My wife’s nephew is in Bahrain, we talked to him on Christmas day. It was a little unsettling talking to a person halfway around the world and knowing they are fighting a war. His spirits were good and because of Christmas they didn’t have to do training and were able to relax as much as you can halfway around the world in a place of war. We had sent a package to him for Christmas with edible things that won’t melt in the heat and some books and such.
I remember 40 years ago my dad was in the Navy and the church we went to had a place for the service men to relax and chill on Sundays between the morning and evening services. Our church also put boxes together for the men in Vietnam for Christmas. We had dos and don’ts like no scented bath products that the enemy could smell, I know there were other things but I can’t remember them. As I was talking to our nephew I was reminded of that time. Because of my Dad and his being in the Navy, I don’t remember the negatives of that time, I do remember how proud I was of my country and the men or should I say boys that were fighting in that war.
There was a man who fought in the Civil War and his name was Joshua Lawrence Chamberlin. His company is credited with having a big part in saving the victory in the Battle of Gettysburg. The cost to his company was a very high mortality and injury rate. I believe it was over 75%. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlin was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his leadership and wounds received during that battle. He was chosen as well to receive the surrender of General Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox. He went on to become the President of Bowdin College in Maine, and Governor of the State of Maine. He once said”Combat is a test of character, it makes bad men worse and good men better” That can be said for our country as well.
Whether we agreed with the Vietnam war and it being good or not, we as a country could have handled how we treated the men who fought better. Let’s not make the same mistake with this group of warriors. At the end of the time talking to out nephew I thanked him as I always do for serving our country and protecting it. We don’t all agree about out troops being over there, but don’t take it out on the soldiers. In Bend we have a man who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor from World War II. Every veterans day a friend of mine send all his friends a reminder with the gentleman’s name and phone number and a not so subtle hint to call and thank him.
I suggest we do the same for all our service men, when you meet, see or talk to them thank them for their service to our country. For some of them the sacrifice is more than we are willing to pay.
Thank you James for your service to our country.
