 "If you are able, save for them a place inside of you....and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go.....Be not ashamed to say you loved them.... Take what they have left and what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own....And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind...."
Quote from a letter home by Maj. Michael Davis O'Donnell KIA 24 March 1970. Distinguished Flying Cross: Shot down and Killed while attempting to rescue 8 fellow soldiers surrounded by attacking enemy forces. "We are kept free by men better than ourselves."
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Thoughts
I have felt the need to try and explain why I feel so strongly about our Gold Star Families Program. I hope these thoughts give some insight into my motivation for this program.
While my Dad was serving in WWII, my Mother (they did not marry until 24 Dec 1945) worked in a drugstore in Metropolis, IL. The persons delivering the telegrams notifying families of the death of a loved one almost always came to the drugstore to ask Mom where the family lived. I remember her telling me about the many times she accompanied the messenger as the telegrams were delivered.
As an Army brat, the honoring of those who paid the ultimate price was just a natural part of life. Even after my Dad retired, I remember going with him and other members of the Metropolis American Legion on Memorial Day and Veterans Day to place flags on the markers of each veteran in Massac County. There was no doubt that I would serve in the military in some capacity.
I did go into the Army and eventually found myself as 1st Platoon Leader in Charlie Company, 2/5 Cav in Vietnam.
As Vietnam vets we have all, to some degree, asked ourselves the question, “Why did I survive and so many good young men have to die?” I preface these remarks by stating that I do not have an answer to that question. I wish I did. I simply have been thinking about this and wanted to share my thoughts with you.
First of all, I realize the truth that in war, people die. I have all the respect in the world for former General Douglas MacArthur; however, I respectfully disagree with his famous statement,
“Old soldiers never die, they simply fade away.”
Old soldiers DO die, and young ones do also. Young, old, Black, White, Hispanic, rich or poor, death in war does not discriminate. Further, those soldiers do not simply fade away. Rather, they are forgotten by the very people who are the beneficiaries of the freedoms for which these veterans put their lives on the line. (Although I must say we found an exception to this in the reception we received in Marked Tree, AR in September 2008.)
Now, back to the question, “Why did I survive and so many good young men have to die?” Again, I do not have the answer that will bring you the peace you seek. Perhaps that question has to be answered by each of us in our own way. I do, however, have an answer that I think will speak to you.
I do not know why each of you survived and others had to die. What I do know is that I am grateful to Almighty God that each of you did survive and that I have been blessed to not only meet and fellowship with you and your families, but also, become a part of the brotherhood that is C 2/5 Cav.
Further, it is my hope that through this brotherhood and our Gold Star Families Program that we can truly get to know our brothers who gave their lives and the families they left behind. Our 2008 Reunion gave us an idea of the healing effect of meeting with and honoring the families of our fallen brothers.
I look forward to working with all of my brothers as we reach out to the families of our brothers on the Wall. |