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/2009/10/todays_medal_of_146.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:12:17 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/10/todays_medal_of_146.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/10/todays_medal_of_146.html Sun, 18 Oct 2009 14:55:12 -0600
;^ )]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/10/todays_medal_of_146.html#comment-94487 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/10/todays_medal_of_146.html#comment-94487 Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:42:10 -0600
BTW, I am really enjoying these medal of honor 'moments.'  Aside from the rush of pride one gets from reading about such Americans, this is a different way of categorizing/learning about the awardees and their units....  It slices the history longitudinally but not by unit or war, which is how I've read some of these before.  For example, the 18th regt. has a total of 12 MoH winners and knowing this gives one a feel for the unit contributions as a whole, but it removes the context, if you will. 

Another thing that has come to mind often while reading these is that these are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the heroism and valor and fighting spirit of the Americans who've served in war.  Considering what it takes to get a MoH (especially in light of what John wrote about the raising bar), it stands to reason that for each of these awarded there must be hundreds or even thousands of instances of sacrifice and valor that are almost as amazing, and unquestionably not all get recognized with stars or crosses....

Sometimes it's just hard to take it all in, to really understand what it is about our nation that inspires people to this sort of thing.  It's more than just a warrior ethos, I think.  Men have been fighting wars since we climbed down out of trees, but no other country has as great a tradition of this kind of thing, of fighting for ideals, for notions, and as often doing it for other peoples than our own.  And now American women too, are taking the battle to the enemy, leading the charge to the sound of the guns....

Sometimes it's just impossible not to be utterly awed by it all.

]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/10/todays_medal_of_146.html#comment-94486 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/10/todays_medal_of_146.html#comment-94486 Sun, 18 Oct 2009 20:34:36 -0600