"When You Go Home, Tell Them of Us and Say, For Your Tomorrow We Gave Our Today"

. . . They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them. . .

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at 11:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1
For Uncle Harry. Forever 28.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at May 30, 2022 11:01 AM (s2VJv)

2 Dusty in here

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenko Solutions at May 30, 2022 11:01 AM (0mUYx)

3 Very nice, J.J. Thank you.

Posted by: Weasel at May 30, 2022 11:02 AM (0IeYL)

4 For Col Tommy Thompson killed in a A-10 July 7,1989
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/56116

My crew chief Ralph J, Dave R and me lauched him at EOR and he never returned.

Posted by: Skip at May 30, 2022 11:03 AM (2JoB8)

5 Thank you, J.J.

Posted by: Notorious BFD at May 30, 2022 11:03 AM (Xrfse)

6 Great post, J.J.

I think I need to watch, "They Shall Not Grow Old" today.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (5pTK/) at May 30, 2022 11:04 AM (5pTK/)

7 Thank you JJ.

Many of my neighbors here, across the breadth and width of New Mexico are veterans. These men and woman wear their service proud and at times will erect memorials to their fallen comrades in their front yards. Another time, at a 4th celebration northeast of Santa Fe, Little Joe, a great Tejano musician, took time to honor the veterans by period beginning with WWII. When it came to the Vietnam period the entire plaza erupted; right there in that moment I understood, from the tone of their voices and the looks on their faces, these good people suffered the sacrifices honored on Memorial Day. I had a lot of dust in my eyes for a while. Memorial Day here in New Mexico is bigger than one day and I have had the honor to know that.

Posted by: Lost In Space - Now Forfied with Ultra Maga Moon Beams at May 30, 2022 11:05 AM (2mSQi)

8 Thank you to all the brave men who served and died for America, on behalf of my family and myself.

Posted by: Huck Follywood, Break The Teachers Unions at May 30, 2022 11:05 AM (apc/J)

9 Thank you, Sefton.

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at May 30, 2022 11:06 AM (kf6Ak)

10 Great post, JJ.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at May 30, 2022 11:06 AM (quA8L)

11 To all American soldiers who gave the last, full measure of their devotion to this country.

John 15:13

Posted by: Count de Monet at May 30, 2022 11:06 AM (4I/2K)

12 Propaganda/instructional video about the P-47 by USAAF officer Jimmy Stewart.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DtztViqvAG4&t=8s

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, That's AnonosaurX WrX, hater! at May 30, 2022 11:07 AM (FVME7)

13 100 year old B-17 pilot, who is not a senile drooling idiot like certain presidents I could name, (but who does resemble him in one way, see 38:50) talks about bombing Germany.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2CAxfsBxK5U&t=2343s

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, That's AnonosaurX WrX, hater! at May 30, 2022 11:08 AM (FVME7)

14
Lance Corporal Merlin Raye Allen, USMC, Vietnam, June 30, 1967.

His family were neighbors to my father's family.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars at May 30, 2022 11:09 AM (pNxlR)

15 God bless my fallen brothers and sisters.

Posted by: Archer at May 30, 2022 11:09 AM (7voR+)

16 My emotions are mixed on this day. Sorrow and anger.

Posted by: Pork Chops & Bacons at May 30, 2022 11:09 AM (Qhnrt)

17 My emotions are mixed on this day. Sorrow and anger.
Posted by: Pork Chops & Bacons at May 30, 2022 11:09 AM (Qhnrt)

Yep.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at May 30, 2022 11:11 AM (quA8L)

18 It disgusts me to no end the Turnip in Chief will be trotted out to read some teleprompter blather about today, and, inevitably, the Turnip will also launch into some sort of political crap having nothing to do with the fallen.

I completely despise our political class. They're responsible for sending our soldiers off to die in pointless wars, and, they'll take the day to make a public statement, but, will any of them have the guts of General Truscott?

