Remembering the Fallen - 2021 Edition
I have written Memorial Day blog entries 7 of the last 8 years. I usually begin by mentioning that Memorial Day is not to honor myself or my fellow veterans who are still alive. It is not for the men and women currently serving in our Armed Forces. It is for those who died while serving in our nation’s military.
Today I am mildly perturbed by a tweet from Vice-President Kamala Harris
I was far more offended by the story in The Atlantic claiming Donald Trump referred to the 1,800 U.S. Marines who died at the Battle of Belleau Wood as “suckers” for being killed. But Vice-President Harris’ remarks were tone-deaf and call for a mea culpa.
***
Today is for Colonel Pat Paxton, commander of the 21st Fighter Wing. He died on March 20, 1985 when his F-15A fighter jet crashed into the Yellow Sea. He was deployed to Kwang-Ju AB in southwest South Korea. That is where I was stationed. As the only individual assigned there who knew how to operate the equipment to show the gun camera tape that was recovered from his aircraft, I had to play it for the room filled with high-ranking officers conducting the investigation into the “mishap.”
Today is for Marine Corps Private George Phillips. Private Phillips died on March 14, 1945 during the Battle of Iwo Jima. While standing guard he was the only person alert when a Japanese Imperial Army soldier tossed a grenade into his unit’s position. He shouted a warning and then smothered the grenade with his body.
Today is for three other Marines. Lance Corporal Joseph N. Hargrove, Private First Class Gary L. Hall and Private Danny G. Marshall. They were part of a rescue mission on May 15, 1975 attempting to rescue the crew of the SS Mayaguez that were believed to be held on the island of Koh Tang. They were left behind when the Marines pulled out and subsequently murdered by the Khmer Rouge.
Today is for Michael J. Adams, an Air Force Major who perished on November 15, 1967. The X-15 aircraft he was piloting suffered structural damage while descending from a height of over 230,000 feet.
Today is for Navy Captain Laurel Blair Clark who was killed on February 1, 2003 when the Space Shuttle Columbia was lost.
Today is for Army Staff Sergeant Robert James Miller who was killed on January 25, 2008. The citation that accompanied the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor says that he saved the lives of seven members of his own Special Forces team and 15 Afghanistan National Army soldiers.
***
Today is also for:
Army Specialist Nicolas Panipinto, who was killed in late 2019 in a training accident at Camp Humphreys in South Korea. The eight Marines and one Navy sailor who perished in a training accident at Camp Pendleton in California.
In July of 2020, Congressman Vern Buchanan of Florida called for investigation into the rising number of training deaths in the U.S. military. He cited statistics from the Congressional Research Service showing that 32% of deaths of active duty personnel between 2006 and 2018 were from training accidents.
Enjoy the long weekend. pic.twitter.com/ilGOrod4AW
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) May 29, 2021
I was far more offended by the story in The Atlantic claiming Donald Trump referred to the 1,800 U.S. Marines who died at the Battle of Belleau Wood as “suckers” for being killed. But Vice-President Harris’ remarks were tone-deaf and call for a mea culpa.
***
Today is for Colonel Pat Paxton, commander of the 21st Fighter Wing. He died on March 20, 1985 when his F-15A fighter jet crashed into the Yellow Sea. He was deployed to Kwang-Ju AB in southwest South Korea. That is where I was stationed. As the only individual assigned there who knew how to operate the equipment to show the gun camera tape that was recovered from his aircraft, I had to play it for the room filled with high-ranking officers conducting the investigation into the “mishap.”
Today is for Marine Corps Private George Phillips. Private Phillips died on March 14, 1945 during the Battle of Iwo Jima. While standing guard he was the only person alert when a Japanese Imperial Army soldier tossed a grenade into his unit’s position. He shouted a warning and then smothered the grenade with his body.
Today is for three other Marines. Lance Corporal Joseph N. Hargrove, Private First Class Gary L. Hall and Private Danny G. Marshall. They were part of a rescue mission on May 15, 1975 attempting to rescue the crew of the SS Mayaguez that were believed to be held on the island of Koh Tang. They were left behind when the Marines pulled out and subsequently murdered by the Khmer Rouge.
Today is for Michael J. Adams, an Air Force Major who perished on November 15, 1967. The X-15 aircraft he was piloting suffered structural damage while descending from a height of over 230,000 feet.
Today is for Navy Captain Laurel Blair Clark who was killed on February 1, 2003 when the Space Shuttle Columbia was lost.
Today is for Army Staff Sergeant Robert James Miller who was killed on January 25, 2008. The citation that accompanied the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor says that he saved the lives of seven members of his own Special Forces team and 15 Afghanistan National Army soldiers.
***
Today is also for:
Army Specialist Nicolas Panipinto, who was killed in late 2019 in a training accident at Camp Humphreys in South Korea. The eight Marines and one Navy sailor who perished in a training accident at Camp Pendleton in California.
In July of 2020, Congressman Vern Buchanan of Florida called for investigation into the rising number of training deaths in the U.S. military. He cited statistics from the Congressional Research Service showing that 32% of deaths of active duty personnel between 2006 and 2018 were from training accidents.
posted by me at 6:41 AM
<< Home