Comments for That's not one or two leaves - that's a tree!

That's not one or two leaves - that's a tree!

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:28:39 -0600

In the comments on my Father's Day post, the Auld Soldier opined thusly: No fringe (or fraying ) on the national flag. The Battalion colors were fringed and that is what shows below and to the right of the US flag. For Old Fat Sailor - yes, my A battery was split between two miserable 5th SF group camps on the Cambodian border for over six months. Not a hero,I was a professional soldier by choice, but I had a bunch of draftees I would put in that category.Dad This is vintage Dad. Concerned that someone would think he'd allow his...

Comment from Justthisguy on 2009-06-26

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:05:06 -0600

So, I take it that the other two were through-and-through, or are they still in him? Whatever, those jagged chunks look like they were quite ouchy. Oh, and one of those looks like a pistol bullet. I'd like to hear the story belonging to that one.

Lotsa folks have been instaneously killed dead by one hit from smaller objects than any of those. I am glad that's not the case here, otherwise I wouldn't get to read this site which would not exist, nor its owner. Or his Dad.

Comment from Old Fat Sailor on 2009-06-23

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:05:20 -0600

A cattle farmer up the road a ways by the name of Falls served on the barges-I;ll pass the word.

Comment from XBradTC on 2009-06-23

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:36:12 -0600

I don't know whether the national colors have a higher precedent than the national flag. What I do know is that the national colors are strictly for the military, and our government flies the national flag, since we have civilian control of the military.

Indeed, national colors are strictly a unit phenomenon. Look at the headquarters of any post. They fly the national flag. The only time you see colors are mounted on a staff in a color guard.

Comment from MaryAnn on 2009-06-23

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 06:12:59 -0600

Godfrey Daniels is right!! Hugs to you, Auld Soldier. I bet you like 'em as much as your son, but I'm sending 'em anyway :-)

Comment from Grimmy on 2009-06-23

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:13:51 -0600

The Old Breed. Setting the standards that others try to follow but too often fail.

God Bless em all and your dad in particular. Not all the Old Breed pass on their strength and integrity as yours did.

Comment from Rod Thorsen on 2009-06-23

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:15:11 -0600

Well done Sir.

Comment from Barb on 2009-06-22

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:19:08 -0600

That's quite a tree. Auld Soldier, sir - Thank you. I'm glad you made it home to your family.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2009-06-22

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:55:15 -0600

Yes, it does, and I dunno, Jim. Exigencies of war, perhaps? Maybe Dad will weigh in. I learned something today. I don't think I've ever heard the distinction between fringe and no-fringe, though once you said it, it was instantly clear to me, as well as why.

Comment from JimC on 2009-06-22

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:39:21 -0600

John,

Sorry to confuse. I must have been in weird mood. Its just 75 years ago most folks would know the difference between flag and a color, or perhaps I so fantasize, and now I find not many do. If we were a militaristic society, well, then everyone would know this difference caused by a fringe of gold.

My question was one of honors. Since a flag is a lesser symbol than a color, I wondered why the American Flag instead of the National Color? Seems to me ceremonies like that require both colors and the colors travel with units into harm's way. So what happened that the National Color was not present? Does this help any?

Comment from Fishmugger on 2009-06-22

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:42:04 -0600

XBradTC...Ya think?

I should ask John whether after all the Auld Soldier been through, the Army found a job for him teaching young LT's how to duck.

Comment from XBradTC on 2009-06-22

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:30:55 -0600

...and hope some of the luck rubs off.

No way. I'm staying the hell away from that guy. He's a bullet/frag magnet!

Comment from Grumpy on 2009-06-22

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 10:25:13 -0600

John, I respectfully disagree, that's not a tree, but a forest. *THANK YOU!*

Comment from Fishmugger on 2009-06-22

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:38:25 -0600

Godfrey Daniels.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2009-06-22

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:17:27 -0600

There's six clusters, FM. That second horizontal one just looks big.

So it's *only* seven.

Comment from Fishmugger on 2009-06-22

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 08:52:55 -0600

Just so I know what I'm looking at: I see One Purple Heart and 7 clusters (my glasses are in the bedroom and I'm too lazy to go get them). Does that indicate 8 Purple Hearts from 8 incidents? If so, I would like to shake his hand and hope some of the luck rubs off. Hell, I'd like to shake his hand just for the first one.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2009-06-22

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 08:37:12 -0600

Jim - eh? Both are present in the referenced picture in the referenced post. You have confused me here.

Comment from JimC on 2009-06-22

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 08:33:14 -0600

This discussion shows how unmilitaristic the US is. In a militaristic country, everyone would know the difference between a flag and a color. My question would be: If the Battalion Color is present why isn't the National Color?