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/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:47:13 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification The day started with the Castle flag at half-staff (yes, done correctly, raised, then lowered, just as it will be raised, then lowered this evening). It's a dark, grey, rainy morning, with a mist on the hills, and the waters of the lakes steel-grey. There's a rising, bitter wind out of the northwest, as the storm front that brought the rain passes through. At 0930, people start to congregate along Grant Avenue. Military, civilians, Army, Air Force, Marine, Navy. Officers of foreign militaries here for school. Veterans and those who never served - or perhaps have served as civilians. Mothers... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html Fri, 27 Oct 2006 23:59:32 -0600 I was there, too. It was a sobering and dignified funeral. God bless him. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52255 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52255 Tue, 31 Oct 2006 15:11:05 -0600 Thanks for taking the time to honor this soldier and let the rest of us participate in remembrance of his valor. I'm not prone to being morbid or anything of that sort but I feel it necessary to seek out and read stories/posts like this one. Living in SoCal in the hub of antiwar America makes keeping connected with the realities of the war (beyond the surrealities of the asinine reportage in most of the media) a real effort. As a nostalgia buff, I have often wondered what it must have felt like for people who lived through the WWII years on or off the home front, and translated that into "how would it feel for me now?" Posts like this one allow me the chance to get closer (if you will) to the warriors and others doing the real heavy lifting in the war effort. I do my best to participate by contributing generously through Soldiers Angels and other organizations, but I'm under no illusion that my efforts are close to those of our soldiers and the civilian support personnel in the theatres and on the bases. Thank you again for making this type of content available and accessable to people like me. I mean this comment in all respect and pride in our fine armed forces personnel, and if anything I said above is offensive to anyone, please understand that the words fail to convey the depth of my love and respect. Godspeed to Corporal Unger, and deepest condolences to his family, friends and mates in the field. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52160 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52160 Sat, 28 Oct 2006 21:12:17 -0600 Blue skies and rain in AZ too. Many thanks, John and Beth. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52138 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52138 Sat, 28 Oct 2006 09:15:57 -0600 Thank you, Corporal Unger, Requiescat In Pace. Thank you, too, John and Beth. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52137 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52137 Sat, 28 Oct 2006 04:52:32 -0600 Thank you John. Thank you Beth. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52133 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52133 Fri, 27 Oct 2006 22:56:52 -0600 Rest well son. We will all join you in time. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52130 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52130 Fri, 27 Oct 2006 21:55:42 -0600 Would that there were a less costly medicine for my senile xerophthalmia. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52129 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52129 Fri, 27 Oct 2006 21:08:14 -0600 Thanks, John. Rainin' here in the islands, too. Semper Fi, Corporal Unger. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52128 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52128 Fri, 27 Oct 2006 21:03:10 -0600 ......the sun is out, the sky is blue; there's not a cloud to spoil the view, but it's raining, raining in my heart...... Who deserves this caliber of young person, and where do we continue to find them? Kyrie eleison. ML http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52126 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52126 Fri, 27 Oct 2006 18:49:32 -0600 Good job.... Thanks http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52125 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52125 Fri, 27 Oct 2006 18:14:02 -0600 It's a rainy night here in Georgia, in and out. It's a hard thing to lose a child, a warrior, a man. Godspeed, son. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52124 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52124 Fri, 27 Oct 2006 17:25:29 -0600 Godspeed and God Bless, Cpl. Unger. "Do not stand by my grave and weep ...I am not there;I do not sleep.When you awaken in the morning's hush, I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds circling in flight. Do not stand by my grave and cry ...I am not there. I did not die." -- Royster http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52123 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52123 Fri, 27 Oct 2006 16:22:16 -0600 Thank you Sir. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52122 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52122 Fri, 27 Oct 2006 16:19:09 -0600 rainin' over here too, boss, rainin' over here. thx for the coverage http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52121 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52121 Fri, 27 Oct 2006 15:41:07 -0600 Thank you Corporal Unger. Godspeed. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52120 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52120 Fri, 27 Oct 2006 15:37:48 -0600 Thanks for sharing what you saw and experience, John. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52119 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52119 Fri, 27 Oct 2006 15:24:50 -0600 For once, in Seattle, it is not raining outside, but inside. John & Beth - Thank you for showing respect and honor for the family and for Cpl Unger, and thanks for the images. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52118 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52118 Fri, 27 Oct 2006 15:07:27 -0600 John & SWWBO, Thank you for being there for us. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52117 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52117 Fri, 27 Oct 2006 14:57:40 -0600 It's raining inside my office now too, John. Thank you for being there, and for such a lovely report. I have a Memorial Day t-shirt that says "What else can you say on Memorial Day, but 'Thank You'?" Those words have never meant so much as they do right now. We should all be so lucky as to NEVER have to be in Laura Unger's postion, behind the hearse carrying her son. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52116 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52116 Fri, 27 Oct 2006 13:45:41 -0600 Thanks for helping us to participate in this, John. Must be raining here in San Diego, too... The Patriot Guard Riders always get to me when I see pics or meet them in these kinds of settings. I guess it's the dichotomy between what many of the Vietnam veterans of the group experienced (and the brothers they lost), combined with their devotion to the fallen and families of the fallen today. It seems a kind of healing thing for all involved, and I find myself so moved by what binds them all together across the generations, and the beauty of their spirits that is expressed without words. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52115 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52115 Fri, 27 Oct 2006 13:35:50 -0600 John, thanks for doing that and thank you for posting it. What a beautiful honor for that family. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52114 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/corporal_ungers_funeral_coda.html#comment-52114 Fri, 27 Oct 2006 13:34:53 -0600