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/2010/03/an_email_making.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:05:46 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/03/an_email_making.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/03/an_email_making.html Thu, 18 Mar 2010 07:29:10 -0600 I'm crying, but thanks for this post. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/03/an_email_making.html#comment-100388 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/03/an_email_making.html#comment-100388 Sun, 21 Mar 2010 15:24:01 -0600 May God hold the family close. I thank your son for keeping faith to his family and countrymen. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/03/an_email_making.html#comment-100387 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/03/an_email_making.html#comment-100387 Sun, 21 Mar 2010 14:28:20 -0600 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/03/an_email_making.html#comment-100300 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/03/an_email_making.html#comment-100300 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:54:06 -0600
You don't need to explain nuthin', its understood...comes with the neighborhood..
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/03/an_email_making.html#comment-100299 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/03/an_email_making.html#comment-100299 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:04:58 -0600 Now I have to explain why I have tears running down my face...

My condolences to the Wittman family, and my thanks to MG Stein and United Airlines.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/03/an_email_making.html#comment-100288 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/03/an_email_making.html#comment-100288 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:09:10 -0600
Back in the late '60s, I was assigned to the funeral detail at the old Fort Wolters  in Texas.  It was tremendous learning experience for me.  Our detail provided military funerals for both active duty military and veterans.  We would travel to the funerals in a 44-passenger bus in civies and often changed into uniform in the casket display rooms of funeral parlors.

The range of experiences was large.  It being Texas, the funerals of (WW II) veterans often involved an invitation to the local VFW or American Legion hall for refreshments.  The deceased family and fellow veterans were pleased to see their loved one sent off in proper military style.

The Viet Nam era funerals were much different. Two still stand out in my memory.  One was an infantry Spec 4 who, when we lifted his casket, it almost flew up because there was so little of him left inside.  At the other, I was on the rifle squad for a Negro soldier.  After we fired our volleys, in that most solemn of moments,  before the bugler began "Taps", the soldier's mother let out a howl from the depths of her grief that so startled me that I almost dropped my weapon.  

The Rolling Stones used to sing a song entitled "The Salt of the Earth".  Part of it goes (roughly):

"Say a prayer for the common foot soldier,
 Spare a thought for his back breaking work,
 Say a prayer for his wife and his children,
 Who burn the fires and who still till the earth."

Mick and the guys got that one right.

To this day, the playing "Taps" affects me greatly.  I absolutely hate it when our TV media cuts it short on their broadcasts.
 

]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/03/an_email_making.html#comment-100285 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/03/an_email_making.html#comment-100285 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:31:15 -0600 ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/03/an_email_making.html#comment-100281 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/03/an_email_making.html#comment-100281 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:12:32 -0600   Nice to read. Thanks, John, for posting that.

     Respects,
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/03/an_email_making.html#comment-100275 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/03/an_email_making.html#comment-100275 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:20:24 -0600 My eyes are running. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/03/an_email_making.html#comment-100273 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/03/an_email_making.html#comment-100273 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 08:55:02 -0600 Thanks for sharing.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/03/an_email_making.html#comment-100272 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/03/an_email_making.html#comment-100272 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 08:25:37 -0600