I first gained an appreciation of the valor of the American Soldier when on December 7, 1991, I missed work due to a bad migraine headache. I started watching some of the tributes and stories about that infamous day on December 7th, 1941. When they played the segment on Pearl Harbor, I was touched. I nearly cried. They also showed long segments on the invasion of Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944, and the Battle of the Bulge. By the end of the day, with tears running down my face, I was a changed person. I was deeply moved by their stories. I almost could not believe the sacrifices some of these brave men made for their buddies and their country--for me, really. They made those sacrifices for me.

After reading Stephen Ambrose's excellent book on D-Day, I contacted the National D-Day museum in New Orleans and volunteered to interview veterans for Dr. Ambrose's next book on the Battle of the Bulge. The book's focus was changed and eventually became Citizen Soldiers. In the process of interviewing many of these veterans, I got an excellent firsthand account of the battle--one I couldn't read about in any book. I interviewed guys from nearly every major division in the Battle of the Bulge, which was fought in World War II in the midst of one of the bitterest winters on record. I also ended up interviewing other men from other wars. It was a great experience.

Among the many brave American Soldiers I interviewed were Norm Schoon (my uncle), Bob Cornell, Fred Olivi, Ray Fary, Hubert Kelly, Phil Zurawski, Jacob Emell, and Zenon Lukosius--all from World War II. From the Vietnam War, I interviewed Jim Melf, Ed Kannapel, John Reilly, Mike Douglas, Bill Warren, and Rudy Roberson. All of them served in combat, and in my mind, they are all heroes.

Tales of heroes

In World War II, Zenon Lukosius saved the captured German submarine, the U-505, from sinking by rushing into the sinking submarine and closing the sea-cocks to prevent more water from rushing in. They only had seconds left before the sub was completely flooded, quickly taking it and Zenon with it. I have been in the U-505, on display at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, and I got a little claustrophobic inside--it's so small and narrow. I cannot imagine rushing down into this sinking submarine, yet this brave American Soldier did, and America gained much valuable knowledge from its capture. Zenon displayed great courage that day over sixty years ago. He was courageous for me. He risked his life for me.

Fred Olivi copiloted the plane that dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki, helping to end the war (see my article The Balance of Hiroshima). Fred dropped the second atomic bomb in order to save countless thousands of American lives, which he did. My dad would have been one of the men slated for the planned invasion of Japan in November of 1945. Furthermore, Fred's actions undoubtedly saved millions of Japanese civilian lives, as well. After he left the service, his private life was, at times, miserable. Instead of thanking him, war protesters occasionally camped out in front of his house to castigate him for his role in ending World War II. They tore his lawn up by spinning the wheels of a pickup truck on it. How disgraceful and unappreciative of the freedom he helped secure for them. I think of the words of Jesus: "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." Although Fred believed he did the right thing--as I do--I can only imagine the nightmares and distress of soul that Fred must have suffered as he considered the power and horror he unleashed on the people on the ground. Fred surely suffered for me. He did it all for me.

My dear friend Ed Kannapel served two tours of duty in Vietnam. Ed's best friend was killed there and Ed mourns for him to this day. War always causes great loss. Ed's primary jobs were rear guard and bunker watch. Consider just how important a rear guard is. You can't fight without a rear guard, or the enemy can sneak up on you. Should the rear guard fail, your unit would be overrun. The rear guard is also the last man out. The best and bravest are usually picked to be the rear guard.

Ed was awarded numerous medals. I wish I could have awarded these medals to him myself. Ed was bayoneted and shot during his two tours in Vietnam. Ed was wounded for me.

Another dear friend, Jim Melf, served in Vietnam as a rifleman in the 4th Division. Jim volunteered to live with the Montagnard tribes in Vietnam when the Army heard that the Vietcong were planning to attack these villages. Jim volunteered to protect--with his life--a village and its people whom he hardly knew. When they approached this village, the villagers themselves opened fire on Jim and his unit. Jim volunteered to protect these people, and was led into an ambush. What a painful shock this must have been. Many Americans were killed that day, and this bothers Jim to this day.

Jim was given an honorable discharge. Sadly, America gave Vietnam veterans like Jim an "honorable" discharge, then took their honor away when they returned home. In my eyes, Jim and others like him are deserving of great honor and respect. Jim told me that despite this betrayal and the difficult combat he endured, he'd "do it again" and added "I am proud to have served my country." I am proud that he did, too. Jim served for me.

Artilleryman Rudy Roberson usually supported the 1st Calvary in Vietnam. A lot of American and South Vietnamese soldiers probably owe their life to Rudy and guys like him, whose accurate and timely fire support saved their lives or helped them out of a desperate situation. Rudy did his job so that others could live. Many soldiers in support roles go unheralded. They tirelessly worked behind the scenes so that others could fight, and so that I could live in freedom.

