Posted on 07/24/2010 10:54:06 AM PDT by smoothsailing
A Chaplin story ...
Learned just recently, from Chesty’s book, that Chaplin Otto Sporrer was awarded a Silver Star for Chosin action.
Learned in 1993, from a class of 43 reunion (Father Sporrer’s former HS students), how he probably earned it. Scuttlebutt has it that Sporrer removed his insignia and took command to organize and lead a successful retreat.
Sporrer wanted to be at the reunion, but he wasn’t able to make it.
God bless our Haditha Marines.
They hold a special place in my heart.
Amen, Velveeta
Major BUMP!
A Poem Worth Reading
He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, every one.
And ‘tho sometimes to his neighbors
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly
For they knew where of he spoke.
But we’ll hear his tales no longer,
For ol’ Jim has passed away,
And the world’s a little poorer
For a Soldier died today.
He won’t be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.. He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly on his way;
And the world won’t note his passing,
‘Tho a Soldier died today.
When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great. Papers tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young
But the passing of a Soldier
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.
Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?
The politician’s stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.
While the ordinary Soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.
It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys. Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand?
Or would you want a Soldier—
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier,
Who would fight until the end.
He was just a common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his like again. For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Soldier’s part
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.
If we cannot do him honor
While he’s here to hear the praise,
Then at least let’s give him homage
At the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline
In the paper that might say:
“OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY.” A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable ‘To My Country’ for an amount “up to and including my life.”
That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.
Lt. Col Chessani,
My family and millions of Americans thank you for your service. The honor and dignity you have shown throughout the Haditha persecutions is a testament to your character and convictions. You sir are truly one of the few, the proud, A United States Marine.
May God Bless You and grant you and your family happiness and serenity in your retirement.
God Bless Our Haditha Marines
Darryl, Theresa, Jaclyn, Justin
Amen, Sir!
God Bless The Haditha Marines indeed!
Well said, Darryl!
Jane Gilvary stated it well also!
Good post!
I hope all is going well for your family.
Semper Fidelis,
LH
bttt
Lancey,
Nice to hear from you. Thank you and all here at FR for the support you have given my son and our family. Justin has returned to the civi life quite well. He’s weighing his options and I believe college is in his future. We’ve played a few rounds of golf, fished and worked on some firearms together. He even has a girlfriend. Getting back to some sort of normalcy.
T and I are just praying for Frank. He has a good legal team and I’m sure they are doing their best to work for his complete exoneration. Justin will be in Pendleton to testify on Frank’s behalf. Theresa and I would love to be there but I don’t believe it will happen. Our prayers are for Rosemarie and the Wuterich family.
This should have ended a long time ago. No one will ever convince me that Mattis didn’t cave to the pressure. He got his fourth star and is now head of Cent Com. I believe this was more than a coincidence.
God Bless Our Haditha Marines
Darryl
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