Posted on 05/26/2007 2:46:35 PM PDT by LindaKeay
Memorial Day: Purple Hearts and Heroes May 24, 2007 | Linda Keay
Purple Hearts and Heroes By Linda Keay May 24, 2007
Last year, the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in New Windsor, New York, opened on a springlike November day.
Far apart in their world views, Senator Hillary Clinton and former Governor George Pataki sat side by side. Senator Clinton (D) spoke mostly about the historic significance of the area (the Hall of Honor is at the New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site, not far from General George Washington’s last winter outpost). Her remarks focused on the Revolutionary War, although she did have one interesting comment. She said, “General Washington’s Army was facing defeat, treason and betrayal. And yet they persevered for the most important ideal that any human being can pursue on this earth – freedom.”
Clinton thanked longtime, recently retired U.S. Congressman “Ben Gilmore” for his years of service (he spent three decades as a Congressman). The only problem is there is no Ben Gilmore (R). His name is Ben Gilman (something a New Yorker knows). She mentioned how hard she’d worked to get a Purple Heart stamp. It sounded lame, as her husband’s famous words about despising the military came to mind. I knew at some point she’d bring up the word “funding,” something that emerges in just about everything she talks about. She did not disappoint. The Hall of Honor will get its funding, she pledged. The legwork for initial funding had long ago been done by others such as U.S. Rep. Sue Kelly (R) and State Senator Bill Larkin (R).
A Purple Heart recipient in the front row, referring to Senator Clinton loudly proclaimed, "What’s she doing here? She couldn’t care less about the military.” He had no further outburst, seemingly getting it out of his system (and it was hard to tell if she even heard him). Clinton spoke in her address about the fact that she’s visited Iraq and Afghanistan. She just didn’t seem to get it. She was talking to people who’d been imprisoned, wounded, tortured, and she’s bragging about her work on a stamp and a visit or two she made.
On the other hand, an individual who spoke mainly about those other than himself was Governor Pataki (R). “The men and women of the United States military – past, present and future – deserve the deepest respect and appreciation of all Americans – period. There are no finer people that our country produces than the brave men and women who put on our uniform to defend our freedom.” Purple Heart State Commander Rick Weeks told me, “I’ll tell you, Governor Pataki has been a great asset for veterans in New York State. Without him this would have never, ever happened. You know, I’m just really glad that he was in during this time.”
State Senator William Larkin, who is also a retired U.S. Lieutenant Colonel, was referred to by Parks Commissioner Bernadette Castro (R) as, “serious, out front organized,” in his quest to make this project a reality. “We love him. He’s got a passion. And it takes that kind of passion and persistence to get something like this done.” Larkin was also seen to be lingering in conversation with veterans long after every other distinguished guest had left.
Former U.S. Rep. Sue Kelly said too often those receiving the Purple Heart come back to their daily lives, “with stories of their heroism truly untold, unnoticed.” World War II Navy veteran Robert Lyons, who was hit by a suicide plane in Okinawa in 1945, simply said he felt “great” about the day.
Retired career Navy officer Robert Byron Fuller, from Florida, got one of his Purple Hearts for being a prisoner of war in Hanoi (as an attack squadron commander), for “58 months, five years and 8 months, or 2,060 days, however you want to count it,” said Fuller. And Warren S. Craig, from Newburgh, got a Purple Heart for wounds received at Guadalcanal in 1942. Fuller showed what was done with the “ropes torture.” Elbows were tied together behind the back until blood circulation in the arms was cut off. Arms dangling, turned purple, and the head was pulled back as well. In addition to being tortured, Fuller spent more than two years in solitary confinement. Asked about allegations of torture in Abu Ghraib, Fuller simply said, “Hogwash.”
Keynote speaker Lieutenant General R. Steven Whitcomb, Commanding General of the Third Army, U.S. Army Central, Coalition Forces Land Component Command out of Kuwait (who is in charge of all forces eventually going into Iraq), briefly mentioned how General George Washington established the forerunner to the Purple Heart, the first military award – the Badge of Military Merit, awarding the first two awards in nearby Newburgh in 1782) – but his focus was clearly on present and future. He said, “Today our nation is engaged in a long war against terrorists and extremists, that I fear that many do not truly understand the scope and breadth of this war. Once again our nation has called to duty its best, its brightest and certainly its bravest. This enemy is different today. He isn’t the clearly defined enemy of the Cold War who was constrained by borders or who more or less followed international law or who maintained large structured armies, navies and air forces."
"He is faceless, nationless and is able to claim credit for success without ever having to face any responsibility for failure. The enemy hides behind regional, national and ethnic borders. He does not obey the laws of war or of humanity. This enemy knows he can’t defeat us militarily on the battlefield, but he is smart and he is media savvy. He uses our media to intimidate and inspire."
"And most importantly, this is an enemy that is true to his word. And we must read every sentence when he speak...I know our troops will meet the challenge. And if our enemies could but see the heart and spirit of our Purple Heart recipients, they would quickly know that we will stop at nothing ‘till the mission is complete.”
Purple Heart recipients Cyril Kammeier, from Imwood, West Virginia, received his Purple Heart for service in Vietnam. He was treated for his wounds and returned to duty three days later. National Chaplain for the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Leonard Stegman, from San Antonio, Texas (who served in Korea and Vietnam and also has two Silver Stars), got his Purple Heart in Korea in 1951, where he helped to evacuate the wounded. Stegman said of today’s military, “The reenlistment rate is higher than it’s ever been. Those people know what they’re doing, even though the people back home don’t realize it.”
Tom Angel, from New Paltz, New York, who served in Germany from 1943 to 1946 in Company L, Third Division 15th Regiment, Third Platoon, said, “I’ve done no less than some and no more than some. And we went through hell. That’s about it.” Tom Poulter, National Commander, Military Order of the Purple Heart, asked that everyone keep in their own hearts -- those serving now. “We were attacked on September 11, 2001. Without their service, how many more attacks would there have been?”
Perhaps the most moving statement of the day was from Lieutenant General Whitcomb, “Visit a veterans hospital where a B-17 pilot can’t remember this morning, but can talk for hours about his crew and bombing missions in precise detail. Talk to a trooper at Brooks Army Medical Center, horribly burned, whose question is, ‘When can I go back to my platoon, general?’ I’m awed by the sight before me, veterans who have done their duty, served and are serving. These young men and women know the mission is far from over.”
A farmer’s son who went to Yale on academic scholarships -- former New York Governor Pataki is also the father of a son in the Marine Corps.
For photos of event, please go to http://reportingobjectively.blogspot.com/
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