No.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (5pTK/) at May 30, 2022 11:11 AM (5pTK/)

19 I've been fortunate that all my family who served came back. Inspector's oldest brother however was killed in Vietnam at 19 when his helicopter went down, possibly due to sabotage by a draftee who was a communist sympathizer and went AWOL immediately after. Inspector was 5 at the time and still misses his big brother

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at May 30, 2022 11:12 AM (nC+QA)

20 Posted downstairs a bit went to my town's Memorial day parade and ceremony. First in two years so quite subdued in participation but hopefully will get up to the usual times next year.

Posted by: Skip at May 30, 2022 11:12 AM (2JoB8)

21 My emotions are mixed on this day. Sorrow and anger.
Posted by: Pork Chops & Bacons
___

Same here.

Though it was nice to spend the day yesterday with my daughter and grandbabies, as well as other vets.

Posted by: SMH at what's coming at May 30, 2022 11:13 AM (S39X0)

22 Well done JJ
I invite all Hordemates to join me and many others at 5:00 PM tonight Pacific time for a silent toast.

Posted by: Diogenes at May 30, 2022 11:13 AM (anj39)

23 Visiting the cemetery today to place flags at Dad's and Grand-dad's graves.

Posted by: BignJames at May 30, 2022 11:13 AM (AwYPR)

24 For;

SGT Albert Medis USMC KIA,
CAPT Bill G. USMA KIA
1stLT Sharron Lane USA KIA
HM3 James M. Swink USN FMF KIA

Posted by: Tonypete at May 30, 2022 11:15 AM (ZSrej)

25 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jccNoxn1HoU

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at May 30, 2022 11:15 AM (aaGzp)

26 My emotions are mixed on this day. Sorrow and anger.
Posted by: Pork Chops & Bacons at May 30, 2022 11:09 AM (Qhnrt)
-------

Well put.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (5pTK/) at May 30, 2022 11:15 AM (5pTK/)

27 God bless our fallen service members. Their sacrifices are greatly appreciated.

Well said, JJ.

Posted by: Sasquatch, the Original Trans-Wookie at May 30, 2022 11:16 AM (xxG/v)

28 Very nice, J.J. Thank you.
Posted by: Weasel

Seconded !

Posted by: JT at May 30, 2022 11:19 AM (arJlL)

29 I'm thinking of the two young men our son became friends with while training at 29 Palms.

Both were killed the first two weeks in Afghanistan, when their vehicles hit IEDs. Both were married with their first children due.

God bless their grieving families and the children who will never know their daddies.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at May 30, 2022 11:19 AM (ptqGC)

30 Thank you, JJ.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at May 30, 2022 11:20 AM (ptqGC)

31 My emotions are mixed on this day. Sorrow and anger.
Posted by: Pork Chops & Bacons

/Salute...

Yeah.... not gonna say much today.

Posted by: Romeo13 at May 30, 2022 11:23 AM (oHd/0)

32 For my Uncle Bobby, crewman on the USS Meredith (DD-434) sunk off of Guadalcanal on October 15, 1942 while running aviation fuel and bombs to the Marines at Henderson Field.

God Bless all who gave their lives for our country.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at May 30, 2022 11:23 AM (R/m4+)

33 God Bless all who gave their lives for our country.
Posted by: Hairyback Guy

Amen !

Posted by: JT at May 30, 2022 11:24 AM (arJlL)

34 Thank you for posting, J.J.

May their memory be eternal.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at May 30, 2022 11:27 AM (RkC6l)

35 My emotions are mixed on this day. Sorrow and anger.
Posted by: Pork Chops & Bacons

Word. So many sacrifices betrayed.

Posted by: Brother Tim sez at May 30, 2022 11:27 AM (Mooke)

36 JJ
Thank you very much. This is humbling and dusty.

Hymn for the Fallen, by John Williams.
I don't know how to link it but it's on you tube.

Moving and then, Taps.

