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Post by treeofliberty on Dec 27, 2005 18:52:23 GMT -5
Oh, you hit it right on the head. At times, it's a tough read, for that very reason. But there is some other content that you just have to stand in awe. I liked the navy guy who was just trying to have a "moment" with his wife in hangar on a Sunday morning. Then the japs attacked. He was so pissed that he unleashed hell from the ground.
Another was Marine Corps Machine Gunner Mitchell Paige, defending Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. I cannot summarize and do justice. 2500-3000 japanese formed an all-out assault on the airfield across 3 days. They died, mostly at the hands of Paige.
You owe it to yourself to read the book. We all need giants in our lives.
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Post by wilcav on Dec 28, 2005 12:03:10 GMT -5
I haven't read the book but it sounds like a good one.
Don't forget the everyday guys too. It is not as glamorous but I have soldiers that go out on 24 hour patrols along some of the most dangerous routes in Iraq and they have been maintaining the pace for a year. I lost 5 of my men doing just that; another routine patrol.
The rest of the Troop didn't stop. They all know the risks and they all keep working so hard. Never been more proud of a group of people in my life than I am of them. It takes a huge amount of courage to do that everyday. I am lucky to live with giants.
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Post by 04unlimited on Dec 29, 2005 1:35:12 GMT -5
I also have never read that book, but have read a similar one about the Vietnam Medal of Honor Recipients, appropriately titled "Vietnam Medal of Honor Heroes".
We are all lucky to live in a nation where so many are willing to stand up and defend our way of life. It never ceases to give me goosebumps to hear the national anthem played, or when I see someone in uniform. I was lucky enough to have served with some of the best people I have ever met. I am thankful everyday that we have guys like that watching our backs.
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Post by treeofliberty on Dec 29, 2005 11:05:18 GMT -5
I was disappointed that Bob Howard was not in Beyond Glory. Two Medals of Honor and lived to tell the stories. He needed to be in that book.
Having spent my entire career in the Intel community, I'm always around active or retired warriors. I find myself most in awe around them. We have a young, very sharp sys admin guy who helped liberate Iraq with the 1st Marines. I swear this kid could learn surgery in 2 hours. And there is nobody more reliable. He was with an Intel unit, and has some great stories. After building a nation, most everything else would seem rather easy.
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Post by treeofliberty on Dec 29, 2005 11:17:31 GMT -5
I haven't read the book but it sounds like a good one. Don't forget the everyday guys too. It is not as glamorous but I have soldiers that go out on 24 hour patrols along some of the most dangerous routes in Iraq and they have been maintaining the pace for a year. I lost 5 of my men doing just that; another routine patrol. The rest of the Troop didn't stop. They all know the risks and they all keep working so hard. Never been more proud of a group of people in my life than I am of them. It takes a huge amount of courage to do that everyday. I am lucky to live with giants. This was the underlying theme in the book. Each story started with some biographical history. None of these guys were anything noteworthy, until extrordiary circumstances struck, and they rose to the challenge. Each guy in the field is the same. Each guy, sleeping in dirt, eating MRE's, always in condition yellow, orange, or red. And yet, they get up each day and do it again. And each of you will come home and be normal members of a peaceful society. It's amazing what warriors are capable of. My father-in-law spent 4 years in the Pacific with the Marines in WWII. He returned home to an Ozzy-and-Harriet lifestyle. It amazes me still. How I wish I could have met the man before he died. Stay alert and don't go on any "just another routine patrols". Besides, you have a baby Jeep on the way. |
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