“What’s Past Is Prologue”

Thank you for your service.

The words roll off one’s tongue when we see a military uniform in a store, or at the airport, but there’s a lot more involved in ‘your service’ than we realize, or give credit for.

We reserve today to recognize the ‘ultimate sacrifice’, but it will likely be better remembered for the ultimate BBQ or day at the beach, or the ‘start of summer’.

My Dad was a member of the ‘Greatest Generation’ and served in the Coast Guard during WWII. And fortunately his service is honored in November, not May. I’m glad he came home – I’m no biologist, but he played a key role in my being here.

And while he minimized his service experience– as do virtually all veterans – it occurred to me that he could have died in the Coast Guard just as well as in the Infantry. I do know how proud he was of his service, and how much today meant to him.

The only war story he shared, was about a Pacific typhoon they battened down through; until now, the irony of a kid from Nebraska serving in the Coast Guard had escaped me.  

And WWII was ultimately a ‘feel good’ story – despite 3% of the world’s population dying – the ‘ultimate’ evil was vanquished.

For many of us, Vietnam is our war frame of reference; but it is extremely complicated, both for its lack of a vanquished evil, and the lasting impact it had on our distrust of our leaders and institutions.

And we got it way wrong, when we blamed the whole mess on the 18 year olds who went and slogged through the rice paddies. Fortunately, we have blamed succeeding wars on our leaders, and are now mumbling “Thank you for your service” on airplanes.

Kurt Vonnegut got it way right with “There’d be a lot fewer wars if the people who started them fought them”.

My birthday was a scary # 91 for the draft order for Vietnam, but that was the year the ‘conflict’ ended and none of us were called.

But I nearly volunteered, because war looks like a heck of a lot of fun:

The chance for international travel, without a passport;

The entertainment: Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye! Tokyo Rose!

Those cute little K-Ration containers with Spam that could survive a nuclear attack, and all the pot you could smoke.

When I went to enlist, I was classified 4-Z; in the event of war I would serve as an usher at USO shows.

But today reminds us that without the past -and past sacrifices -there’d be no future.

That plays out in little ways, like all the things our parents did to help create our futures, but in much bigger ways, like the ‘ultimate sacrifice’, preserving our future freedom(s).

I’m not sure how to properly recognize the latter, other than a moment of quiet reflection to give thanks and demonstrate respect.

And perhaps listening to others respectfully, respecting their right to speak, one of our treasured freedoms they died defending.

And under daily assault… Be alert, it’s your voice they want.

But today also forces us to realize how little many of us know about our own pasts, and what we’d ask our parents if we had a second chance. For me, I’d pull up a chair and start with “Dad, what was the war like?”

And move on to all the other things I realize I never asked and now wish I had…

With DNA swabs we may know our ‘pieces’, but without knowing our ancestors and what made them who they were, we won’t fully know how we’re put together.

TO ENHANCE YOUR ENJOYMENT OF THIS POST, PAIR IT WITH THE FOLLOWING SONGS:

For 104 more posts like this –each with a U.S. flag – go to beersatthenifty.com

At the site, leave a comment on this post, and then check the box that says “Please notify me of future posts” and you will be sent the newest Sunday update automatically.  

Or just forward this to everyone you know. Forward it to those you aren’t fond of twice.

TO ENHANCE YOUR ENJOYMENT OF THIS POST, PAIR IT WITH THE FOLLOWING SONGS:

Taps  The origin is from the Civil War, when it was played at end of day as a signal that it was time to go to sleep. It was later played at a Union soldier’s funeral, and has been a part of military funerals since.

While there are no ‘formal words’, many versions have emerged, and the following is the most popular:

Day is done, Gone the sun,
From the lake, From the hill,
From the sky.
All is well, Safely rest,
God is nigh.

Over There  George M. Cohan

Johnnie, get your gun, Get your gun, get your gun
Take it on the run, On the run, on the run

Hear them calling, you and me, Every son of liberty
Hurry right away, No delay, go today

Make your daddy glad, To have had such a lad
Tell your sweetheart not to pine, To be proud her boy’s in line

Over there, over there, Send the word, send the word over there
That the Yanks are coming, The Yanks are coming
The drums rum tumming everywhere

So prepare, say a prayer, Send the word, send the word to beware
We’ll be over, we’re coming over, And we won’t come back till it’s over, over there

Johnnie, get your gun, Get your gun, get your gun
Johnnie show the Hun, Who’s a son of a gun

Hoist the flag and let her fly, Yankee Doodle do or die
Pack your little kit, Show your grit, do your bit

Yankee to the ranks, From the towns and the tanks
Make your mother proud of you, And the old red, white and blue

Over there, over there
Send the word, send the word over there
That the Yanks are coming, The Yanks are coming
The drums rum tumming everywhere

So prepare, say a prayer, Send the word, send the word to beware
We’ll be over, we’re coming over, And we won’t come back till it’s over, over there.

