COLLECTIVE MADNESS


“Soft despotism is a term coined by Alexis de Tocqueville describing the state into which a country overrun by "a network of small complicated rules" might degrade. Soft despotism is different from despotism (also called 'hard despotism') in the sense that it is not obvious to the people."

Saturday, November 11, 2006

Remember Veteran's Day. Share a Story.

catherine said...

Terrific stories! Buddy's contribution takes us directly to where the action was. Your father must have been an amazing pilot to survive all the missions he flew and to do what had to be done.

My contribution isn’t the least bit riveting, but would like to commit it to pixels, anyway. My great uncle who is 99 years old got special permission to enlist in the Marines in his thirties during WWII- he had to pull strings but knew where to tug. He was the oldest person to successfully complete Marine boot camp at the time. Since he had a good career as a newspaper editor and journalist before signing up, the Marines made him an officer and had him “write” for the cause while he was actually engaged in surveillance and getting intell. He served in the South Seas the year his son and only child was born. My aunt had a wonderful year with her baby while worrying about Uncle John overseas and supporting every Marine she knew and then some. Their family physician and close personal friend waited until Uncle John came home on leave to tell him and his wife that their beloved one year-old was severely retarded.

Uncle John ended up staying in the Marines and to this day has ramrod posture. My aunt spearheaded efforts to better our understanding of Down Syndrome, and for years she sponsored an annual celebrity charity softball game in CA to raise funds for retarded children. She was a wicked good pitcher and a lovely lady.

2:28 PM, November 11, 2006
Buddy Larsen said...

"Share a story"

This is from my dad's POW diary, written sometime in 1944, by navigator (and fellow POW) James Fallon, in Stalag Luft 1, about their B-17E "Mr. Five-by-Five" and its final mission, to bomb the Messershmidt factories @ Regensberg in Feb 1944 (the last day of "Big Week". It was the crew's 13th mission, tho the plane itself was the squadron's oldest, with 49 missions. All the following is my copy 'as is' from Lt Fallon's handwritten poem, the 'pilot' he refers to is my dad, Jack K Larsen from Eagle Lake, Texas, 23 yrs old at the time, RIP as of 1986:
**********
Old Five-by-Five, (the story of my ship)

Lads and lassies gather 'round
and if you promise to make nary a sound,

I'll tell you a tale that's sad to relate
about a long and graceful crate

with a tail that stood near ten feet tall
and guns that spat death from turret to ball.

Twas a fine and gallant ship,
with plenty of courage and beaucoup zip,

dodging thru flack and fighters too,
doing her best to protect her crew.

For time after time we limped home alive
due to the courage of old Five-by-Five.

Yes Five-by-Five was said to be old,
for 49 times she had braved the cold,

dropping her bombs on foreign soil
then winging her way did homeward toil.

Laugh, yes laugh, you young and bold, for 5 by 5 was getting old.

Her days were numbered, that we knew,
but we took no heed--we her crew.

Well I remember that final day
as we soared over Germany wending our way,
bent on the destruction of an aircraft plant.

Twas then that I heard a sputter and pant: "Feather #2" was the pilot's yell.

Nothing to worry about, all will be well,
for 5 by 5 had been in trouble before,
and had always come thru with colors galore.

Look! The group is beginning to climb!
They certainly picked one hell of a time!

Up and up, will they never stop,
listen to those damn engines pop.

Ahh, they're levelling out it appears
but what I heard next augmented my fears.

For old 5 by 5 had been trying too hard
and her engines began to slowly retard.

Yes, another engine was running away,
our ship began to rock and sway,

"Feather #3" was the pilot's yell,
the fix we were in is hard to retell.

That we lost the formation is only too true,
for our engines totaled the sum of two.

Fighters were sighted at six o'clock, old 5 by 5 tottered and rocked,

beset by fighters that numbered three,
the gallant ship struggled to get free.

But age and missions had taken their toll,
and 5 by 5 never reached her goal.

Over 120 her speed wouldn't go, the altimeter reading was much too low.

So out bailed the crew, and left her free,
riddled with bullets and on AFCE.

As slowly we drifted to the terrain below,
our spirits at the time were mighty low.

For the mighty majestic lord of the sky
was swiftly descending to the earth to die.

But even in her final and fatal dive,
a target was hit by 5 by 5.

She did her job and did it well,
old 5 by 5 we still think you're swell.





DEDICATED TO ALL FALLEN COMRADES

We will always remember Just a common Soldier
He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast
And he sat around the Legion telling stories of the past.
Of a war he had fought in and the deeds that he had done
In his exploits with his buddies: they were heroes, every one.
And though sometimes to his neighbours, his tales became a joke.
All his Legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer, for old Bill has passed away
And the world's a littler poorer, for a soldier died today.

