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| Buy Buddie Poppys Veteran's Day Poppies at the Boardwalk November 
|
Members Bacliff VFW with Poppie Customer Jean Durkee |
VETERAN'S DAY
11 NOVEMBER 
"Kemah's PT Boat"
is in Dry Dock it will be Back soon with your help!
The Following letter came from a friend of Kemah.Net! He was once on the KVFD!
My daughter Erika wrote this for her brother who was just deployed.
Cynthia
**************************
Through the years, I have read in history books, watched on television and
heard old war stories recounting the tales of our forgotten heroes
and the tragic grief that mothers, wives and children endure when hundreds
of coffins wrapped in our nation's flag are delivered home.
It seems that society disassociates itself and eventually becomes desensitized
to the monotonous particulars of societal problems, specifically war.
After a few weeks of media exposure of the possibility of combat, society
gets tired of hearing the CNN breaking news stories, live via-satellite
reports from Geraldo Rivera, UN inspectors and Washington politics.
Lest we forget that the military cannot get tired. The soldiers can't
turn the action off as we can with the television remote. It is more
comforting to sit back on the couch and see the U.S.A. and the U.S. Armed
Forces as the strongest and most powerful element that marches this earth.
If only a small percentage of this nation could stop and look at the
real faces behind the camouflage, Hum-V's and M-16 Rifles. It is then,
I presume, that more appreciation, support and pride would emerge as our
boys venture into uncertainty.
People cannot not consume their views with only the financial costs and politics
of war. Innocent casualties is inevitable, but unfortunately that's
war. Granted, I know there are numerous and major factors to take into
consideration, but it also imperative to also remember the little guys who
are involved.
The thoughts I am bringing to the table are only to remind people of the
soldiers, the brave who fly our colors. Society should stop fretting
over the conservative and liberal ideas coming from Washington, but rather
redirect some of their attention to the courageous men and women who sit
on planes and ships as we speak twiddling their thumbs and wondering, "Will
I make it home…alive?"
Not everyone is fortunate enough to have family and friends in the military
to make them proud to fight for freedom. Well, I can stand tall and
say that I am the big sister of a U.S. Marine. He is only 20
years old and if you could only be fortunate enough to meet my brother,
you would be a very, very lucky person. Throughout his teens,
he was the most arrogant and cocky kid on the block. Although my brother
was as tough and risky as they came, he was too comical and just sweet enough
to sweep all the girls off their feet.
Prior to his recruitment, I shared many of the blind views with our
public. I didn't see the individual faces. Instead I saw action-hungry
aggression. It wasn't until he graduated from boot camp in San Diego,
that I looked around at the thousands of boys, excuse me, MEN that stood
tall and proud in flawless formation. It wasn't until my brother stood
out amongst them leading his platoon and being one of the very privileged
enough to carry their flag. It was then that I appreciated their hard
work and dedication. I realized what boot camp had produced and saw
the small glimmer of hope in their eyes that we could be proud of them. You
better believe we were!!
A U.S. soldier stood before me and someone who said he would do it again
and actually found boot camp easy. He wasn't my little brother anymore,
he was a U.S. Marine ready to fight for me.
He called me three times the week prior to leaving, each time saying it was
time to go. I was terribly saddened by the inevitable news. But
it was important to remember why he originally enlisted… to defend me and
our family against terrorism and ignorance. By the third call,
I knew he had finally received his orders. I will never in my life
forget the tremble in voice or the uncertainty in his words.
Can you picture the anxiety that a young man faces when he calls to tidy
up details regarding his will or hands over the Power of Attorney should
he not return…alive? Can you imagine the fear that he feels as he calls
everyone to say goodbye? All over the country everyday, the phone
is placed back on the hook and family and friends suddenly face the same
reality as their loved-ones, but moments too late. It is quick and
seems painless as you say a quick good-bye and a wish of good luck.
Only seconds later, regret sets in with a phone call that should have been
more serious, more sincere and more appreciative.
It may be the last you hear from them and it isn't until you get off the
line that that fear surfaces. Now, a constant worry hovers over me
daily. Continuous planning to send his next package is what I
think about every day. What can you possibly send a soldier to help
ease his fear and worries of war? What could be sent to make him feel
closer to home? How do you show true appreciation while he away?
I am helpless. All I can do is take care of his finances and send everything
the post office allows.
I doubt that a majority of our society honestly realizes what goes on with
our boys? I doubt they have heard the fear in the soldier's voices
or felt the tremendous worry that burdens a mother day in and day out.
Frustration overwhelms me when I think of the hundreds of thousands
of little brothers and sisters, daddies and sons who are and have risked
their lives in a foreign country so individuals have the simple and guaranteed
right to complain about war and economy, complain about our societal problems
and civil rights, complain about Congress and how unfairly the government
treats them.
So at the next anti-war rally you attend and the next unappreciative comment
you make about the United States of America, please remember one thing.
When the body bags start flying home, it was a real face, a real life and
it could be my little brother who gave his life for YOU and your right to
complain.
And, to PFC Tauss in Kuwait… SEMPER FIDELIS little brother!
By Erika Tauss
D'Hanis, Texas
Please visit the Department of Defense web page below and sign in thanking
the men and women of the U.S. military services for defending our freedom.
