We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:02:07 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification The Milblog world is full of great posts this weekend. When casting about for what I was going to do for Memorial Day, everywhere I looked, other people had already done it and generally better than I ever would. These two posts will stay up all weekend, anything new will be below - and the second post will have links to other bloggers stuff. Since active operations continue, and my email box pings daily with several DoD Casualty notifications, I'm going to do what I did last year. Give you a glimpse into what happens behind those casualty notices. With... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html Sat, 28 May 2005 13:38:07 -0600 Thanks for the update.. these days the real news can't even get buried on the back pages... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25662 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25662 Wed, 01 Jun 2005 07:06:04 -0600 Thanks for sharing the post again. You're right the statistics don't move the emotions but the personal story sure enough did. Tim http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25588 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25588 Tue, 31 May 2005 05:09:34 -0600 Great post John. Thanks for sharing that story again. You mentioned the $12K check from the government to cover initial expenses. Might want to make sure your readers know that amount was just increased to $100K, retroactive to Oct '01, and that SGLI for servicemembers in a combat zone has also increased, at government expense, to $400K retroactive to the same time. Sarah has another $238K on the way as soon as the bean-counters get the paperwork done. It won't bring Leonard back and it sounds like she could survive without it, but in some cases that will mean shoes for the kids and maybe an education. We can't ever do too much, or even enough, but at least we're doing more than we were. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25584 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25584 Mon, 30 May 2005 23:40:17 -0600 We just returned from a trip today to Washington, DC. visiting the new WWII memorial and others. The most poignant moment today was our visit to Arlington Cemetary just as a light rain began to fall at the Tomb of the Unknowns. As my ten-year-old son sat and watched in awe of the honor guard, he asked and answered his question why they did what they did - "Mom, freedom is a precious and we must preserve it, I'm glad you brought me here today." They're sacrifices were not in vain...our children do understand. Thank you for yours and God Bless America. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25580 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25580 Mon, 30 May 2005 21:43:36 -0600 Excellent I learned a lot about Memorial Day http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25578 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25578 Mon, 30 May 2005 20:40:34 -0600 Thank you for posting this moving tribute to one of our heros. This man and his family are a credit to America and to all who fought or stood and waited for their loved one's return or the news that their loved one would not return to them again in this lifetime. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25575 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25575 Mon, 30 May 2005 19:35:32 -0600 My dad is a two time Viet Nam Air Force Vet. I have many family members who have served in different military branches. My freedom and everyone elses in this country and many others depend upon their service. I'm so glad that we're supporting our troops with so much more respect than we used to. Thanks for sharing a truly touching event. May God guide and protect those in harms way. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25574 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25574 Mon, 30 May 2005 18:47:59 -0600 Thanks for telling this. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25568 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25568 Mon, 30 May 2005 16:22:55 -0600 Thank you for sharing this John. Brought tears to my eyes. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25566 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25566 Mon, 30 May 2005 16:17:56 -0600 I'm just a civilian learning every day how prescious our military is. The parade this morn started the tears early. Thank you all for your service to America. God bless. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25565 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25565 Mon, 30 May 2005 16:05:47 -0600 Earlier in the week a friend and I caught up over lunch. I told him that a mutual acquaintance,"L", recently had his fifth child and that his oldest son enlisted in the Marines. My friend, whose youngest son is a year younger than L's oldest, was stunned. "What?!! How could L let him do that!, oh, no!" I looked my old friend straight in the eye and said "Someone's son has to serve to protect yours and his future. Now you know his name. Didn't you know that L was a Marine, he served in Desert Storm, he's very proud of his son and so am I." After an awkward silence, we changed the subject. My friend is a good decent man, a devout Christian, a wonderful father, but an unquestioning 60's liberal who believes SF's relentless, anti-military MSM. I sent him the URL to this post, perhaps he will gain a little insight, but I suspect not. Thanks for re-posting this piece John, it's makes me doubly proud of our young men and women in uniform and the Long Gray Line that stretches around the world and into history. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25558 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25558 Mon, 30 May 2005 11:04:35 -0600 Tim - not at all. We are exalted, that they cared enough to dare. The torch is ours to carry forth, and ensure that some good comes from their sacrifice. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25555 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25555 Mon, 30 May 2005 09:34:34 -0600 We are diminished. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25552 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25552 Mon, 30 May 2005 08:39:57 -0600 What else can I say, but thank you. Thanks, and my love to you all. Happy Memorial Day. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25525 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25525 Sun, 29 May 2005 19:04:08 -0600 Baby? It's soul, babe, soul! And a gut recognition that it could have been you. Survivor's guilt is okay, 'k? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25523 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25523 Sun, 29 May 2005 17:23:28 -0600 I was so glad to see you did this again this year, John. I loved it last year, and linked to it. I couldn't come over here this morning because I was trying to gather my few remaining wits and I knew I'd lose it if I read your post. I can't believe I'm such a baby. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25518 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25518 Sun, 29 May 2005 16:31:56 -0600 "Some reports indicate they killed the sniper." I hope those reports were proven true. Thank you so much for letting the Red Ensign Brigade know about this. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25501 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25501 Sat, 28 May 2005 22:03:00 -0600 Hi John - thanks for this. As a Canadian living in the states I sometimes don't feel that many back home truly understand the losses on this side and the realism that goes with it. Best regards http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25497 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25497 Sat, 28 May 2005 21:27:37 -0600 I remember and value that remembrance of all my buds who didn't get to come home. I include the ones who we have lost since, in the thirty some odd years since I got back to the world. Even if I didn't know them personally, they have my respect and my thanks. Hero, none of them would like being called that. Doing their job and being there for their buds, yes, they would appriciate those words. Each year that passes I think that the memories will get a little more fuzzy and hard to come by. Not true, at least so far and I'm getting on into what I once thought of as the "ol' folks" age group. If, I'm lying, I'm dying, but I think that my buds that went on before me would laugh at that . Maybe they are now, as I type this. Papa Ray West Texas USA http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25494 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25494 Sat, 28 May 2005 20:02:48 -0600 Even if I have to stiff Charon to do so. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25493 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25493 Sat, 28 May 2005 19:51:41 -0600 To: The shades of Lt. Cowherd, and all who have fallen for us. From: Justthisguy. Thanks! Mind if I stop by for a pint with y'all at Fiddler's Green, on my way to Hell? I'll buy a round! Honest! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25492 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25492 Sat, 28 May 2005 19:41:05 -0600 Thanks John, for such a moving post. Though I did not know them in person, I feel that I know their soul. Go in peace my friend. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25491 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/memorial_day_2005.html#comment-25491 Sat, 28 May 2005 17:53:03 -0600