Memorial Day

This is a long read, but necessarily so.  Read it!

Americans, this is Memorial Day Weekend.  Along with you, I celebrate this day – but; I caution you.  This Memorial Day (and all others) that we  celebrate is not just about beer and bar-b-q.

The Civil War, which ended in the spring of 1865, claimed more lives than any conflict in U.S. history and required establishment of the country’s first national cemeteries.

By the late 1860s, Americans in various towns and cities began holding springtime tributes to these countless fallen soldiers, decorating their graves with flowers and reciting prayers.  Many think Memorial Day services were first celebrated by southerners and then, a year later after a Yankee general’s wife observed the southern celebration – the north decided to also celebrate Memorial Day services which made Memorial Day a national holiday.

It is unclear where exactly this tradition originated; numerous different communities may have independently initiated the memorial gatherings.  Nevertheless, in 1966 the federal government declared Waterloo, New York, the official birthplace of Memorial Day.

When I say I celebrate Memorial day I do not mean I rejoice in lavish entertainment and refreshment or that I party till I puke or that I revel in the atmosphere of party or that I have fun running naked through the streets drunk and chasing Vestal Virgins with whips made from wolf leather.  I mean in celebration I give thanks for the losses of generations of our great nation.  Since about the beginning when Jamestown was founded in 1607, we have had heroes fighting for survival and fighting to stay alive and to thrive; but we have also had a number of heroes that have fallen in great honor and glory and valor during the wars of our nation.  Perhaps the first way we honored our heroes was with the Purple Heart which was minted in 1782.  General George Washington established the first honor ever designated for the common soldier, declaring, the road to glory in a patriot army and a free country is thus open to all.  With no money to pay for promotions, Washington ordered that a heart made of purple cloth or silk be awarded for “unusual gallantry.” Only three men are known to have won this Badge of Military Merit—the original Purple Heart: Sergeant Elijah Churchill, whose small detachment destroyed a British supply depot on Long Island in 1780; Sergeant William Brown, who led an advance party in a surprise attack at Yorktown just before the British surrendered in 1781; and Sergeant Daniel Bissell, who collected intelligence behind enemy lines in 1781-82.  Later, the United States Navy created a Medal of Valor (later to become known as the Medal of Honor) and its history goes something like this.  The medal was first authorized in 1861 for Sailors and Marines, and the following year for Soldiers as well.  On March 25, 1863 Pvt. Jacob Parrott was the first of a group of 6 men awarded the Medal for their actions in "The Great Locomotive Chase" in April 1862.  The award is not called the Congressional Medal of Honor.  Contrary to popular belief, the official title of the highest U.S. military distinction is simply the Medal of Honor.  Where the confusion may have come in is that Yankee officers were (during the great war of northern aggression) handing out Medals of Honor at re-enlistments.  Obviously military personnel prostituted the intent of the medal and some approximate 990 medals had to be recalled.  This invoked Congressional Review.  Only one woman has ever received the Medal of Honor, and her award was temporarily rescinded.  A medical doctor who supported feminist and abolitionist causes, Mary Edwards Walker, volunteered with the Union Army at the outbreak of the Civil War. Despite her training, she initially had to work as a nurse before becoming the Army’s first female surgeon.  Known to cross enemy lines in order to treat civilians, she may have been serving as a spy when Confederate troops captured her in the summer of 1864.  Walker was later released as part of a prisoner exchange and returned to duty.  On November 11, 1865 President Andrew Johnson presented Walker with the Medal of Honor, making her the only woman to date to receive the Medal of Honor.  In 1917 the Army changed its eligibility criteria for the honor and revoked the awards of 911 non-combatants, including Walker. Nevertheless, she continued to wear her medal until her death two years later.  An Army board restored Walker’s Medal of Honor in 1977, praising her “distinguished gallantry, self-sacrifice, patriotism, dedication and unflinching loyalty to her country, despite the apparent discrimination because of her sex.  Theodore Roosevelt received the Medal of Honor posthumously for his efforts at the battle of San Juan Hill while with the Rough Riders (Bully!).  The youngest Medal of Honor recipient earned his award at 11 and was granted it at 13.  Born in New York, 11-year-old Willie Johnston enlisted in the Union Army alongside his father, serving as a drummer boy with the 3rd Vermont Infantry during the Civil War.  In June 1862, overpowered by Confederate forces, his unit retreated down the Virginia Peninsula under orders from General George McClellan. Along the way, the men discarded their equipment to hasten their pace.  Young Willie, however, clung to his drum throughout the march and was later asked to play for his entire division on July 4.  When Abraham Lincoln heard about the drummer’s bravery, Lincoln recommended Willie for the Medal of Honor, and Willie received the award in September 1863.  Sergeant First Class Sammy Davis of the United States Army during the Vietnam War found three of his fellow GIs in a foxhole behind enemy lines.  Two were severely wounded and one presumed dead, but he carried them to a river and floated them to safety on an air mattress, one by one.  He found a medic’s bag and tended their wounds but refused to treat his own.  This effort earned Sammy the right to wear with honor distinction and valor the highest military decoration of the United State; the Medal of Honor.  If you ever watched Forrest Gump be presented his Medal of Honor by then President Lyndon Johnson, it was Forrest’s head superimposed onto a video of Sammy Davis receiving his Medal of Honor from Johnson.

