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Utah Beach.

By The Armorer on June 7, 2007 | | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (1)

From an email from reader Toluca Nole, subject line the same as this post:

There's a guy that goes to my pub who was there -- also has four Purple Hearts, I believe. Smokes Marlboro Reds and drinks some strong, "old man" drink. I love seeing him.

Would that more people had the same feeling about our war vets - especially, I think, the draftees, but all of 'em, really. Not to glorify war - but to acknowledge their loss of innocence.

No one comes out of combat innocent.

And many of the people who decry war in any and all it's forms - live in an innocent world *bought* by the loss of innocence of others.

Just sayin'.

Your mileage may vary.

My response to Toluca was this:

Next time you see him, walk up to him, salute him, and tell him it's from me.

Update: Don't skip Fuzzy's trackback.

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Innocence Revisited from Fuzzilicious Thinking on June 7, 2007 10:22 AM

I've expanded on this here several times, most recently about six weeks ago in a post that coincidentally ties in with another recent post of John's--one touching on attitudes about guns. Read More

4 Comments

By Deborah Aylward on June 7, 2007 7:54 AM
This Canadian never forgets today, 'nor four of six uncles who fought ashore that day and survived to the end. Thank you, sir, and here's hoping that we never let the young forget. This is what I hope to be the first of many visits. Veritas et Fidelis Semper
 
By FbL on June 7, 2007 7:59 AM
No one comes out of combat innocent. And many of the people who decry war in any and all it's forms - live in an innocent world *bought* by the loss of innocence of others. Andi and I were just talking about that yesterday. That realization hit me like a ton of bricks when I knew we had people on the ground in Afghanistan post-9/11, and it is a significant part of what has propelled me in my troop support activities. In so many ways, warfighters do/live things that I don't want to or can't do myself. I live innocent (ignorant) of the darkest parts of the world and of myself... because they don't.
 
By fdcol63 on June 7, 2007 8:25 AM
Jack Nicholson says it best, in "A Few Good Men": Jessep: "You can't handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has walls. And those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives...You don't want the truth. Because deep down, in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. You need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty...we use these words as the backbone to a life spent defending something. You use 'em as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it! I'd rather you just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you're entitled to!"
 
By Justthisguy on June 7, 2007 2:11 PM
Oh yeah. I've just finished reading "Fire in the Sky, the Air War in the South Pacific." Apparently it was common then and there to shoot people hanging from parachutes, unless over one's own territory. Both sides did it. My Uncle Wilson was an infantryman in New Guinea, and he never really got over it. He eventually solved all of his problems with the Hemingway Method.
 
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