Brushfire of Freedom

The Conservative Cowboy

Note: Originally published Memorial Day, 2009 at Brushfire Sparks

Too often we as Americans take for granted the freedoms that we enjoy every day in this great nation.  Too often we are too busy with our lives to stop and remember why we enjoy these freedoms.  Too often we forget that this is the greatest country in the world.  The reason that we enjoy all of these items is simple, the American S oldier.  A person that is willing to give their lives so others can live in freedom.  As we take the long weekend that comes with Memorial Day we cannot forget the men and women whom we are honoring, and their sacrifice to this great nation.  

I want to take this opportunity to talk about a branch of the military that is often forgotten, but is just as vital to the perseverance of this country; The US Coast Guard.  The US Coast Guard was officially named a branch of our military service in 1915.  During a declaration of war the Coast Guard operates under the US Navy.  The US Coast Guard was a vital piece of our forces in WW2, Korea and Vietnam, operating patrols that supported our troops.  The Coast Guard was involved in numerous rescues of our service men and women during these Wars.   They were vital in enforcing the UN trade embargoes in the Persian Gulf in 2002.  In 2003 the Coast Guard was transferred to the Department of Homeland Security.  This is an important switch because the Coast Guard is now one of our greatest lines of defense against naval attacks on US soil.  

In addition to the help that the Coast Guard provides for our military, they are also given the responsibility to help our own citizens.  The Coast Guard was a huge part of the relief effort after hurricane Katrina, rescuing over 33,000 people.  The Coast guard is also charged with the safety of our personal and commerce related sea vessels.

Whether it is the US Coast Guard or any other branch of the military in this great country I am grateful everyday to those men and women who make the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our way of life.  The defense of this nation and our way of life is and should remain the top priority in this country, and I am glad that we have service men and women on the job everyday to help in that defense.  The service men and women of the country have always shared a common motivating factor in their defense of this nation; pride, the pride that this country provides people with the freedoms that all humans deserve.  The pride that the people of this nation will recognize their sacrifice and help preserve the very freedoms that separate this country from every other country in the world.

I salute those who have fallen and those who are willing to fall to fight for something that is bigger than all of us….the freedom of a great nation.     

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Copyright 2010.  The published content is the sole property of the author.  Any copy, use, or redistribution of any portion of the material without the written consent of the owner is a violation of international copyright laws.

 Brushfire of Freedom 

Ram Rants

Note: Originally published May 27, 2009 at Brushfire Sparks.

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government.  There have been nearly 3,500 medals awarded to members of all branches of service since its creation in 1861.  The people of this nation celebrate academy awards, music awards, and countless other achievements.  Perhaps, during this week when we should be remembering those who have fought and died serving our nation, we should take a look at some of those who have received this highest honor.  They are truly the finest of this nation’s men and women, and should be recognized for their courage and sacrifice.

Ross McGinnis -  On 4 December 2006,  McGinnis and his platoon was conducting combat control operations in in Adhamiyah, Northeast Baghdad, Iraq.  While Private McGinnis his manning the M2 .50-caliber Machine Gun, a fragmentation grenade thrown by an insurgent fell through the gunner's hatch into the vehicle. Reacting quickly, he yelled "grenade," allowing all four members of his crew to prepare for the grenade's blast. Then, rather than leaping from the gunner's hatch to safety, Private McGinnis made the courageous decision to protect his crew. In a selfless act of bravery, in which he was mortally wounded, Private McGinnis covered the live grenade, pinning it between his body and the vehicle and absorbing most of the explosion. Private McGinnis' gallant action directly saved four men from certain serious injury or death.

Michael Murphy - On 28 June 2005, between 30 and 40 enemy fighters besieged his four-member SEAL team. Demonstrating exceptional resolve, Lieutenant Murphy valiantly led his men in engaging the large enemy force. The ensuing firefight resulted in numerous enemy casualties, as well as the wounding of all four members of the team.  When the primary communicator fell mortally wounded, Lieutenant Murphy repeatedly attempted to call for assistance for his beleaguered teammates. Realizing the impossibility of communicating in the extreme terrain, and in the face of almost certain death, he fought his way into open terrain to gain a better position to transmit a call. This deliberate, heroic act deprived him of cover, exposing him to direct enemy fire. Finally achieving contact with his Headquarters, Lieutenant Murphy maintained his exposed position while he provided his location and requested immediate support for his team. In his final act of bravery, he continued to engage the enemy until he was mortally wounded, gallantly giving his life for his country and for the cause of freedom. 

Paul Smith - On 4 April 2003 near Baghdad International Airport, Baghdad, Iraq, Sergeant First Class Smith was engaged in the construction of a prisoner of war holding area when his Task Force was violently attacked by a company-sized enemy force. Realizing the vulnerability of over 100 fellow soldiers, Sergeant First Class Smith quickly organized a hasty defense consisting of two platoons of soldiers, one Bradley Fighting Vehicle and three armored personnel carriers. As the fight developed, Sergeant First Class Smith braved hostile enemy fire to personally engage the enemy with hand grenades and anti-tank weapons, and organized the evacuation of three wounded soldiers from an armored personnel carrier struck by a rocket propelled grenade and a 60mm mortar round. Fearing the enemy would overrun their defenses, Sergeant First Class Smith moved under withering enemy fire to man a .50 caliber machine gun mounted on a damaged armored personnel carrier. In total disregard for his own life, he maintained his exposed position in order to engage the attacking enemy force. During this action, he was mortally wounded. His courageous actions helped defeat the enemy attack, and resulted in as many as 50 enemy soldiers killed, while allowing the safe withdrawal of numerous wounded soldiers. 