Recipients of the Medal of Honor and their Citations.

ADAMS, JAMES F.

Rank and organization: Private, Company D, 1st West Virginia Cavalry. Place and date: At Nineveh, Va., 12 November 1864. Entered service at: ------. Birth: Cabell County, Va. Date of issue: 26 November 1864. Citation: Capture of State flag of 14th Virginia Cavalry (C.S.A.)

BABCOCK, JOHN B.

Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, 5th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Spring Creek, Nebr., 16 May 1869. Entered service at: Stonington, Conn. Birth: New Orleans, La. Date of issue: 18 September 1897. Citation: While serving with a scouting column, this officer's troop was attacked by a vastly superior force of Indians. Advancing to high ground, he dismounted his men, remaining mounted himself to encourage them, and there fought the Indians until relieved, his horse being wounded.

CHANDRON, AUGUST

Rank and organization: Seaman Apprentice, Second Class, U.S. Navy. Born: 1866, France. Accredited to: New York. (Letter, Capt. N. Judlow, U.S. Navy, No. 8326B; 21 November 1885.) Citation: On board the U.S.S. Quinnebaug, Alexandria, Egypt, on the morning of 21 November 1885. Jumping overboard from that vessel, Chandron, with the aid of Hugh Miller, boatswain's mate, rescued William Evans, ordinary seaman, from drowning.

BUTLER, SMEDLEY DARLINGTON (Second Award)

Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: 30 July 1881, West Chester, Pa. Appointed from: Pennsylvania. Other Navy awards: Second Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Medal. Citation: As Commanding Officer of detachments from the 5th, 13th, 23d Companies and the marine and sailor detachment from the U.S.S. Connecticut, Maj. Butler led the attack on Fort Riviere, Haiti, 17 November 1915. Following a concentrated drive, several different detachments of marines gradually closed in on the old French bastion fort in an effort to cut off all avenues of retreat for the Caco bandits. Reaching the fort on the southern side where there was a small opening in the wall, Maj. Butler gave the signal to attack and marines from the 15th Company poured through the breach, engaged the Cacos in hand-to-hand combat, took the bastion and crushed the Caco resistance. Throughout this perilous action, Maj. Butler was conspicuous for his bravery and forceful leadership.

DALY, DANIEL JOSEPH (Second Award)

Rank and organization: Gunnery Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: Glen Cove, Long Island, N.Y., 11 November 1873. Accredited to: New York. Other Navy awards: Second Medal of Honor, Navy Cross. Citation: Serving with the 15th Company of Marines on 22 October 1915, G/Sergeant. Daly was one of the company to leave Fort Liberte, Haiti, for a 6-day reconnaissance. After dark on the evening of 24 October, while crossing the river in a deep ravine, the detachment was suddenly fired upon from 3 sides by about 400 Cacos concealed in bushes about 100 yards from the fort. The marine detachment fought its way forward to a good position, which it maintained during the night, although subjected to a continuous fre from the Cacos. At daybreak the marines, in 3 squads, advanced in 3 different directions, surprising and scattering the Cacos in all directions. G/Sergeant. Daly fought with exceptional gallantry against heavy odds throughout this action.

COLE, DARRELL SAMUEL

Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Born: 20 July 1920, Flat River, Mo. Entered service at. Esther, Mo. other Navy award: Bronze Star Medal. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as leader of a Machinegun Section of Company B, 1st Battalion, 23d Marines, 4th Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the assault on Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, 19 February 1945. Assailed by a tremendous volume of small-arms, mortar and artillery fire as he advanced with 1 squad of his section in the initial assault wave, Sergeant. Cole boldly led his men up the sloping beach toward Airfield No. 1 despite the blanketing curtain of flying shrapnel and, personally destroying with hand grenades 2 hostile emplacements which menaced the progress of his unit, continued to move forward until a merciless barrage of fire emanating from 3 Japanese pillboxes halted the advance. Instantly placing his 1 remaining machinegun in action, he delivered a shattering fusillade and succeeded in silencing the nearest and most threatening emplacement before his weapon jammed and the enemy, reopening fire with knee mortars and grenades, pinned down his unit for the second time. Shrewdly gauging the tactical situation and evolving a daring plan of counterattack, Sergeant. Cole, armed solely with a pistol and 1 grenade, coolly advanced alone to the hostile pillboxes. Hurling his 1 grenade at the enemy in sudden, swift attack, he quickly withdrew, returned to his own lines for additional grenades and again advanced, attacked, and withdrew. With enemy guns still active, he ran the gauntlet of slashing fire a third time to complete the total destruction of the Japanese strong point and the annihilation of the defending garrison in this final assault. Although instantly killed by an enemy grenade as he returned to his squad, Sergeant. Cole had eliminated a formidable Japanese position, thereby enabling his company to storm the remaining fortifications, continue the advance, and seize the objective. By his dauntless initiative, unfaltering courage, and indomitable determination during a critical period of action, Sergeant. Cole served as an inspiration to his comrades, and his stouthearted leadership in the face of almost certain death sustained and enhanced the highest tradition of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.  I personally know Darrell’s brother Francis; another war hero Marine from World War II

BARBER, WILLIAM E.