Der Fuehrer’s Face  Spike Jones

When der fuehrer says we is de master race
We heil heil right in der fueher’s face
Not to love der fuehrer is a great disgrace
So we heil heil right in der fuehrer’s face

When Herr Goebbels says we own the world and space
We heil heil right in Herr Goebbels’ face
When Herr Goring says they’ll never bomb this place
We heil heil right in Herr Goring’s face
Are we not he supermen Aryan pure supermen
Ja we are the supermen (super duper supermen)
Is this Nazi land so good
Would you leave it if you could
Ja this Nazi land is good
We would leave it if we could
We bring the world to order
Heil Hitler’s world to order
Everyone of foreign race
Will love der fuehrer’s face
When we bring to the world this order

When der fuehrer says we is de master race
We heil heil right in der fueher’s face
Not to love der fuehrer is a great disgrace
So we heil heil right in der fuehrer’s face

When der fuehrer says we is de master race
We heil heil right in der fueher’s face
Not to love der fuehrer is a great disgrace
So we heil heil right in der fuehrer’s face

Doug MacArthur  Roy Acuff

Once there was a mighty man
Sent to far away Japan
Who’ll defend the liberty of peaceful nations
While he did the best he could
There was some who thought he should
Let the Communists take over all creation

[chorus]
Doug MacArthur is a name
That will light the halls of fame
Through the ages there will be no man above him
Just a soldier brave and true
To the old Red, White and Blue
And a hundred million hearts will always love him

With a courage made of steel
Tempered on the battlefield
He has stood against the forces of oppression
Foes in many foreign land
Knows the weight of his right hand
For he made the tyrants pay for their transgression

[repeat chorus twice]

I Don’t Wanna Go to Vietnam John Lee Hooker

Sittin’ down here thinkin’, I don’t wanna go to Vietnam
I’m sittin’ down here thinkin’, I don’t wanna go to Vietnam
I have all these troubles at home; I don’t wanna go to Vietnam

I read the news every day; I read about Vietnam
I got so much friends in Vietnam I might not never see them no more

Sittin’ here thinkin’, I don’t wanna go to Vietnam
Sittin’ here thinkin’, thinkin’, thinkin’, I don’t wanna go to Vietnam
You men in the street have so much trouble of their own; why they wanna fight in Vietnam?
Have mercy

Lord, have mercy: don’t let me go to Vietnam
Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy: don’t let me go to Vietnam
I have my wife and my family; I don’t wanna go to Vietnam

We got so much trouble at home; we don’t need to go to Vietnam
Yeah, yeah, there’s a whole lot of trouble right here at home; don’t need to go to Vietnam
We outta stay at home, stay out of trouble
I don’t wanna go
Vietnam

Oliver’s Army  Elvis Costello

Don’t start that talking, I could talk all night
My mind was sleepwalking
While I’m putting the world to right, Call careers information
Have you got yourself an occupation?

Oliver’s army is here to stay, Oliver’s army are on their way
And I would rather be anywhere else
But here today

There was a Checkpoint Charlie
He didn’t crack a smile
But it’s no laughing party
When you’ve been on the murder mile
Only takes one itchy trigger
One more widow, one less white nigger

Oliver’s Army is here to stay
Oliver’s army are on their way
And I would rather be anywhere else, But here today

Hong Kong is up for grabs, London is full of Arabs
We could be in Palestine, Overrun by the Chinese line
With the boys from the Mersey and the Thames and the Tyne

But there’s no danger, It’s a professional career
Though it could be arranged, With just a word in Mr. Churchill’s ear
If you’re out of luck or out of work, We could send you to Johannesburg

Oliver’s Army is here to stay, Oliver’s army are on their way
And I would rather be anywhere else, But here today
And I would rather be anywhere else
But here today
Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh

War  Edwin Starr Covered by Springsteen, The Temptations, and most recently by V. Putin

War, huh, yeah
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, uhh
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it again, y’all
War, huh (good God)
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, listen to me, oh

War, I despise, ‘Cause it means destruction of innocent lives
War means tears to thousands of mother’s eyes
When their sons go off to fight, And lose their lives

I said, war, huh (good God, y’all)
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, just say it again
War (whoa), huh (oh Lord)
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, listen to me

It ain’t nothing but a heart-breaker, (War) Friend only to The Undertaker
Oh, war it’s an enemy to all mankind
The thought of war blows my mind
War has caused unrest, Within the younger generation
Induction then destruction, Who wants to die? Oh

War, huh (good God y’all)
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it, say it, say it
War (uh-huh), huh (yeah, huh)
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, listen to me

It ain’t nothing but a heart-breaker
(War) It’s got one friend that’s The Undertaker
Oh, war, has shattered many a young man’s dreams
Made him disabled, bitter and mean
Life is much too short and precious
To spend fighting wars each day
War can’t give life
It can only take it away, oh

It ain’t nothing but a heart breaker
(War) Friend only to The Undertaker, woo, Peace, love and understanding, tell me
Is there no place for them today?
They say we must fight to keep our freedom, But Lord knows there’s got to be a better way, oh

War, huh (God y’all)
What is it good for? You tell me (nothing)
Say it, say it, say it, say it

War (good God), huh (now, huh)
What is it good for?
Stand up and shout it (nothing)