A couple of years ago, we traveled to France to travel in his "bootsteps" (and those of my husband's relatives who also served). Researching the battles and campaigns was a real education. It amazes me that the present-day media are bemoaning the casualties in Iraq (seven U.S. soldiers died in May!!!), when tens of thousands were lost in a few moments' time in some of the horrendously bloody battles of WWI.
I well understand your feelings. I have tried to find the area where the skirmishing took place that resulted in the death of my great grandfather. (only one g there) It is somewhere along the Black River in southern Missouri. The small campaign in November of '62 caused his death from pneumonia in January at St. Louis. Yes, it was 1863 and he was a private in Co. G, 26th IA Vol Inf. His brother served through Vicksburg and another served through the war and died on his way home, but he was Confederate.
My Grandfather was also gassed {at the Marne} and it affected his health to the point he died a young man leaving a wife and 4 young children. I went to his gravesite with one of those children [my mother] this weekend to clean his grave and my fathers [a WWII vet] and it was very sobering and wonderful to see so many people at the cemetary remembering and caring for the dead. Today I was proud to have my youngest Girl play Taps at our town Memorial Day service and to see the majority of the people in town show up at the service to pay tribute to our fallen heroes. It's the folks from small town America who remember and honor them always. God Bless America!
It's easy to propagandize stupid, illiterate people...
I was watching a History Channel piece on Pearl Harbor earlier today, and I suddenly realized that I've seen more Pearl Harbor footage in the last four years than I have seen footage of 9/11.
Think about it.