The following headline is a sad reminder of inexorable, inevitable reality:
For first time, Pearl Harbor remembrance takes place without a single USS Arizona survivor present
Along with the recent death of George H.W. Bush, it’s another reminder that we are rapidly losing the last of the World War II generation.
My parents’ generation, and all that goes with it, is all but gone.
I can think of no better reason for remembering.
Millions — no, billions — would rather not.
MORE: On a more personal level, my father served in World War II, my grandfather served in World War I, and during the Vietnam War I wasn’t old enough to serve (or be a draft dodger, which was pretty much de rigueur in the prevailing youth culture in my circles at the time) but I am old enough to recognize the enormous sacrifices that were made, and the importance of remembering them.
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3 responses to “Losing the greatest”
I was old enough to serve but I have bronchitis which I told them I had. I had the honor (thats what they called it) to be drafted into the marine corps (volunteers were a little light) and passed out in gas drill and they sent me home on a bus. talk show host gil gross had defense sec. robert mcnamara on to talk about his book about the vietnam war. he told gross that many including him kennady and johnson had doubts about what they were doing in vietnam. gross exploded “YOU had doubts! and you sent me over their anyway!” and ended the interview. he told his audience you vietnam war protesters were right I was wrong! I heard it live ;but have never been able to find a recording on the internet. dubya never had doubts because to have doubts you have to be able to think!
In WW II, my father fought over the same ground in France that my grandfather did in WW I. Something stupid about that.
As to Nam, I was actually one year too old for it, and married with children when the big call up began. Do not regret missing it. Two of my brothers in law served in the Marines in I Corps. Another was a B-52 crew chief in Thailand. Crew chiefs flew the missions. A fourth was in Germany in a heavy artillery company. No injuries to any of them.
american death toll in afganistan now over 2200 including 20 last 30 days. also nearly 2000 private american contractors killed. afganistan is muslim for vietnam.