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| Memorial Day-2005 |
That poem about where “poppies blow”
And, “the crosses, row on row”
Still rings true, these ninety years
After written, still brings tears.
We still have Dead, “amid the guns”
And lose our young and our loved ones
Those who lived, “short days ago”
Who, “felt dawn, saw sunset glow”.
In Flanders Fields, “the poppy red”
Still grow near where the blood was bled
They, “Take up our quarrel with the foe”
And still die for Freedoms that we know.
They pass, “The torch” to, “hold it high”
And not, “break the faith with us who die”
For they, “shall not sleep, though poppies grow”
Beneath all those, “crosses, row on row”
In Flanders Fields.
Del “Abe” Jones
4-25-2005
| | ___ WEBZINE HIGHLIGHT: CALIFORNIA WW11 HERO
STAFF SARGEANT GABRIEL LOPES ___ 
 Tribute to California WW11 hero- Gabriel Lopes. Gabriel skipped his high school graduation ceremony because he wanted to enter the army asap. His Mother accepted his diploma for him. Father, Businessman, Friend from Rio Vista, CA. Gabriel Lopes Tribute
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| SOLDIERS HAVE TO BELIEVE IN THEIR CAUSE
| by KT. Not long ago, I happened to run into a young Marine and his bride. We talked lots about Iraq and his soon to be second tour. He sings the same tune of most all soldiers serving in Iraq today. This is almost verbatim of what he said, "Sir, I can tell you this: Every Marine fighting in Iraq believes in what he's doing: giving those folks freedom."
I, for one, would never discount the comments of soldiers (Marines) and the simple fact exist that in order to do their jobs, they have to feel that what they are doing is meaningful and important. And, they have to feel that way as they're doing it. I did in Vietnam. It was only later that I realized what a messed up situation the war was. As I began to read, reflect and see it for what it was: an exercise in futility and worthless and cost 58,000 American lives and millions of Vietnamese and now we're in Iraqnam.
There's no use in debating America's "cream of the crop" soldiers doing their jobs under miserable and near impossible conditions that are going to get worst. I am not going to do it anyway. However, that being said, we have a responsibility to see Iraq with a horizontal view of reality: we are not going to beat the insurgency any time soon. The hope that a new Iraqi government and Iraqi policemen and National Guard are going to be stem the tide of car and suicide bombings at some time in the future is simply "hoping for the best." And, "hope" ain't a strategy. God bless us and God bless our soldiers! |
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(AFP/File/Brendan Smialowski)Used for commentary purposes only |
THE IRONY. Get this: American pilots and soldiers who were taken prisoner and tortured by the Iraqis during the Persian Gulf War of 1991 have lost their legal bid to hold Iraq liable; the Supreme Court turned away their final appeal. They filed suit to be compensated for their pain and suffering from Saddam during the war.
Their story is little known, because the 1st Gulf war was seen by most Americans as a TV war where American forces pounded and destroyed Iraq's Army in a few days. But it was long enough for this group of POWs to be beaten and have their bones broken by Iraqi captors. Several nearly starved in the weeks they were held in cold filthy cells.
When it came time for the government to admit that these prisoners deserved recognition and compensation, not from the government, but from the frozen funds of Saddam- an easy call to right a wrong-You guessed it: no way. The present administration opposed their claim. In other words, kick your own soldiers in the gonads and support your former enemy. What kind of game is our government playing?
The lawyers for the government talking "lawyerspeak," argued that Iraq, now under U. S. occupation, was no longer a state sponsor of terrorism. Moreover, since the President had canceled sanctions against Iraq and moved to shield its 1.7 billion in frozen assets, screw the former POWs. "The money is needed to rebuild Iraq as if the three hundred billion we're already pouring into Iraq isn't enough."
I guess the government needs more bucks to give to contractors to build up the coffers of "Haliburten." Once again, American heroes get shafted by their own government.
KT
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| Vietnam War Anniversary |
It’s been thirty years ago
Since the Fall of Saigon
But for so many who were there
That War still Rages on.
Some things have gotten better
And for some Time has Healed
But there are some Memories
That will Never be Revealed.
We turned our back to those
Who went off to Wage our Fight
And we blamed our Soldiers
When we decided, it not Right.
We must never let our Nation
Blame it on the Fighting Man
Who goes off to do the bidding
Of our Leader’s War Time Plan.
The Years may Ease the Pain
And blur Memories, but yet
That Shame of our Country
We must Not, Ever Forget.
More than fifty-eight thousand
Etched in that Mourning Wall
With more added all the time
Until the Last of those Souls Fall.
A Small Monument to Heroes
From that War of Yesterday
Where we Honor our Soldiers
In the True, American Way.
Del “Abe” Jones
4-29-2005
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| ___ WEBZINE HIGHLIGHT: CALIFORNIA WW11 HERO
STAFF SARGEANT GABRIEL LOPES ___
Tribute to California WW11 hero- Gabriel Lopes. Gabriel skipped his high school graduation ceremony because he wanted to enter the army asap. His Mother accepted his diploma for him. Father, Businessman, Friend from Rio Vista, CA. Gabriel Lopes Tribute | |
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