Posted by: Winston, GOPe, not one dime, not one vote at May 30, 2022 11:33 AM (NgPv+)

37 1st Lt Tre Bowman, Bagram

Posted by: NCKate at May 30, 2022 11:34 AM (2oJif)

38 Sigh.
Went to the Cemetery today in the choker whites to visit my father The Colonel.
Then went to the Grandson for some pictures with both of us in Uniform LOL

Posted by: Nevergiveup at May 30, 2022 11:35 AM (Irn0L)

39 Go tell the Spartans, stranger passing by,
That here, obedient to their laws, we lie.

—Simonides

Posted by: Jack Crevalle at May 30, 2022 11:38 AM (iSjbz)

40 To Mike A, Tucson. Gone, but not forgotten. I will visit your grave tomorrow, and pour a Coors on the grass.

Posted by: jasonj at May 30, 2022 11:39 AM (VPUK0)

41 Will go to cemetery today and cry heroes.

Posted by: Eromero at May 30, 2022 11:40 AM (gktX6)

42 Hymn for the Fallen, by John Williams.
I don't know how to link it but it's on you tube.

Moving and then, Taps.
Posted by: Winston, GOPe, not one dime, not one vote at May

Here is one version: https://tinyurl.com/dnjut2ys

We get the grandkids this afternoon so they will get to participate in our tradition of placing pennies on the grave stones of veterans.

Posted by: Beartooth at May 30, 2022 11:43 AM (NQrvS)

43 Thank you, JJ.

I'll join you in that toast for the honored dead, Diogenes.

Posted by: callsign claymore at May 30, 2022 11:43 AM (rXcVW)

44 Thank you for this post, J.J.

May God grant eternal rest to those died for our country and may their sacrifices not have been in vain.

Posted by: Hoplite Housewife at May 30, 2022 11:44 AM (mNMgp)

45 Will go to the National Cemetery in Hot Springs in a bit.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at May 30, 2022 11:45 AM (quA8L)

46 Good column from John Kass on Memorial Day

https://tinyurl.com/5n8m7hjj

Worth the time to read in full, he's quite a good writer, IMO.

If you don't have the time, then Bitter's Notes:

America hates men, it strives to produce Beta males and destroy its own heritage, but the time will come again when the soldier must protect the society that despises the men that serve it. Put down your hamburger and turn off the sportsball and f*cking recognize the men that brought you comfort you ungrateful piece of shit, narcissistic, country of bitches or else you won't have a country.

Posted by: Bitter Clinger at May 30, 2022 11:45 AM (ELbmp)

47 Remembering those that gave their all. A woefully inadequate Thank You.

Will be here for the glass raised in honor.

Posted by: Ben Had at May 30, 2022 11:47 AM (Hx1gl)

48 If you don't have the time, then Bitter's Notes:

Bitter,
Now that's how Cliff Notes should be written!

Posted by: Diogenes at May 30, 2022 11:48 AM (anj39)

49 Bitter, great cliff notes and thank you for the link.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (5pTK/) at May 30, 2022 11:50 AM (5pTK/)

50 46 thanks for the link and "notes", BC

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at May 30, 2022 11:52 AM (kf6Ak)

51 Remembering my cousin, John, USMC. KIA in Vietnam just one week shy of his 19th birthday.

Posted by: IrishEi at May 30, 2022 11:53 AM (VhE0u)

52 Bitter Clinger@ 46
Romans 8:28-30, it's the only way I can handle days like this.

Posted by: Eromero at May 30, 2022 11:56 AM (gktX6)

53 Remembering 1st Lt. Richard Timboe, of San Francisco. Killed in action in Viet Nam.

Posted by: gourmand du jour at May 30, 2022 11:58 AM (jTmQV)

54 Ace is NOOD

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at May 30, 2022 12:04 PM (quA8L)

55 Beautiful. Best post I’ve seen in years. Thank you.

Posted by: Bama Bubba at May 30, 2022 12:08 PM (XjZhF)

56 Remembering Sergeant Brian Large, 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne. KIA in Iraq, 2005.

Posted by: Notorious BFD at May 30, 2022 12:10 PM (Xrfse)

57 Remembering those fallen, both in war and "peacetime", yet still in harm's way, when machines failed and good men were lost, including friends claimed by the sea.

