Saturday, January 31, 2015
The Four Immortal Chaplains
Stories of some events which reflect honor, courage and compassion are so important they should be told over and over, especially now when it seems so many people do not know or appreciate American history. An example is the story of the Four Immortal Chaplains.
On September 3, 1943, the troop ship Dorchester was in the North Atlantic with more than 900 soldiers and sailors on board, headed for battle action. Many were very young. Also on board were four chaplains -- Father John Washington, Roman Catholic; the Rev. Clark Poling, Dutch Reformed; Rabbi Alexander Goode, Jewish, and the Rev. George Fox, Methodist.
When the ship was about 100 miles off the coast of Greenland, it was struck by a German tornado and forced to sink. On board it was chaotic and the chaplains did what chaplains do -- they calmed and comforted the troops. More than 600 drowned but 250 were rescued and they told how the chaplains gave their life jackets to others and sank under the water, going down with their arms around each other.
Four men of religious differences but all serving the same God. Let us remember them for their actions, some 62 years ago.
On September 3, 1943, the troop ship Dorchester was in the North Atlantic with more than 900 soldiers and sailors on board, headed for battle action. Many were very young. Also on board were four chaplains -- Father John Washington, Roman Catholic; the Rev. Clark Poling, Dutch Reformed; Rabbi Alexander Goode, Jewish, and the Rev. George Fox, Methodist.
When the ship was about 100 miles off the coast of Greenland, it was struck by a German tornado and forced to sink. On board it was chaotic and the chaplains did what chaplains do -- they calmed and comforted the troops. More than 600 drowned but 250 were rescued and they told how the chaplains gave their life jackets to others and sank under the water, going down with their arms around each other.
Four men of religious differences but all serving the same God. Let us remember them for their actions, some 62 years ago.
Thursday, January 29, 2015
We don't deserve the Marine Hymn
From the Halls of Montezuma
To the shores of Tripoli
We fight our country's battles
In the air, on land, and sea.
Terrorists invade a hotel in Tripoli, kill nine and take others hostage. America does nothing and is mocked for its cowardice. No, we do not deserve to boast our bravery any longer. Who can sing the Marine Hymn with honor?
To the shores of Tripoli
We fight our country's battles
In the air, on land, and sea.
Terrorists invade a hotel in Tripoli, kill nine and take others hostage. America does nothing and is mocked for its cowardice. No, we do not deserve to boast our bravery any longer. Who can sing the Marine Hymn with honor?
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Reduced price of oil hurts state's revenue
Louisiana is one of those oil producing states that is in a financial bind because of the drop in the price of oil.
We are looking at a possible increase in taxes, cuts in some departments, or both.
Regardless, some change is inevitable in the TOPS program, Costing near 235 million dollars now, it is on the way to around 400 million.
A program I favor abolishing, is benefits to film makers. I do not favor paying a company to make a film in the state.
We are looking at a possible increase in taxes, cuts in some departments, or both.
Regardless, some change is inevitable in the TOPS program, Costing near 235 million dollars now, it is on the way to around 400 million.
A program I favor abolishing, is benefits to film makers. I do not favor paying a company to make a film in the state.
Our 42nd anniversary
Jen and I celebrated forty-two years of marriage Tuesday, January 27. Celebrated may be too strong a word: we took pleasure in knowing the marriage has lasted that long when some people gave us six months at best.
The first priest we contacted to preside over the ceremony refused but one had no problem and so we went forward. I can still see Jen coming down the aisle, trembling and crying. I thought if she feels that badly, let's call it off. I told my brother I was going to slip away, but he calmly said it would be too embarrassing to the families, so I stayed. I forgot to kiss the bride when the ceremony calls for it and had to yank Jen back and kiss her.
Will we have another 42 years?
The first priest we contacted to preside over the ceremony refused but one had no problem and so we went forward. I can still see Jen coming down the aisle, trembling and crying. I thought if she feels that badly, let's call it off. I told my brother I was going to slip away, but he calmly said it would be too embarrassing to the families, so I stayed. I forgot to kiss the bride when the ceremony calls for it and had to yank Jen back and kiss her.
Will we have another 42 years?
Saturday, January 24, 2015
Thinking back 70 years
Seventy years. . I began thinking about what I was doing 70 years ago and I remember that as 1945 began I was at Hawaii on the USS Pickens, APA 190, preparing to attack Iwo Jima. We would spend a week with Marines, loading them into boats and taking them to attack a vacant island.
We would return those Marines to base, load on another group of Marines, and do the same thing again.
I don't remember when we became aware that our training was for the attack on Iwo Jima.
We would return those Marines to base, load on another group of Marines, and do the same thing again.
I don't remember when we became aware that our training was for the attack on Iwo Jima.
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