Since I sit in my studio with three service flags from deceased brothers who served, and memories of two more brothers for whom I don't happen to have flags, and two more brothers who served and are still living, I tend to say to your comments, "Amen!" Well said. Thank you for having served and for expressing your well earned opinion. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Walter Waddell" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2007 2:54 PM Subject: Re: [VA-HIST] June 6, 1944 06061826Z07 > Dear Randy, > > That photo appears in a discontinued Virginia Cavalcade issue. I have kept > a copy for the Stonewall Brigade Band. It has been packed away with many > other records, photos, and keepsakes that I collected to December 31, > 2005. I see no point in finding it or the article -- a comment that you > and your Virginia historians are welcome to weigh for yourselves, but > don't bother me with them -- I'm not interested in what you haven't done. > > As to the other notes on the current application of our foreign policy: > Unless you've served three voluntary (two "in-country" -- as brief as they > may have been) Vietnam tours as I have, you've had your say in last > election by the only thing that counts in this country -- so far -- the > results of the ballot. > > Since I lost, I claim the right of privilege for the loyal minority to > voice dissent. > > I find it difficult to conceive that life and opportunity in this current > America yields only circumstances so dire that they hold a pistol to the > heads of the recruits of the police, fire, linesmen, and, yes, soldiers to > force them to sign the dotted line. > > I suspect that there are a good many that fully appreciate and understand > that they enjoy because of the voluntary and involuntary sacrifice of a > sacred few -- it's been that way since the beginning of civilization and > it will be that way until this species, as all species must, makes itself > or becomes extinct. > > We were right to be in Vietnam and we are right to be in the battle for > Iraq in the War on Terror. It's been our foreign policy since 1812. The > only ones that prevent the job from getting done as it should are the "oh, > can't we just all get along" crowd. > > The only outcome that matters for my grandchildren and the survival of > their North American culture of republicanism is to win, regardless of the > cost or its righteousness - now, tomorrow, and forever more. > > I believe several Virginia signers of the Declaration of Independence said > about the same thing -- albeit much more eloquently and with much more at > personal risk. > > Boy -- I'm I going to get it! > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Randy Cabell" <[log in to unmask]> > To: <[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2007 1:46 PM > Subject: Re: June 6, 1944 > > >> Yes, we would do well to remember our heritage of the 116th Infantry. It >> has its roots in the 2nd VA Infantry, CSA which became known as "The >> Stonewall Brigade." The 116th (in its earlier unit designation I think) >> went to Mexico with Pershing just before the US entered WWI, and went to >> France in 1918. There is a classic photo somewhere of Will Ruebush >> leading the Band of the 116th Infantry down Broad Street in Richmond when >> they returned. Back about 1988, I walked the beaches of Normandy, saw >> the monument to the 29th Division, marveled that anybody could scale the >> rocks at Point-du-hoc, and got a lump in my throat when walking among the >> crosses at Coville-sur-mer which Richard Dixon calls out. >> >> Units of the 116th, including companies from Winchester have served in >> Afghanistan, the local unit losing two men to a roadside IED. I learned >> in the paper that the local unit has been mobilized once again, this time >> for service in Iraq, leaving at the end of this month. Whether you agree >> with out current policy in Iraq or not, you gotta applaud those men who >> are willing to up-root themselves, turn their lives upside down, and >> serve their country when called upon. >> >> I am guessing that for the past several years, more than 50% of the >> Virginia National Guard has been in Federal service at any given time, >> but I have no stats to back it up. It would be interesting to see what >> it is, and see how many units have been called up more than one time. >> >> Randy Cabell >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Heritage Society" <[log in to unmask]> >> To: <[log in to unmask]> >> Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2007 12:32 PM >> Subject: [VA-HIST] June 6, 1944 >> >> >>> The crosses stand in perfect formation beneath the Normandie sky. It is >>> the graveyard at Colleville-sur-mer overlooking Omaha Beach where 9000 >>> young Americans came to France on June 6, 1944 and now stay, forever >>> brave. On that morning, the first to reach the beach were men of Company >>> A of the 116th Regiment, 29th Infantry Division from Bedford County, >>> Virginia. Of its 36 men who went to war, 23 died in France, 19 on D-Day, >>> the highest percentage lost of any community in the United States. >>> Today, in Bedford, there is a memorial to the D-Day landings. To reach >>> it you will probably travel on a highway that bisects Virginia, known >>> generally as Route 29, but it's full name is the 29th Infantry Division >>> Memorial Highway, a daily reminder of the men who were heroes at Omaha. >>> Richard E. Dixon >>> >> >> >> -- >> No virus found in this incoming message. >> Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.472 / Virus Database: >> 269.8.11/837 - Release Date: 6/6/2007 2:03 PM >> >> >