Memorial Day 2023
Remembering the Unsung Heroes
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| Long Sad Line of the Fallen |
While this day is dedicated to vets who sacrificed their lives in combat, and properly so, of the millions of military personnel who have served over the years this is a relatively small (thankfully) but sacred cohort. Something that most civilians aren't aware of though is the large number of vet’s who never make it to combat before dying. I’m not talking about the tragic losses due to suicide, murder or car accidents that all societies endure. I am referring to those who died in training for war.
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| Familiar to most of my pilot friends, the reliable T37 trainer |
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| The noble T-29, Navigator training workhorse circa 1970 |
When most people think of training they probably think of sports or technical college or on the job training. While there certainly is some risk to some types of training, how often do they cost lives? In WWII fully 1/3 of all the deaths for just my military branch, the air force (then the Army Air Corp) occurred during training. Over 52,000 airmen died in combat WWII which is staggering enough but in addition, nearly 26,000 in total died in training. Very dangerous training indeed.
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| WWII B-24 bomber nicknamed "flying coffin." More trainees killed in this one aircraft then in any other - mostly in the US |
Of course, training is much safer today but it still takes the lives of a significant number of our troops in all branches of service. Between 2013 and 2020, 224 aircrew members died during training, (all branches) and186 aircraft were destroyed at a cost of $11.6 Billion. Not counted here are the numerous deaths by non-aviation naval and ground forces killed in training every year. For example, just in the last few months, in addition to the 3 army helicopter training accidents which killed 14 soldiers, two army troops were killed and four marines were severely injured in separate training accidents
There this is also this ironic fact: when not in actual combat, troops spend much of the rest of their time in training for combat; never-ending training, never-ending risk. We can expect many more accidents in the coming years. In order to save the lives of military members, training must be realistic - and sometimes dangerous.
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| Army Blackhawk helicopter |
Separate, but related, it is easy to forget that at one time a large percentage of adults, especially male, served in the military. As recently as 1970 (slightly before the draft ended) about 14% of the US population were veterans. Today it is half as much, about 7%. This reduced participation in the military is also reflected in our government representatives - who are responsible for sending our troops into harm’s way. Logically, and unfortunately, there is much less familiarity with the military and military life.
I write not to impugn military training – I was a
beneficiary of it in three different conflicts. Nor to criticize the civilian population or our government
representatives; they just reflect America as it is today. I simply offer this as a reminder that there is much more to the sacrifice of military service than we
see on television – or on Memorial Day. Even in times of “peace,” a rare occurrence
for our country, going into the military - no matter when, which branch of service
or type of duty - is not the same as a civilian job. Not in pay, not in
lifestyle and not in risk. Hopefully you will consider that during your Memorial Day celebrations.
"The best form of welfare for the troops is first-rate training."
Erwin Rommel, Famous German General
It would be a wonderful thing if we didn't have wars, if we didn't need people trained for war and we didn't need to worry about losing our children to war. (That's apparently what we have schools for now.)
"I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity."
Dwight D. Eisenhower, General of the Army and last good RINO President (and almost every combat vet who lived to tell their story)
In closing, thoughts on "Taps." I have posted this on several past Memorial Days because I have never been able to find a better expression of my feelings for this important day. To those of you who have read it before and grow weary, I apologize. To others, perhaps it will strike a chord.
" War is young men dying and old men talking."
Franklin Roosevelt
I can’t listen to taps and not tear up. Sometimes I’m not
sure why I’m crying. Is it because of the magnificent mournful sound that so
perfectly matches the feeling of saying farewell to a warrior? Or am I crying
for all the loved ones left behind — the millions over many years? Sometimes I
think I’m crying for something else; maybe I’m crying for myself.
Ultimately, I think I’m crying because taps reminds me that
the world never seems to change for the better. No matter how many heroes pay
the ultimate price, war always demands more. And it is always our young whom it
craves.
Maybe I’m sad that someone somewhere will always be able to
make complete strangers kill each other for the same reasons over and over,
like an eternal World War I trench battle that rages over the same, small piece
of ground in perpetuity. Each generation, like some militant Sisyphus, pushes
the rock of war up the hill only to have it roll back on the next. No matter
how just, proud, or righteous that rock appears, it remains a monument to
belligerent humanity’s worst instincts.
I spent 28 years in the military, and my son has also
served honorably. Someday taps will sound for each of us. And for that I am proud.
But knowing that melancholy song will need to be played for endless future generations will always make me cry. And for that I am not ashamed.
Although that time when there will no longer be wars is apparently still far in the future, perhaps celebrating Memorial Day can provide us with some hope that it will come to pass.
I wish you a thoughtful and hopeful day.
Some appropriate music . . .
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