right? Damn xacto knives.

Comment by Will in Chicago on 03/12/2013 16:26:35
Mike Papantonio is in for Ed Schultz today.


Comment by Raine on 03/12/2013 16:29:46
Well this sucks... TMZ reporting That FLOTUS' financial info has been hacked.


As an aside, TMZ, you couldn't have found a better picture?

Comment by Raine on 03/12/2013 16:30:28
Quote by Will in Chicago:
Mike Papantonio is in for Ed Schultz today.
William Rivers Pitt is going to be a guest in the last half hour!


Comment by Raine on 03/12/2013 16:35:48
This sounds like a HUGE hack. Biden and Clinton are part of it as well:
Officials targeted included Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden, FBI Director Robert Mueller and LAPD Chief Charlie Beck
Celebrities included Britney Spears, Mel Gibson, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton
Financial details of Beck include the message 'you can't corner the Dorner,' a reference to cop killer Chris Dorner


Comment by Raine on 03/12/2013 17:33:31
IRS revokes "Pray the Gay Away" groups Tax-exempt status.

Comment by Mondobubba on 03/12/2013 18:08:05
Comment by Raine on 03/12/2013 18:14:25
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BE2md8nCIAE_eDV.jpg


Comment by Mondobubba on 03/12/2013 18:21:48
Quote by Raine:
Well this sucks... TMZ reporting That FLOTUS' financial info has been hacked.


As an aside, TMZ, you couldn't have found a better picture?



It's TMZ, what did you expect?

Comment by BobR on 03/12/2013 18:52:39

That is terrible, really, if you read the details.

Comment by livingonli on 03/12/2013 18:53:07
Quote by Raine:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BE2md8nCIAE_eDV.jpg

That would be logical which is not in the Paul family playbook.

Comment by Scoopster on 03/12/2013 18:56:02
So it seems there's black smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel..
Should be GREEN smoke!

Comment by Scoopster on 03/12/2013 19:05:06
Comment by TriSec on 03/12/2013 19:15:39
It's called Voice of the Scout.

I got my survey the other day; I already blasted national policy pretty hard.

The thing that should get their attention is that it's costing me popcorn sales, and in turn costing National money. Small potatoes to be sure, but it is all about the money.

I wrote a diary myself...after the story I posted yesterday came across. (I haven't posted it yet.) I am committed to serve as District Training Chairman until March 1, 2015. I intend to keep this promise, but depending on what national does, I will make no commitments to any scouting position beyond that.



Comment by Mondobubba on 03/12/2013 19:16:04
Comment by TriSec on 03/12/2013 19:19:11
Now, now. Mitt is allegedly from Massachusetts, and he was governor. He probably had to eat peasant food for some event, and discovered that he actually liked it.

Made right here in Lynn, ya know.



Comment by Mondobubba on 03/12/2013 19:32:16
Comment by TriSec on 03/12/2013 19:41:26
Comment by trojanrabbit on 03/12/2013 19:48:07
"Little Eddie" Ryan finally tells the truth.

Comment by Mondobubba on 03/12/2013 19:59:57
Quote by TriSec:
This one's for Mondo...

UHC has no monopoly on fucking with cancer screening.



Aenta are magnum cum peni.

Comment by Mondobubba on 03/12/2013 20:01:02
Quote by trojanrabbit:
"Little Eddie" Ryan finally tells the truth.



Oh look at the size of that massive budget document!

Comment by Mondobubba on 03/12/2013 20:17:46
Quote by BobR:

That is terrible, really, if you read the details.



Yeah, your right. Mondo revokes this a a "Florida Man" story. It is far too horrible. Clean up aisle 5?

Comment by Mondobubba on 03/12/2013 20:18:29
Quote by TriSec:
Now, now. Mitt is allegedly from Massachusetts, and he was governor. He probably had to eat peasant food for some event, and discovered that he actually liked it.

Made right here in Lynn, ya know.




You aren't in Lynn those, you would be in Woostah!

Comment by Mondobubba on 03/12/2013 20:21:14
Comment by Mondobubba on 03/12/2013 20:23:33
Comment by Raine on 03/13/2013 01:11:38
I cut another finger. Tonite it was the index on the right hand. I got in the way of the cutter -- minor injury. (last night it was pointer on left, xacto injury)

Did I mention that Bobber and his ability to knot string absolutely rocks? I believe that we are almost there.