This day is harder this year, to think of those who fell, when their sacrificed was made hollow by feckless so-called "leaders".

Posted by: George V at May 30, 2022 12:17 PM (U2Tva)

58 To Dick and Russ...

I remember.

Posted by: creeper at May 30, 2022 12:18 PM (cTCuP)

59 Collage roommate and best friend. Charles F. Thomas, KIA, RVN, 1971 and John Stringer, ROTC Summer Camp buddy, KIA, RVN, 1971.

I can touch both of their names at the same time on the Wall.

Posted by: Javems at May 30, 2022 12:23 PM (w09ER)

60 To SGT Jason A. Hurst, 3/509 PIR. We miss you so, son.

Posted by: EssTu at May 30, 2022 12:39 PM (Nqxjv)

61 Thank you, JJ.
I say prayers of thanks for those who died for us.
I say prayers of hope that I fight until my last breath for the American Ideal.
I say prayers of pleading that those whose minds and hearts need to change do indeed change.

Posted by: The Biden Abomination at May 30, 2022 12:40 PM (jV+aN)

62 It took my mom 35 years to get my dad to go to the Wall and find his HS buddies' names.

When he knew his number was coming up, he enlisted and then served as an Embassy guard for the majority of his time. He's not the type to wallow, but from a comment he made once, it seems nearly 60 years later he still carries some survivor guilt.

Humble gratitude for those who gave all and prayers of comfort and peace for those who loved them and will forever feel their loss.

Posted by: Lady Lil at May 30, 2022 12:42 PM (0WGkK)

63 James William Bell USMC KIA 2/17/69
One week shy of his 19th birthday.

Jimmy Bell - I remember - he had just graduated HS that spring. He used to work on his car in the alley as we played near my aunt's house two doors down. I remember the day the star turned gold.

Panel 32, line 47 VNMemorial

Posted by: nocargocults at May 30, 2022 01:14 PM (yjmBH)

64 To my grandfather.
Harold was in a machine gun battalion as part of the 3rd Infantry Division in WWI. That division was in very heavy combat in 1918, stopping the last German offensive in front of Paris.

To my father, the best man I ever knew. He was part of the shadowy warriors of NSGA helping to keep the Cold War cold with accurate intelligence.

And my great-uncle Alfred. I just got e a picture of him as crew chief with our last name on his plane ...'s Demon. This was in 1942 in New Guinea. Dire times. Near the end of the war he was on Saipan, and was credited with having deep skills at fixing the problematic Wright R-3350 Duplex-Cyclone radial engines used by the B-29.
He is laid to rest in Arlington Cemetery, and I have visited his graver on a previous Memorial day.

Posted by: NaCly Dog (u82oZ) at May 30, 2022 01:57 PM (u82oZ)

65 To the Fallen for our country:

*Crisp*
Hand Salute
Ready, Two.

Posted by: NaCly Dog (u82oZ) at May 30, 2022 01:59 PM (u82oZ)

66 To EM2 [Redacted]. Who died right next to me on a very bad night in my first ship.

Posted by: NaCly Dog (u82oZ) at May 30, 2022 02:01 PM (u82oZ)

67 Greetings:

Part One...

Back in the summer of the last '68, I was doing my military service down in Texas, which, besides the Bronx, is the place I'd most like to be from. For several months, I was assigned to the base's funeral detail. We would provide pallbearers and a rifle squad for those requesting military funerals in the local area.

Military-wise, it wasn't bad duty. On the days when we weren't scheduled for a funeral, we would spend several hours practicing our "drill & ceremonies" and a couple more squaring away our uniforms and equipment. On funeral days, we would head out as early as necessary on a 44-passenger bus, often in civilian clothes or else fatigues with our first-class uniforms and equipment in tow. Often we would change into our duty uniforms at the funeral home, once in the casket display room, or on the bus itself.

Posted by: 11B40 at May 30, 2022 02:17 PM (uuklp)

68 RIP to my co-worker's Uncle, 2nd LT Eugene Shauvin, who flew a Pathfinder in Operation Market Garden. Earlier this year, they positively identified his remains in Belgium, so he is no longer MIA.