Rank and organization: Captain U.S. Marine Corps, commanding officer, Company F, 2d Battalion 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.). Place and date: Chosin Reservoir area, Korea, 28 November to 2 December 1950. Entered service at: West Liberty, Ky. Born: 30 November 1919, Dehart, Ky. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of Company F in action against enemy aggressor forces. Assigned to defend a 3-mile mountain pass along the division's main supply line and commanding the only route of approach in the march from Yudam-ni to Hagaru-ri, Capt. Barber took position with his battle-weary troops and, before nightfall, had dug in and set up a defense along the frozen, snow-covered hillside. When a force of estimated regimental strength savagely attacked during the night, inflicting heavy casualties and finally surrounding his position following a bitterly fought 7-hour conflict, Capt. Barber, after repulsing the enemy gave assurance that he could hold if supplied by airdrops and requested permission to stand fast when orders were received by radio to fight his way back to a relieving force after 2 reinforcing units had been driven back under fierce resistance in their attempts to reach the isolated troops. Aware that leaving the position would sever contact with the 8,000 marines trapped at Yudam-ni and jeopardize their chances of joining the 3,000 more awaiting their arrival in Hagaru-ri for the continued drive to the sea, he chose to risk loss of his command rather than sacrifice more men if the enemy seized control and forced a renewed battle to regain the position, or abandon his many wounded who were unable to walk. Although severely wounded in the leg in the early morning of the 29th, Capt. Barber continued to maintain personal control, often moving up and down the lines on a stretcher to direct the defense and consistently encouraging and inspiring his men to supreme efforts despite the staggering opposition. Waging desperate battle throughout 5 days and 6 nights of repeated onslaughts launched by the fanatical aggressors, he and his heroic command accounted for approximately 1,000 enemy dead in this epic stand in bitter subzero weather, and when the company was relieved only 82 of his original 220 men were able to walk away from the position so valiantly defended against insuperable odds. His profound faith and courage, great personal valor, and unwavering fortitude were decisive factors in the successful withdrawal of the division from the deathtrap in the Chosin Reservoir sector and reflect the highest credit upon Capt. Barber, his intrepid officers and men, and the U.S. Naval Service.

FOX, WESLEY L.

Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Marine Corps, Company A, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division. Place and date: Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam, 22 February 1969. Entered service at: Leesburg, Va. Born: 30 September 1931, Herndon, Va. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as commanding officer of Company A, in action against the enemy in the northern A Shau Valley. Capt. (then 1st Lt.) Fox's company came under intense fire from a large well concealed enemy force. Capt. Fox maneuvered to a position from which he could assess the situation and confer with his platoon leaders. As they departed to execute the plan he had devised, the enemy attacked and Capt. Fox was wounded along with all of the other members of the command group, except the executive officer. Capt. Fox continued to direct the activity of his company. Advancing through heavy enemy fire, he personally neutralized 1 enemy position and calmly ordered an assault against the hostile emplacements. He then moved through the hazardous area coordinating aircraft support with the activities of his men. When his executive officer was mortally wounded, Capt. Fox reorganized the company and directed the fire of his men as they hurled grenades against the enemy and drove the hostile forces into retreat. Wounded again in the final assault, Capt. Fox refused medical attention, established a defensive posture, and supervised the preparation of casualties for medical evacuation. His indomitable courage, inspiring initiative, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger inspired his marines to such aggressive action that they overcame all enemy resistance and destroyed a large bunker complex. Capt. Fox's heroic actions reflect great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps, and uphold the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.  I know Wesley very well; I used to work for Wesley.

During my life, I have known many a hero.  Only about a dozen Medal of Honor recipients.  They all shared similar characteristics.  They were all children when they earned the Medal of Honor.  Most received the distinction of the Medal of Honor Posthumously.  They were all fighting for your freedom.

My wife’s father Frederick George William Pursey fought in the United Nations delegation to the Korean War with the Canadian Army and suffers ear damage to this day from being unfortunate enough to have been standing too close to a cannon when it fired; he was the gunner on the cannon.  My dad, Percy Franklin Vesser Jr. also served in the United States Air Force.  He was buried with military honors in Marshall Mo shortly after his death on 15 October 2018.

So, enjoy your cold beer(s) from your cooler or fridge; eat lots of those tasty burgers or steaks from the grill.  Honor, Cherish, Worship, and most of all – Remember those that sacrificed anything to keep this country free.  Semper Fi Mac.  I love you and I miss you.  Your family also misses you.  GOD Bless you throughout your eternity in Heaven – I will see you at the East Gate my Brother in Arms!  You others, remember our heroes!

Special thanks to the Fathers, Mothers, Sisters, Brothers, Children, Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, cousins and all others that have suffered losses so one could become a hero.  GOD Bless hem one and all.