Memorial Day, 2015

Iraq AmarahTroops (AP Images), Kansas City Star

***

Memorial Day, 3pm. Don't Forget. If you didn't know or forgot, do it now.

-- Marge

Memorial Day: remembering Vietnam

Remembering Vietnam, Barien P.

***

Of the wars and military actions the U.S. has engaged in, Vietnam stands out most in my mind.

According to an excellent article, History: Vietnam War, found at the City of Albuquerque site

2,709,918 Americans served in Viêt Nam. This number represents 9.7% of their generation.

The subtitle of the article and authors credited are

Viêt Nam War Narrative and Analysis – A New Mexican Perspective. Compiled and edited by Lou Hoffman with material reliance on "The U.S. Army in Vietnam," by Vincent H. Demma, Center of Military History, United States Army, and "On Strategy – A critical Analysis of the Vietnam War," by Col. Harry G. Summers, Jr.

A student at Brunswick High School in Glynn County, Georgia, included the image above in her/his junior project.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial honors those who served during the war.

-- Marge

A Soldier's Creed

When reciting the Soldier's Creed, Soldiers stand at attention.

U.S. Soldier's Creed

I am an American Soldier.

I am a Warrior and a member of a team.

I serve the people of the United States, and live the Army Values.

I will always place the mission first.

I will never accept defeat.

I will never quit.

I will never leave a fallen comrade.

I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.

I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.

I am an expert and I am a professional.

I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.

I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.

I am an American Soldier.

Soldiers commonly shout hooah at the conclusion of the Soldier's Creed, but it is not included in the creed itself.

The image at the top of this post is associated with a story by Marcus Eriksen, titled "My Angel in the Desert: One Soldier's Story of War."  Take time to read it when you can.

-- Marge