He will not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,
For he lived an ordinary and quite uneventful life.
Held a job and raised a family, quietly going his own way,
And the world won't note his passing, though a soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell their whole life stories from the times that they were young.
But the passing of a soldier goes unnoticed and unsung.
Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land,
A guy who breaks his promises and cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow who, in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his Country and offers up his life?

A politician's stipend and the style in which he lives,
Are sometimes disproportionate to the service that he gives.
While the ordinary soldier, who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal and, perhaps, a pension small.
It's so easy to forget them, for it was so long ago,
That the old "Bills" or our Country went to battle, but we know
It was not the politician, with their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom that our Country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger with your enemies at hand,
Would you want a politician with her ever-shifting stand?
Or would you prefer a soldier who has sworn to defend
His home, his kin and Country and would fight until the end?
He is just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us we may need his life again.
For when Countries are in conflict, then we find the soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honour while he's here to hear the praise
Then at least let's give homage at the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline in a paper that would say,
Our country is in mourning, for a soldier died today.


45 comments:

  1. President Bush Attends Dedication of the National Museum of the Marine Corps

    Like the Marines who have come before them, this new generation has also given some of its finest men in the line of duty. One of these fine men was Jason Dunham. Jason's birthday is November the 10th, so you might say that he was born to be a Marine. And as far back as boot camp, his superiors spotted the quality that would mark this young American as an outstanding Marine: his willingness to put the needs of others before his own.

    Corporal Dunham showed that spirit in April 2004, while leading a patrol of his Marines in an Iraqi town near the Syrian border. When a nearby Marine convoy was ambushed, Corporal Dunham led his squad to the site of the attack, where he and his men stopped a convoy of cars that were trying to make an escape. As he moved to search one of the vehicles, an insurgent jumped out and grabbed the Corporal by the throat. The Corporal engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat. At one point he shouted to his fellow Marines, "No, no, no, watch his hand." Moments later, an enemy grenade rolled out. Corporal Dunham did not hesitate; he jumped on the grenade to protect his fellow Marines, he used his helmet and his body to absorb the blast.


    A friend who was there that terrible day put it this way: "Corporal Dunham had a gift from God. Everyone who came in contact with him wanted to be like him. He was the toughest Marine, but the nicest guy. He would do anything for you. Corporal Dunham was the kind of person everybody wants as their best friend." Despite surviving the initial blast and being given the best of medical care, Corporal Dunham ultimately succumbed to his wounds. And by giving his own life, Corporal Dunham saved the lives of two of his men and showed the world what it means to be a Marine.

    Corporal Dunham's mom and dad are with us today on what would have been this brave young man's 25th birthday. We remember that the Marine who so freely gave his life was your beloved son. (Applause.) We ask a loving God to comfort you for a loss that can never be replaced. And on this special birthday, in the company of his fellow Marines, I'm proud to announce that our nation will recognize Corporal Jason Dunham's action with America's highest decoration for valor, the Medal of Honor.

    ---
    Was hoping Jed Babbin would have mp3 at Hewitt's site, but not yet at least.
    Something well done for a change and very moving.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good job doughboys. See ya in Heaven.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Although my mother passed away August 14th, she requested her ashes be given up to the sea on this day.
    It is dawn and my sister, wife , and I are leaving for a few hours to honor that request.
    She wanted to be buried on the day we honor veterans. God rest her soul. She too was a warrior.
    Habu

    ReplyDelete
  4. PS,
    We also had a rip roaring party for her at her request so raise a cheer and have a grog on her. She'd love it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Will do Habu.
    To a Great Marine Mom.
    ---
    That link up there has 10 min of President Bush honoring Marines, and One Exceptional Marine.
    (real video)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Damn govt site craps out at 5 min.
    Wish you tube had it.

    ReplyDelete
  7. The man with the Ear ring gets attention on you tube, but not the USMC.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Interesting statistic from young David Bellavia, ex-GI and Iraq vet on c-span. America is at war and the American Public contribution is one half of one percent. That is unprecedented.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Or Jack Palance, evidently.
    Pennsylvania
    Army Air Corps
    Broadway
    Hollywood
    Sweden
    Tehachippi
    Montecito
    RIP Jack

    ReplyDelete
  10. Interesting young guy. He is defending Rumsfeld, claiming the arrogance we appreciated in Patton, may be there in Rummie.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Deuce,
    Yeah, we're OVERCOMMITED.