Posted by: scrood at May 30, 2022 02:18 PM (+lYfo)

69 Greetings:

Part 2...

It being Texas and the Viet Nam war being in full swing, we often had several funerals a week to perform. There was a certain spectrum from the World War graduates through the Viet Nam casualties. The former might involve a local veterans' group and an afterward BBQ or such. The latter were somewhat more emotionally raw as most of us were facing our own deployments in the near future.

Two funerals of the latter sort have stayed with me through the years. The first was of a young Private First Class who had been MIA for several months before his remains were recovered. I was on the pallbearer squad that day and when we went to lift the casket, it almost flew up in the air. There was so little of the young soldier left that we totally overestimated the weight we were lifting and almost looked decidedly unprofessional.

Posted by: 11B40 at May 30, 2022 02:19 PM (uuklp)

70 Greetings:

Part 3...

The other was that of a black Specialist 4th Class. I was in the rifle squad that day. In the rendering of military honors, there is a momentary pause between the end of the (21-gun) rifle salute and the beginning of the playing of "Taps". It is a moment of profound silence in most cases. During that moment, the young soldier's mother gave out a yowl from the depths of her grief that so startled me that I almost dropped the rifle out of my hands. That yowl echoes within me still.

I'll readily admit that, as a result of my experiences, I became much imbued with a sense of duty and respect to and for our fallen. Hopefully, today, when our media do their reporting they will show some of the same and let "Taps" be played out in its entirety. It would be nice for a change.

Requiescat in Pace.

Posted by: 11B40 at May 30, 2022 02:20 PM (uuklp)

71 when we were clearing out the house after my father had to go to assisted living, we found a bound volume of his letters home from Europe. H Co, 2/415. 104th ID Timberwolves. He was an infantry platoon leader and occasional company commander until they could find another captain.
He had his mother and mine convinced he was driving chaplains around division rear.
That changed when his third Purple Heart and his Silver Star hit the local papers.
His just-in-case letter to my mother....what a man.
My brother, James G. Aubrey, ILT USAF was killed Oct 2 1970. I was due in country around December but, then, didn't go. Should have been me.
So, next duty station, was on the Notification roster and the SAO roster.
Kept up with the latter family. Found there was a suicide. I knew Mom was gone but only recently found out she'd killed herself five years after I knocked on their door.
It's tough being civil around people who make light of this day.

Posted by: Richard Aubrey at May 30, 2022 03:52 PM (dSnnl)

72 Servant of God Vincent Capodanno, MM. He was a Catholic chaplain killed in action in Vietnam in 1967 while administering first aid/Last Rites after having already been wounded twice himself.

Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer at May 30, 2022 04:57 PM (pJWtt)

73 Captain Mike Ritz, B Co 2-325 Infantry (Abn), 82d Airborne Division, Grenada

Staff Sergeant Gary Epps, B Co 2-325 Infantry (Abn), 82d Airborne Division, Grenada

Sergeant Major (ret.) Larry Friedman, former Delta sniper, contractor, Somalia

Lieutenant Colonel Dominic "Rocky" Baragona, 19th Maintenance Bn, Iraq

Doctor (Colonel) Brian Allgood, 30th Medical Brigade, Iraq

Posted by: Caesar North of the Rubicon at May 30, 2022 08:54 PM (7B5FA)

74 Sergeant Mark Carter, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), technically not a combat casualty, but died in the Gander crash coming back from MFO duty in the Sinai

Posted by: Caesar North of the Rubicon at May 30, 2022 08:58 PM (7B5FA)

75 Correction: Steady IN THE GLOW.

Lest we forget.

Posted by: Ainsley Hayes at May 31, 2022 12:04 AM (WiF51)

76 I visited severаl sites but the audio feature for audio songs present at thiѕ weЬ site is actuaⅼly marvelous.

Posted by: julius at June 11, 2022 08:57 AM (fLKKA)

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