One of the nice things about increased readership is I have lots of people sending me stuff that i can use when I don't write anything original, like most Saturdays. The following was sent to me by Dan S.
In the beginning they carried swords and sabers, dirks, Brown Bess's and flintlock Pennsylvania rifles, fowling pieces, bullet pouches and powder horns, cannon balls and anything else they could scrounge to help defeat the enemy. They dragged themselves and cannon through the mud and snow, the misery of slogging endless miles through the storms of winter and the stultifying heat of summer. They carried the wounded, the dying and the dead.
They carried the sure knowledge that as long as one of them was alive, the battle was not lost. They carried a dream of Freedom from despotic government, of the Liberty To Insure the Inherent God-Given Rights of all People of the Nation and their Posterity.
Later they carried P-38 can openers(I still carry one that I got out of a C-rats package on my key ring. I still use the key ring I got in the Navy... GOC) and heat tabs, watches and dog tags (I carried one of my old dog tags on my key ring up until two years ago when the eye broke ... GOC), insect repellent, gum, cigarettes, Zippo lighters (Yep. Had one of those until I quit smoking ... GOC) salt tablets, compress bandages, ponchos, Kool-Aid, two or three canteens of water, iodine tablets, Sterno, LRRP rations, and K-rations stuffed in socks. They carried standard fatigues, jungle boots, bush hats, flak jackets and steel pots. They carried M-1's, then M-16's. They carried 60mm, 81mm and 4-deuce mortars. They carried ammunition and beer of all varieties. They carried tripflares and Claymore mines, M-60 machine guns, M-79 grenade launchers, M-14's, CAR-15's, Stoners, Swedish K's, 66mm LAWs, shotguns, .45 caliber pistols and "grease-guns", silencers. They carried the sounds of bullets in flight, rockets, and choppers, and sometimes the sound of silence. They carried C-4 plastic explosives, an assortment of hand grenades, PRC-25 radios, knives and machetes and matches.
Not all at once.
Some carried napalm, CBU's and large bombs; some risked their lives to rescue others. Some escaped the fear, but dealt with the death and damage. Some made very hard decisions, and some just tried to survive. They carried malnutrition, malaria, dysentery, ringworms and leeches.
They carried the land itself as it hardened on their faces and bellies and boots, if they had any. They carried stationery, pencils, and pictures of their loved ones - real and imagined. They carried love for people in the real world and love for one another.
And sometimes they disguised that love: "Don't mean nothin'!"
They carried memories. For the most part, they carried themselves with poise and a kind of dignity. Now and then, there were times when panic set in, and people squealed or wanted to, but couldn't. When they twitched and made moaning sounds and covered their heads and said "Dear God!", and hugged the earth and fired their weapons blindly and cringed and begged for the noise to stop and went wild and made stupid promises to themselves and God and their parents, hoping not to die or lose a leg.
They carried the traditions of the United States military, and memories and images of those who served before them. They carried grief, terror, longing and their reputations. They carried the soldier's greatest fear: the embarrassment of dishonor. They crawled into tunnels, walked point, and advanced under fire, so as not to die of embarrassment.
They were afraid of dying, but too afraid to show it.
They carried the emotional baggage of men and women who might die at any moment, who know the terror and horror and futility of war.
They carried the weight of the world.
THEY CARRIED EACH OTHER, THEY CARRIED YOU AND ME!!
REMEMBER THEM TODAY, EVERYDAY!!!
I should have saved this post for Veterans Day but I was afraid that I might not remember it.
Let me just add that by and large most of them came home and resumed their lives. The real heroes among them did not brag about their military service. Real heroes do not brag. Their deeds speak for themselves. Most of them put their medals away in a safe place. They did not mount them on walls or openly display them. I have some and I haven't seen them in years. But then, I wasn't a hero. I was just a lowly squid.
Great post. Great title. Tim O'Brien's short story has long been one of my faves.
Posted by: Amy on September 18, 2004 12:50 PMGreat article. I still carry MY P-38, too.
And I linked to this article from my blog...
Thanks
Posted by: mostly cajun on September 18, 2004 01:17 PMyes hes! agreed. This is exactly my vision of a soldier: not boasting, but remaining quiet, putting medals in draws. My great grandfather was at the somme, and he apparently never talked about it.
Theirs, I think, is a silent burden, for what they have seen is beyond words.
It was the same, bbtw, with my friens with md: they knew they were facing death soon, but niether shouted or whined, but carried their heads high, as you carry yours. I cant imagine their burden, nor that of my grandfather, but hold both to be of the same weight. And I salute them for it.
we may have our differences, but I salute you too, mr wilson.
Posted by: matthew g on September 18, 2004 03:01 PMO'Brien's story is one of my favorite all time Nam stories. It makes you feel part of the platoon and like you are there. I wrote a lengthy paper on it in college and got a A+.
Posted by: Paul in Pa on September 18, 2004 03:45 PMDenny:
I was but the priming-grease on a single cog of a vast machine.
From your pictures, from your comments, from your actions, rest assured, you are indeed a 'hero'.
I oftened wondered when the LST Sailors would claim thier proper space in Valhalla; you gave it all you had: -that's all that's required for admission.
And even better, look at what you've done with your experience!
There can be no higher reward than to experience things, have a voice, and extend it to others.
Such is YOU!
"Lowly Squid", I extend to you the fraternal hug of "Semper Fi!" Don't get any wrong ideas, but I agree w/the ladies that yours is that persona that gets things wet.
Moisten us.
Dan S
Posted by: Dan S on September 19, 2004 02:22 AMThey also carried (and carry) the deadweight of a certain FDR-falsetto-talking Senator from Der Schtaat of Tax-achusetts who wants your vote to make slaves out of U. S. all.
Let's lighten their burden in November by voting for anyone else!
I still carry my P-38, my Zippo and Dog Tags!
Thanks for the reminder.
Posted by: Tom P on September 20, 2004 03:31 PM