I think of my father, who enlisted in the Air Force hoping to see the world. He was sent to Texas and Alaska. His dream of world travel did not materialize. Still, he served proudly and honorably.
I think of my Uncle Charles, an MP in the Army in the 1940's. I think of the pride, determination, and strength he must have had in order to serve and receive such an assignment in a then segregated military.
I think of people like the Army Air Corps soldiers who made up the Tuskegee Airmen, who also had to fight for the right to serve their country with honor while simultaneously fighting segregation and hate from their fellow soldiers, merely because of their color. I think of how they persevered, becoming award winning fighters, eventually earning the Congressional Gold Medal for their efforts and their sacrifice.
I think of people like the men who made up the Montford Point Marines. These men, most of whom enlisted, wanted to fight for their country during World War II and wanted to do so in the unit of the armed services they believed to be the toughest. And it was, for these men had to fight segregation, humiliating treatment, scorn from their superiors, and blatant racism. Once the war was over, they had to live with the knowledge that their efforts would be largely overlooked for decades. Today, that neglect ends, and the work toward properly honoring these brave Marines begins as it's being reported they are to be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC), who fought to get the men their long overdue award, said about the Montford Point Marines, "These men, who were based out of North Carolina in World War II, served our country with courage and dedication, even in the face of discrimination and intolerance. There is no better way to celebrate the Marine Corps' birthday (236 years Thursday) and Veterans Day (today) than by honoring these men for their service and sacrifice, and granting them the recognition that is 50 years overdue."
I think of women like Army Specialist Shoshana Johnson who left her family, including an infant, to fight in Iraq. During her tour of duty in 2003, she became the first black female POW in the history of the U.S. military. Held prisoner for 22 days with injuries to her legs and ankles, she made it through her ordeal only to have her story overshadowed in the media, which chose to focus on the story of her fellow POW PFC Jessica Lynch. When SPC Johnson challenged the coverage, she was shunned by her Army superiors, and rumors of animosity between the two women surfaced - rumors that weren't true. She received multiple medals for her bravery and service, including the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Army Good Conduct Medal, and went on to write a book, "I'm Still Standing: From Captive U.S. Soldier to Free Citizen—My Journey Home," published in 2010.
I think of the soldiers who lie in Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington Cemetery. I think of those who fought for their country, gave their lives, and did so in an anonymity that endures, even in death. I think of the families of these unknowns who will never be able to truly say goodbye, their lives haunted by the fact they'll never know what happened to their loved ones - the ultimate sacrifice all around.
I think of soldiers long lost - like the Buffalo Soldiers, the men of the 10th Calvary Regiment of the U.S. Army, who fought from 1866 to 1951, bringing pride, honor, and dedication to the service on behalf of African Americans everywhere.
Like Dorie Miller, who enlisted in the Navy and risked his life during the attack on Pearl Harbor to save others, operating anti-aircraft machine guns during an air attack despite having no training on the weapon. He went on to serve in the Pacific Theater for the duration of World War II, and died in an attack on his ship, the aircraft carrier Liscome Bay in 1943. His bravery and leadership earned him the Navy Cross and the Purple Heart. I think of so many soldiers who gave their lives, were brave in the face of tyranny, who served their country with little reward or no acclaim because it was the right thing to do, because they loved their country.
I think of men like my Uncle Richard, who served his country in the military, then served his fellow soldiers with a career in the VA after his discharge. He worked tirelessly on behalf of returning soldiers his whole life, even as he battled the effects of MS the way a proud soldier battles his fiercest enemy. Something he said, partially in jest, sums up the pride he felt about being a solider, and sums up all the people in this post. One night, when calling a cable provider about a lost pay-per-view feed for a boxing match, he said one thing in the hope of getting what he felt he deserved. When the customer service rep asked if there was anything they needed to know to help him, he said simply, proudly:
"Tell them I'm a veteran."
More later, after telling all veterans out there, simply, proudly, thank you.
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