Wednesday, July 04, 2007

Heroes

Many people have died protecting our country. They have not only died on battlefields, but at home: saving others from criminals, saving others from fires.

Even "ordinary civilians" can be heroes.

Today I finished re-reading Robert Mason's Chickenhawk and started re-reading We Were Soldiers Once...And Young by Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore (Ret.) and Joseph L. Galloway. I recalled a photograph that had been on the cover of an earlier edition of the book.

And then I recalled who the person was in the photograph. And what role he played in a later battle.

Even "ordinary civilians" can be heroes.



I love the caption for the photograph found at this site:

No sleep for 48 hours.
Grimy, unshaven, filthy uniform.
Canteens loose, dogtags hanging out, pocket unbuttoned, helmet strap hanging.
No insignia of rank, sleeves up.
Dirty fingernails.
His bayonet is fixed; trigger finger alert and ready for action.

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