An Historic Day

Today was indeed an historic day in the history of the World.  One hundred years since the ending of the largest scale, most deadly, destructive war in history.  Forget whose fault it was; forget who made stupid decisions,; look to the future.  Will it happen again?

I have spent my entire adult life as a professional American soldier.  My youngest granddaughter  continues the family tradition by starting the 150th year of Army service as a field artilleryman in Germany.  We have collectively served in 7 wars since 1932; we have buried many friends, but fortunarely no family members. 

IIRC, the UK lost more men during that fracas than the combined UK/US casualties in WW-II.  When I lived in Lobdon 1979-81, I was impressed by the memorials to their losses in "The Great War."  One in every town I ever visited or drove through.   Today has many names, depending upon where you go.  To my grandparents, it was "Armistice Day."  In the UK it is still "Remembrance Day."  Here, the red poppies are nearly a thing of the past.  Too bad.  It should be remembered. 

When I took World History in high school, there were several chapters on WW-I in our text.  The lead page had a drawing of an American Infantryman lying in rubble, rifle ready, while he looked up at a  bust atop a podium.  The caption - "Lafayette, we are here!"  We are still there - very silently resting beneath several hundred thousand white grave markers scattered across the allied nations of WW-II.  

While our schools give that momentous, cataclysmic event short shrift today, our soldiers remember it.  A lot of our combat units' reputations were made between 1917 & 1918.    Our Third Infantry Division is still known as "The Rock of the Marne." 

It was good to see Angela Merkel in the front row, along with President's Trumo and Maroon.  I am confidebt that PM May and President Putin were likewise in that row - it would be fitting to do so.  Maybe if the leaders can remember the carnage of that war, there is hope.  Continental Europe has gone some 75 years w/o a major war. Not a bad record!

Donr

 


3 Comments

An Historic Day

by Brojeffrey - 2018-11-12 01:39:35

Thank you for your service, Donr.

3rd Infantry

by bill356 - 2018-11-14 15:34:27

In 1968 I went from Vietnam to Germany. I was assigned to 3rd infantry. Very proud division.

An Historic Day

by DAVID H - 2018-11-15 21:08:45

Altho I was assigned to this USAF Unit - The 1607th Air Transport Wing - subsequently renamed the 436th ATW, I wasn't involved in it's main mission: Bringing our troops remains back to Dover AFB, Delaware from SE Asia.  I was on "loan" to a number of Pacific outfits (Clark AB, Andersen AFB, DaNang, Wake Is. Airfield, Hickam AFB, Kaneohe NAS - aka as TDY - Tempory Duty) a number of times.  BTW: I've asked friends if they've noticed who has begun practicing perfecting his dictatorial "meme."  -- ala Hitler, Stalin and especially "Il Duce." ----  Since  I've broached the subject, a few friends have said "Yes, Yes, I see!"

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