51 weeks a year he's a Right-Wing Clown....

[catnhatnh]

...This week Chuck Norris has my sympathy and my thanks. Most of us just know the silly movies and bullshit pronouncements and love of the Gentle (Gentile?) Jesus and his soul begotten NFL quarterback Tiny Tim Tebow...So along with most of you as he appears on TV pushing God, patriotism, and the occasional piece of gym equipment I just giggle.

But here's the thing-he is himself is an Air force veteran and both of his brothers enlisted in the army and served in Vietnam. It was the middle brother Weiland Norris who was walking point for a patrol from a unit of the 101st Airborne Div. on 3 Jun. 70 during the Siege of Firebase Ripcord Who was shot dead by NVA Regulars surrounding the base as he turned to warn the squad. This I know because I was told by my brother who was with Bco 1st of the 506th whose platoon was overrun 3 days before with 4 KIA and 6WIA, 2 of whom later died.That left 3 men "effective"-not wounded badly enough for medivac. My brothers worst wounds that day were multiple shrapnel injuries. Many later turned out to be bone fragments from an Lt hit by a satchel charge at the start of that attack.

So Norris IS a Vet and his brothers were vets and one of them died in a bad way during a dark time in a horrible place.He was 21 at the time and would be 64 now and that makes him (the brother) a guy I could chat with were we to meet in a bar. And the thought makes me sad because of why it can't happen.

So this week old Chuck and I have a lot in common. We both served bullshit tours in bullshit places "during" the Vietnam "conflict". We both had brothers sent to a hell past imagining and neither truly got back the guy we sent away. And Chuck had to bury his. I know they say "all gave some" etc. but it don't feel that way.This week, twisting wrenches on Hueys in the Rockies just doesn't feel like something I should be thanked for. And I don't really think a million thanks is enough for the memories my brother brought back or the 43 years that Weiland lost. Mostly when I consider the whole I just feel a deep regret for all of us.

To all our DU vets and all the vets of the world-Peace.

[life long demo]

1. To all of them living and dead, we honor them

and my personal thoughts go to Buddy (Lt. Albert Maurice) Finn, helo pilot in Quang Tri, kia 1970, age 26. What a tragedy for one of the nicest guy's you would ever want to meet. God bless them all.

[sarge43]

2. May they know the peace denied them in this life.

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.

For The Fallen, Laurence Binyon