On the eleventh
“It wasn’t me who started that ol’ crazy Asian war,” the song goes. “But I was proud to go and do my patriotic chore.”
And yes, I suppose it was a chore, in the strictest sense of the word: first we take care of business, then we can sit back and swap stories.
Some people will look at that word “proud” and grimace. “How can you possibly feel any pride in what you did?” Well, I did it well, and at the time, it seemed like exactly the right thing to do. Thirty years later, it still seems so.
No regrets from this former Army man; I wore the green, like so many others my age, and fortunately, most of us came back from where we’d been.
You don’t have to spend any time remembering me today, but please do think of your friends and mine, your relatives and mine, who took on this “patriotic chore” themselves. And say a prayer, if you would, for those who didn’t come back.
McGehee »
11 November 2009 · 7:43 am
When you came back you didn’t go into politics. So, there’s that.
hoosierboy »
11 November 2009 · 7:49 am
Thank you for your military service
paulsmos »
11 November 2009 · 9:21 am
People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.
thank you…vets
watch out for gals named Ruby
Jennifer »
11 November 2009 · 10:19 am
Wishing there was a ‘like’ button for times like these. Instead, I’ll just say thank you for your service. My prayers are with all of our countrymen and women who have served, are serving and will serve. May they all do so with pride and dignity, with a nation’s gratitude.
Cary »
11 November 2009 · 11:05 am
When I first read this I thought it was from
“Eve of Destruction” by Barry McGuire, which
was weird, especially since he was born in
Oklahoma. Then I realized it was from Kenny
Roger’s song “Ruby” which is weird since
he was with The New Christy Minstrels and
so was Barry McGuire.
CGHill »
11 November 2009 · 11:40 am
Indeed. (Although Mel Tillis, if I remember correctly, recorded “Ruby” first.)
Cary »
11 November 2009 · 12:28 pm
Sorry. I should have been more specific. I just had
someone email me to let me know that it’s actually
“Ruby Don’t Take Your Love to Town.” I didn’t know
that about Mel Tillis though. My correspondent said
something about Johnny Darnell.
Also, when you said say a prayer for those
who didn’t come back you didn’t mean the AWOLs did you?
fillyjonk »
11 November 2009 · 12:41 pm
What Jennifer said.
I hope that future generations remember this day for something other than cheap mattresses. (Though then again, if war is so far from memory that all they can think of is cheap mattresses, maybe that’s not so bad)
CGHill »
11 November 2009 · 12:41 pm
Not specifically, but I wouldn’t necessarily leave them out either.
Cary »
11 November 2009 · 12:55 pm
I never think of cheap mattresses.
And I think of a lotta things, but I’ve never
thought of cheap mattresses.
I guess I will now, though.
Jeffro »
11 November 2009 · 10:28 pm
Thank you for your service.