The compiled list of names will be sent out to our soldiers at the end of
the month. So far, there are only about 5.2 million names. What a shame.
National Military Appreciation Month. The entire exercise takes 10 seconds...literally.
Please pass it on to your e-mail friends. Click Here
|
From A Military Doctor
I am a doctor specializing in Emergency Medicine in the Emergency Departments
of the only two military Level One-trauma centers. They are both in San Antonio,
TX and they care for civilian Emergencies as well as military personnel.
San Antonio has the largest military retiree population in the world living
here, because of the location of these two large military medical centers.
As a military doctor in training for my specialty, I work long hours and
the pay is less than glamorous.
One tends to become jaded by the long hours, lack of sleep, food, family
contact and the endless parade of human suffering passing before you. The
arrival of another ambulance does not mean more pay, only more work.
Most often, it is a victim from a motor vehicle crash. Often it is a person
of dubious character who has been shot or stabbed. With our large military
retiree population, it is often a nursing home patient.
Even with my enlisted service and minimal combat experience in Panama, to
medical school, I have caught myself groaning when the ambulance brought
in yet another sick, elderly person from one of the local retirement that
cater to military retirees. I had not stopped to think of what of this age
group represented.
I saw "Saving Private Ryan." I was touched deeply. Not so much by the carnage
in the first 30 minutes, but by the sacrifices of so many. I was touched
most by the scene of the elderly survivor at the graveside, asking his wife
if he'd been a good man. I realized that I had seen these same men
and women coming through my Emergency Dept. and had not realized what magnificent
sacrifices they had made. The things they did for me and everyone else that
has lived on this planet since the end of that conflict are priceless.
Situation permitting, I now try to ask my patients about their experiences.
They would never bring up the subject without the inquiry. I have been privileged
to an amazing array of experiences, recounted in the brief minutes allowed
in an Emergency Dept. encounter. These experiences have revealed
the incredible individuals I have had the honor of serving in a medical capacity, many on their last admission to the hospital.
There was a frail, elderly woman who reassured my young enlisted medic, trying
to start an IV line in her arm. She remained calm and poised, her illness
and the multiple needle-sticks into her fragile veins. She was what we call
a "hard stick." As the medic made another attempt, I noticed a
number tattooed across her forearm. I touched it with one finger and looked
into her eyes. She simply said "Auschwitz." Many of later generations would
have loudly and openly berated the young medic in his many attempts. How
different was the response from this person who'd seen unspeakable suffering.
Also, there was this long retired Colonel, who as a young officer had parachuted
from his burning plane over a Pacific Island held by the Japanese. Now an
octogenarian, his head cut in a fall at home where he lived alone. His CT
scan and suturing had been delayed until after midnight by the usual parade
of high priority ambulance patients. Still spry for his age, he asked to
use the phone to call a taxi, to take him home, then he realized his ambulance
had brought him without his wallet.
He asked if he could use the phone to make a long distance call to his daughter
who lived 7 miles away. With great pride we told him that he could not, as
he'd done enough for his country and the least we could do was get him a
taxi home, even if we had to pay for it ourselves. My only regret was that
my shift wouldn't end for several hours, and I couldn't drive him myself.
I was there the night MSgt. Roy Benavidez came through the Emergency Dept.
for the last time. He was very sick. I was not the doctor taking care of
him, but I walked to his bedside and took his hand. I said nothing. He was
so sick, he didn't know I was there. I'd read his Congressional Medal of
Honor citation and wanted to shake his hand. He died a few days later.
The gentleman who served with Merrill's Marauders, the survivor of the Baatan
Death March, the survivor of Omaha Beach, the 101 year old World War I veteran,
the former POW held in frozen North Korea, the former Special Forces medic
- now with non-operable liver cancer, the former Viet Nam Corps Commander.
I remember these citizens.
I may still groan when yet another ambulance comes in, but now I am much
more aware of what an honor it is to serve these particular men and women.
I am angered at the cut backs, implemented and proposed, that will continue
to decay their meager retirement benefits.
I see the President and Congress who would turn their back on these individuals,
who've sacrificed so much to protect our liberty. I see later generations
that seem to be totally engrossed in abusing these same liberties, won with
such sacrifice.
It has become my personal endeavor, to make the nurses and young enlisted
medics aware of these amazing individuals when I encounter them in our Emergency
Dept. Their response to these particular citizens has made me think that
perhaps all is not lost in the next generation.
My experiences have solidified my belief that we are losing an incredible
generation, and this nation knows not what it is losing. Our uncaring government
and ungrateful civilian populace should all take note. We should all remember
that we must "Earn this."
Written By CPT. Stephen R. Ellison, M.D.
From the Military Order of the World Wars
Fort Worth Chapter
2003
|
www.elks.org/vets/news.cfm?StoryID=7962
Web site lets you know how you can send letters of encouragement
to be published in the Stars & Stripes?
www.opsos.orgallows users to send a letter to U.S.
military service personnel by Mail or Online. Or find a pen pal.
IT'S GOD'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FORGIVE BIN LADEN
IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ARRANGE
THE MEETING!!
; "Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf US Army Rtd...."
|
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