    ReplyDelete
  12. If Rummy and Cheney had run the show instead of Bush/Powell/Condi,
    things would be much different by all odds.
    Bush better represents our feminized, suicidal selves.
    (as a nation)

    ReplyDelete
  13. "I am no longer a Cowboy,
    It has been decided that I should be a Cowgelding.
    So be it.
    Ring the New Tone
    ---
    ---
    How was that, Honey?
    "

    ReplyDelete
  14. I got in late last night. There were a group of of dozen or so young soldiers in desert battle fatigues, all with their high and tight haircuts, waiting for their bags. There was one other young airborne soldier in dress uniform, damn good spit shine on his bloused combat boots, and sneaking up behind him was a pretty young girl in a teal dress. She jumped him from behind and must have whooped and howled and kissed him for twenty minutes. Some things never change.

    ReplyDelete
  15. All's well at that level,
    DC, not so much.

    ReplyDelete
  16. It will be very interesting to see what the Democrats propose and agree on. The Left of the party wants immediate withdrawal and war crimes. You have every suggestion from there over to the Democratic right. Talk about the beginning of a circular firing squad.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Upon winning, he dropped to the stage floor of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and delighted the audience with vigorous one-armed push-ups.
    Septuagenarian actors, he said, must continually prove their virility to keep working in youth-oriented Hollywood.

    The surprise stunt provided fodder for a series of ad-libbed jokes throughout the evening by Billy Crystal, his "City Slickers" co-star and the show's host.

    The next year's ceremony, in 1993, opened with Palance — then 74 — using his teeth to tow across the stage a 20-foot-tall Oscar statuette ridden by Crystal.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Tammy Duckworth has my appreciation whether she won or lost.
    Democrat or Corruputcan.

    ReplyDelete
  19. That Ukrainian President guy looked like that before the Sovs fed him the Kool-Aid.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Two thousand WWII veterans a week are taking their stories to the grave.

    ReplyDelete
  21. 2164th said...

    Interesting statistic from young David Bellavia, ex-GI and Iraq vet on c-span. America is at war and the American Public contribution is one half of one percent. That is unprecedented.

    One of the planks in Ross Perot's platform was that before he took America into any war, he would tack on a 50 cent a gallon gas tax (more like a buck in today's dollars) to "get your attention". I found that to be interesting, but I voted for Ron Paul anyway because I was in my Ayn Rand phase.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Before you took your vows for chastity, poverty and obedience.

    ReplyDelete
  23. "I only need to be able to look my Creator in the eye and state that I trusted Him all that I could.
    I would certainly not be able to do that if I called for the pre-emptive incineration of millions of Muslims, or even if I stood by and said nothing when others called for that.
    "
    ---
    The thought is perished in the Parish.
    - Catholic Woman

    ReplyDelete
  24. Before you took your vows for chastity, poverty and obedience.

    Well, with the coming of the Donks the poverty and obedience part will be taken care of, but not necessarily the chastity part.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I sure wish we didn't have to go and firebomb Tokyo.
    But we did.
    God Bless Curtis LeMay.

    ReplyDelete
  26. The Bible Belt turned out not to be the Chastity Belt.

    ReplyDelete
  27. You do look innocent, if not chaste,
    and a hell of a lot more attractive than yesterday.

    ReplyDelete
  28. The battle for Tarawa began this date, 1943.

    ReplyDelete
  29. PoliPundit is several years behind, but better late than never.

    Bush Pledges to Kiss A.. I Mean Work Together

    That explains so much.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Personal Note: Whit and I have never met. We speak occasionally by phone and email. We take turns on posting. We collaborate in timing but pretty much do our own thing. Every once in awhile we step on a toe as you would with two cooks in a kitchen and we give a little advice. Unseen are little additions or enhancements to each others work. I get a kick out of seeing when it happens. It is an interesting phenomenon this blogoshpere.

    ReplyDelete
  31. It is an interesting phenomenon this blogoshpere.\

    Someday after I learn the ropes I'd like to join the team.

    ReplyDelete
  32. "Share a story"

    This is from my dad's POW diary, written sometime in 1944, by navigator (and fellow POW) James Fallon, in Stalag Luft 1, about their B-17E "Mr. Five-by-Five" and its final mission, to bomb the Messershmidt factories @ Regensberg in Feb 1944 (the last day of "Big Week". It was the crew's 13th mission, tho the plane itself was the squadron's oldest, with 49 missions. All the following is my copy 'as is' from Lt Fallon's handwrit poem, the 'pilot' he refers to is my dad, Jack K Larsen from Eagle Lake, Texas, 23 yrs old at the time, RIP as of 1986:
    **********
    Old Five-by-Five, (the story of my ship)

    Lads and lassies gather 'round
    and if you promise to make nary a sound,

    I'll tell you a tale that's sad to relate
    about a long and graceful crate

    with a tail that stood near ten feet tall
    and guns that spat death from turret to ball.

