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December 7, 2005

A Day that will Live in Infamy

Arizona.jpg

So, what did you do today? Was it worth the sacrifice?

I have an uncle who enlisted in the navy on December 8, 1941. He spent the next few years risking life and limb in order to serve the righteous cause. He, like many others, fought for the freedoms that are enjoyed by this nation, that so many in history have been deprived of. He, like many others, had moments when he nearly died.

He just recently celebrated his 80th birthday. He never spoke with anyone about what he went through, until 1993 when I asked to interview him for a college history course I took on World War II. It was a difficult experience for us both, and I am extremely glad I had the chance to hear his story. Millions of people died in that war, and cannot tell their stories. Thousands of our servicemembers died on this Day of Infamy, and cannot tell their stories to their children, grandchildren, or nephews who are taking college courses.

My uncle told me that every day, he asks himself whether he had done anything more with the day than they would have. Was it worth the sacrifice? I find the question too difficult for daily contemplation, but today I will think about it, and the freedoms we enjoy because of those sacrifices.

Wulf Posted by Wulf on December 7, 2005 at 08:33 PM

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Comments

In Anthony Swofford's book Jarhead, he reports a conversation he had with an old lifer sergeant who had fought in Vietnam. The sergeant asked if Swofford's father, who was also in 'Nam ever talked about it.

"Once,", said Swofford.

"If he only talked about it once," said the sergeant, "he wasn't lying."

Posted by: The Sanity Inspector at December 16, 2005 2:08 PM

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