Posted on 09/10/2021 10:59:50 AM PDT by DUMBGRUNT
Hill could hear Rescorla issuing orders through the bullhorn. He was calm and collected, never raising his voice. Then Hill heard him break into song: Men of Cornwall stop your dreaming; Can’t you see their spearpoints gleaming? See their warriors’ pennants streaming To this battlefield. Men of Cornwall stand ye steady; It cannot be ever said ye for the battle were not ready; Stand and never yield!
Susan could hear him in there, singing an English music-hall tune. He sang in the shower almost every morning. Susan laid out his clothes, a dark-blue pin-striped suit. Rick treated a suit and tie as he had his military uniform, and was contemptuous of the trend toward “casual” business attire. He insisted that his security staff wear suits and ties every day, believing that proper attire induced respect and boosted morale. Many on his staff earned modest salaries, so he sometimes paid for their clothes himself.
(Excerpt) Read more at archive.vn ...
Not much I can add to this story but to suggest a reread.
This is an early framework of " Heart of a soldier : a story of love, heroism, and September 11th"
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather, we should thank God that such men lived.” ― George S. Patton Jr.
I remember this great piece! I doubt it could be published today, certainly not by The New Yorker.
__” I doubt it could be published today, certainly not by The New Yorker.”
Sadly IMO you are correct.
I read this all the way through 20 years ago and again today. Thanks for the reminder.
“People like Rick, they don’t die old men. They aren’t destined for that and it isn’t right for them to do so. It just isn’t right, by God, for them to become feeble, old, and helpless sons of bitches. There are certain men born in this world, and they’re supposed to die setting an example for the rest of the weak bastards we’re surrounded with.”
IT’S THESE WORDS ROLLED TEARS DOWN MY CHEEKS. FOR I HAVE BECOME FEEBLE, OLD, AND HELPLESS...NO LONGER A DANGER.
LIKE THE COBRA IN THE KORDA BROTHERS’ FILM “THE JUNGLE BOOK” STARRING SABU, I HAVE OUTLIVED MY POISON.
DAN HILL WAS ASTUTE AND KNEW THE SCORE. DON’T MOURN THE LOSS OF RICK RESCORLA, BUT REJOICE IN HIS PASSING WHILE HE WAS FIGHTING, STILL ACTIVE, AND HAD NOT BECOME FEEBLE, OLD, AND HELPLESS...WHILE HIS VENOM WAS STILL STRONG. HE DIED LIKE A WARRIOR SHOULD, WITH HIS HONOR AND VIRILITY INTACT!!!
HE KEPT THE FAITH!
—”...FOR I HAVE BECOME FEEBLE, OLD, AND HELPLESS...NO LONGER A DANGER.”
“The life of the dead is placed on the memories of the living. The love you gave in life keeps people alive beyond their time. Anyone who was given love will always live on in another’s heart.”
― Marcus Tullius Cicero
—“People like Rick, they don’t die old men. They aren’t destined for that...”
I’m NOT attempting to troll or stir the pot, just thinking on this Sacred Day.
I keep thinking of that and have heard it too many times.
Suspecting it might be a denial mechanism?
I dislike hearing it at a memorial/funeral, and usually use the Patton quote:
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather, we should thank God that such men lived.”
Many great men unknown and a few we know of, returned to a normal life. Cincinnatus may be an example (2x?)?
Like today’s news, fact, fiction, legend?
Also, like the subtitle, it is always a love story, the love of their buddies.
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