    Twas a fine and gallant ship,
    with plenty of courage and beaucoup zip,

    dodging thru flack and fighters too,
    doing her best to protect her crew.

    For time after time we limped home alive
    due to the courage of old Five-by-Five.

    Yes Five-by-Five was said to be old,
    for 49 times she had braved the cold,

    dropping her bombs on foreign soil
    then winging her way did homeward toil.

    Laugh, yes laugh, you young and bold, for 5 by 5 was getting old.

    Her days were numbered, that we knew,
    but we took no heed--we her crew.

    Well I remember that final day
    as we soared over Germany wending our way,
    bent on the destruction of an aircraft plant.

    Twas then that I heard a sputter and pant: "Feather #2" was the pilot's yell.

    Nothing to worry about, all will be well,
    for 5 by 5 had been in trouble before,
    and had always come thru with colors galore.

    Look! The group is beginning to climb!
    They certainly picked one hell of a time!

    Up and up, will they never stop,
    listen to those damn engines pop.

    Ahh, they're levelling out it appears
    but what I heard next augmented my fears.

    For old 5 by 5 had been trying too hard
    and her engines began to slowly retard.

    Yes, another engine was running away,
    our ship began to rock and sway,

    "Feather #3" was the pilot's yell,
    the fix we were in is hard to retell.

    That we lost the formation is only too true,
    for our engines totaled the sum of two.

    Fighters were sighted at six o'clock, old 5 by 5 tottered and rocked,

    beset by fighters that numbered three,
    the gallant ship struggled to get free.

    But age and missions had taken their toll,
    and 5 by 5 never reached her goal.

    Over 120 her speed wouldn't go, the altimeter reading was much too low.

    So out bailed the crew, and left her free,
    riddled with bullets and on AFCE.

    As slowly we drifted to the terrain below,
    our spirits at the time were mighty low.

    For the mighty majestic lord of the sky
    was swiftly descending to the earth to die.

    But even in her final and fatal dive,
    a target was hit by 5 by 5.

    She did her job and did it well,
    old 5 by 5 we still think you're swell.

    ReplyDelete
  33. appreciate it, fellers--and will-do.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Strong people, Catherine. Quit a newspaper editor job to join the Marines, in his 30s.

    I'll be danged.

    Please tell the old boy "thanks", would you?

    99! Knew you had tuff genes, from yer writin!
    :-)

    ReplyDelete
  35. Please never tone it down. You're a true delight, as is. Yep, Nick is a pilot. I guess I missed due to spending so much time in choppers chasing the drilling rigs, that I's kinda skeered like. Oilpatch chopper pilots'll break you of wanting to fly.
    :-(

    ReplyDelete
  36. I often go to VMI in order to go through their library. For obvious reasons, it is an excellent source of military history. They also put out books each week for sale, usually $1-3 each, so it is perfect for adding to my library.

    This summer there was an abnormally large amount of books that were up my alley. As I read them, I realized they'd all been owned by the same guy, an Army colonel from Roanoke, Virginia. He always dated the chapters with the time they were started and finished, and left copious amounts of notes.

    In the margines he wrote about various deployments, experiences, etc...Honestly, I enjoyed his notes as much as the books, because it was like a window into his intellectual life over the period of 20 years or so.

    In a book about the British Army, there was the following comment about the delay of the invasion of Western Europe: "I may have lived because of this delay."

    At first I thought this was a reference to his father, but I then realized he was actually talking about himself. From all of the books I deduced that he was a veteran of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, and hadn't retired until the 1980s.

    Thanks to info he put in the books I was able to find his home phone number. When I called I found out from his son that the reason I had so many of his books was that they'd been donated after he had died a few months prior. This was pretty much what I'd feared. On the bright side I was able to thank his widow for both her husband's and her own sacrifices.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Cutler that is a very nice post. You have your own book in the making there!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Putting together the life of a man through the books his surviving childeren sold. Did it strike you that perhaps you had more interest in his life than his children? Why did they not make a family library so future family generations may know the man? A lif's work sold for a few dollars.

    ReplyDelete
  39. 2164, you could also look at as, the books were donated, and the few bucks went to maintain the library, and via Cutler, the man's life lit out in whole new direction, as a part of whatever Cutler and his descendants become from now on.

    ReplyDelete