tomorrow, is a national holiday in the U.S. It's called Memorial Day. And it's the day we've put aside to remember our heros, our loved ones, who have given their lives in the line of duty.
what are you doing this memorial day? A BBQ? A day of swimming, and beer and friends and laughter? Is it really just another 3 day weekend for you?
some of us will mourn and honor their friends, their co-workers...their safety net...
some of us will mourn and honor their loved ones, husbands, wifes, fathers, mothers, sons or daughters...
and all of us...ALL of us...should honor and mourn those who gave the most precious gift...so that we could be here, doing what we do, and saying what we say...
i've found two...one from my home state, and one from my new home...to share with you...both men...i shall light a candle for, and for their families...
for Robert, from Florida :
INGRAM, ROBERT R.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Corpsman with Company C, First Battalion, Seventh Marines against elements of a North Vietnam Aggressor (NVA) battalion in Quang Ngai Province Republic of Vietnam on 28 March 1966. Petty Officer Ingram accompanied the point platoon as it aggressively dispatched an outpost of an NVA battalion. The momentum of the attack rolled off a ridge line down a tree covered slope to a small paddy and a village beyond. Suddenly, the village tree line exploded with an intense hail of automatic rifle fire from approximately 100 North Vietnamese regulars. In mere moments, the platoon ranks were decimated. Oblivious to the danger, Petty Officer Ingram crawled across the bullet spattered terrain to reach a downed Marine. As he administered aid, a bullet went through the palm of his hand. Calls for "CORPSMAN" echoed across the ridge. Bleeding, he edged across the fire swept landscape, collecting ammunition from the dead and administering aid to the wounded. Receiving two more wounds before realizing the third wound was life-threatening, he looked for a way off the race of the ridge, but again he heard the call for corpsman and again, he resolutely answered. Though severely wounded three times, he rendered aid to those incapable until he finally reached the right flank of the platoon. While dressing the head wound of another corpsman, he sustained his fourth bullet wound. From sixteen hundred hours until just prior to sunset, Petty Officer Ingram pushed, pulled, cajoled, and doctored his Marines. Enduring the pain from his many wounds and disregarding the probability of his demise, Petty Officer Ingram's intrepid actions saved many lives that day. By his indomitable fighting spirit, daring initiative, and unfaltering dedications to duty, Petty Officer Ingram reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
and for Alex, from Missouri : *SKINKER, ALEXANDER R.
Rank and Organization: Captain, U.S. Army, 138th Infantry, 35th Division. Place and Date: At Cheppy, France, 26 September 1918. Entered Service At: St. Louis, Mo. Birth: St. Louis, Mo. G. O. No.: 13, W.D., 1919.
Citation:
Unwilling to sacrifice his men when his company was held up by terrific machine gun fire from iron pill boxes in the Hindenburg Line, Capt. Skinker personally led an automatic rifleman and a carrier in an attack on the machine guns. The carrier was killed instantly, but Capt. Skinker seized the ammunition and continued through an opening in the barbed wire, feeding the automatic rifle until he, too, was killed.
Both of these men have been gone a long time. But what they gave, will never be forgotten...
a song, sung by 4 veterans with amazing talent. a little cheezy on the vid...but...yes...true, and sung with love. [url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Od037pVWZZ4[/url]
Whoever you may pray to, please, on THIS day, say a prayer for those souls who have given more than should be asked of anyone..