I would imagine at this time, having read some of these incredible stories of self-sacrifice and heroism, that you would wonder why you’ve never heard these tails before.  Well, that is a question I have been asking.  We hear about celebrities winning awards for their spectacular portrayal of lesser men, but when have you head of Sgt. Smith?  We celebrate the achievements of those in Hollywood and we hear their names on the news almost nearly every night.  Yet amongst us has passed true greatness, and we’ve not even nodded in acknowledgment.  Our media has failed to cover these stories, and many others like them, and why?  Is that not their charge, to report the news?  Are not these stories of incredible heroism and self-sacrifice in the face of unbelievable odds the type of news stories that should lead a nightly news cast?    

And what about us?  How many know what the Medal of Honor is or would know one if seen?  Would you know what to do if you ever met one of these incredible heros?  I think it is time that we as a nation stop adoring those whose achievements benefit only themselves and start looking to the true heros of our country.  This week, spend some time learning about the Medal of Honor.  Learn a few names, read some of the citations, and learn of the history that is our American hero.  It is a time for this nation to remember those who have given their lives for our freedom, and who better to remember than those who have demonstrated the true meaning of honor.  

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Copyright 2009.  The published content is the sole property of the author.  Any copy, use, or redistribution of any portion of the material without the written consent of the owner is a violation of international copyright laws.

 Brushfire of Freedom

The Armory

Note: Originally published Memorial Day, 2009 at Brushfire Sparks

Memorial Day.  Not just a three-day weekend, but a day to remember those who have fallen in the service of our nation.  That means they died while protecting the rights and freedoms that most Americans take for granted.  It was originally called “Decoration Day” when it was established in 1868, and was a time for placing flowers on the graves of those who had died in the Civil War.  The original date was May 30th, though we have moved it to a “some Monday” to provide workers with a lengthy weekend.

Don’t get me wrong.  I like a long holiday as much as the next person.  But there is a special reason for Memorial Day, and I believe that when we forget those who have sacrificed everything for their country, we begin to forget the country for which they sacrificed.  This country was founded on the principle that all men are created equal.  Yet at the time of the Civil War, we found ourselves treating some of our fellow citizens as less than equal, even less than human.  Many men, on both sides, died for their beliefs.  They died so that others could enjoy the freedom and liberty that has always been the promise of our nation.

In the early and mid 1900’s, two great wars were fought around the globe.  These great wars, World Wars One and Two, were fought by many Americans, some not even in defense of US shores, but against the tyranny and hatred that spawned those great battles.  Many more young Americans gave their lives here and abroad to ensure that the light of freedom that is American could shine here and across the world.  After those wars ended, we saw many tired, hungry, and poor come to this country and start a new life.  They took advantage of our freedoms, worked hard, sacrificed in their own way, and made America even greater.  They built on the sacrifice of those who had died defending our nation and others.  Many more Americans died so that others could enjoy the freedom and liberty that was still the promise of our nation.             

In the 1990’s, more precious American blood was shed on foreign soil, this time in the Middle East.  Most who fought in the first Gulf War could not say the names of the places they were defending, but that was not new for the American warrior.  They fought to free a small Arab country from a tyrant, one who would enslave the people of Kuwait.  We were blessed as a nation that not many lives were lost during that war, but every life lost is precious.  Still, more Americans had died so that others could enjoy the freedom and liberty that was meant to be the promise of their nation. 

Then in 2001, thousands of American lives were stolen in mere minutes, as an evil entity with no national boundary struck our country on our home soil.  It was not the first time we had been attacked here.  It had happened at Pearl Harbor, and in 1993 at the World Trade Center.  This most recent loss of American blood occurred in three locations; New York, our greatest commercial city, Washington D.C., the center of our government, and in a field in Pennsylvania.  That Pennsylvania field marked yet another miraculous sacrifice, where a small group of Americans found themselves with a terrible decision.  They could sacrifice themselves and save possibly hundreds or even thousands more Americans, or they could sit and do nothing, letting others die with them.  They, like countless other Americans before them, chose to give up their lives so that others might live on to enjoy the freedom and liberty that is the promise of this great nation.  

Shortly after the attack on this nation by Islamic terrorists, our leaders decided to take the fight to the heart of the militant organization.  In the process, thousands of precious American lives were once again lost in places whose names they could not quite pronounce.  This nation’s finest made sacrifices to free another nation, a different people, and in the process make their country safer.  They shed their blood again on foreign soil, as so many others before them have done.  They gave their lives so that the people of Iraq could taste freedom and liberty, and the people of America could breathe more freely.  They chose to give up their lives so that others around the world might live on to enjoy the freedom and liberty that is the desire of the human spirit.

It is impossible to count the drops of blood, the shed tears, and the shattered dreams that have been spent to unify, protect, and defend this nation, and her allies.  Countries like France, Iraq, Kuwait, The United Kingdom, and many, many others owe at least some part of their freedom and liberty to the sacrifices made by Americans.  Yet, were it possible, if you were to ask any one of those who have passed, any who have given their lives in defense of this nation and many others, they would tell you without hesitation that they do not regret their decision.  Americans have willingly chosen, throughout our history, to give our lives so that others may enjoy the freedom and liberty that is our right, as endowed by our Creator.  It is truly a miracle, for us and for the world, that we are what we are.  On this Memorial day, you should remember.

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Copyright 2009.  The published content is the sole property of the author.  Any copy, use, or redistribution of any portion of the material without the written consent of the owner is a violation of international copyright laws.