Always Remembered

Growing up during a time when so many (family, friends, neighbors) were going off to war, some never to return, plus being a military spouse for 20+ years, along with remembering the films and reading some truly memorable stories about military and war, often shared from personal testimonies, gives me cause to pause to honor the occasion in the best way I can.

The sacrifices, the loyalty, often innocence, the trust, the bravery, courage, sacrifices and commitment are all reasons to read from first hand accounts what it really means to serve.

'Dear America' was one of the first books that really grabbed me. I still remember that one letter in this collection of stories where a soldier was explaining what he thought of war, and the enemy, prior to going to Vietnam...and then what he felt and thought while taking cover in a foxhole. Will never forget it. One of the most impactful letters among the collection.

Another soldier's story impossible to forget comes from the memoir 'On Call in Hell'. I'm paraphrasing from memory here, because I don't have the book out and open, but the thought of CDR. Jadick volunteering to create a mobile emergency triage unit out in the fields so that injured soldiers could receive critical care on site (the battleground) was simply unparalleled. Just powerful! The entire and overall story! From conception to actually putting action where his heart was is a visual I continue to keep close.

And there are other compelling books that honor fallen soldiers as retold by their comrades and sometimes personnel invested in improving military decisions. SitRep Negative by G.J. Lau, The Second Tour by Terry P. Rizzuti, Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell and Until Tuesday by Luis Carlos Montalván are some I highly recommend.

Honoring Memorial Day.

#MemorialDay #JustBlogged