My uncle Norman Schoon was a member of the 106th Division during the Battle of the Bulge. He was a squad leader in the 423rd Infantry, 1st battalion, D company (heavy weapons). He was captured on Dec. 19th, 1944 and, was released on Good Friday, a few months later.

Although my uncle Norm's interview didn't make it into Dr. Ambrose's book, his interview was the most vivid, and the most emotional. I wondered if it was because I had a new found respect for this older Dutch man whom I'd never paid much attention to before. Probably somewhat, but his story was so emotional and personal. He remembered every little detail, including some tearful recollections of his reactions when seeing guys he knew, laying dead in the snow, with their frozen eyes gazing at the sky. At this recall, he cried. I almost did too. I was sitting there talking to an old man who was once a young man fighting across the ocean in a dense Belgian forest. Thanks to my uncle and others like him, I'll never have to confront what he did. And he did it all without complaint.

During the interview, when he talked about how he'll never forget the sound of a German Tiger tank, you could almost see the fear on his face. I could almost feel the fear my uncle tried to express--it's hard for me to comprehend. I also interviewed a guy from the 99th Division, who was a survivor of an incident where enemy tanks rolled down a line of American foxholes and matter-of-factly machine gunned most of the GI's where they lay.

The 106th Division finally surrendered on December 19th, 1944. My uncle said that most guys didn't want to surrender despite being out of ammunition. He said many guys would have fought with anything they could, including sticks and stones. I believe that this now aging man--my uncle, would have done just that back then in his youth--if he were given the chance. But he wasn't; his entire division was ordered to surrender. He shed a few tears here too.

As a prisoner of war on the way to a concentration camp, he and the others on his train were mistakenly bombed by British bombers, and many were killed. He was twice stabbed by German guards--once, for not shaving fast enough! He lost around 100 pounds in captivity, and the only reason he didn't lose more was because a kind guard occasionally gave him some watery potato peel soup. I now see why he never talked about it. It must have been unthinkably difficult. Until now, his son Tom, who sat in on the interview, had never heard him talk openly about it. It was a special night for us all.

How we can go through life and miss or ignore such brave and selfless people like this is sad. Thankfully, I was blessed with a chance to rectify that.

An elder friend of mine, Bob Cornell, also valiantly fought in the Battle of the Bulge and distinguished himself in many ways. He saw a new soldier evaporate in a cloud as an enemy artillery shell burst near him, but Bob stayed in the fight. In my mind, he is a true hero. As I write this, and I just got off the phone with him, Bob is suffering from pancreatic cancer. May God bless him.

Bob was a member of 'D' Company, the 394th regiment in the 99th infantry division during the Battle of the Bulge in W.W.II. His unit received a Presidential Unit Citation. On the evening of the 15th, the night before the German attacked, Bob had asked to go on a scouting mission but was denied. A young G.I. named Claudie Phillips was selected in his place. Claudie and their sergeant went on this scouting mission, but never returned.

On the 28 of December, 1944, Bob and his squad were on Elsenborn Ridge, reorganizing to assimilate some new replacements, and George Stanzcewski, one of the new replacements, was with him. An American 105 millimeter artillery round landed short of its intended target, about fifteen feet from Bob but only five feet or so from Stanzcewski. Bob was wounded but Stanzcewski was killed, on his first day at battle. Who can explain fate or the hand of God? Many veterans suffer from "It should have been me."

And so I have a profound respect for the men who fought and died in the Battle of the Bulge, in one of the bitterest winters on record, in the worst of conditions, against a most formidable foe. As I said, my uncle Norm also fought and was taken captive in that battle, but he's not the only one. There were many others like him.

I now work with a high percentage of military veterans and reserve personnel. I've noticed something about many of them.... They're quiet, not easily mingling in the group, and they tend to remain distant and often see things differently. Why? I think it's because of a couple of things, and they enter the military for a variety of reasons. Some are adrenalin junkies, some want bigger toys, some like the tradition, some like the discipline and ceremony, and some for other reasons. Most of them sincerely want to defend their country. Once they get in, however, they realize that with the pull of a trigger, a push of a button, or a call on the radio, hundreds could die, right or wrong. What a sense of responsibility. Many have pulled that trigger. What a weight on their shoulders.

A few years ago with a few friends, I visited the veteran's home in Manteno, Illinois. My friend Rudy really had a heart for these guys. When we would visit them, we had to be out the door by 9:30 pm. I remember one time we were late in leaving, and we passed a guy in a wheelchair--Mike Douglas was his name. Rudy said, "I think we should pray for this guy." I told him that we were already late, but he insisted, so we stayed and talked with this guy for a while. He was a Vietnam veteran, and he told us that he was afraid to fall asleep at night, because he had terrible nightmares every night. When Mike was in Vietnam, he stepped on a "Bouncing Betty" landmine, which popped up, exploded, and permanently crippled him. When he lies down to go to sleep, he keeps hearing the click of the mine right before it popped up. We prayed with this guy, and he gave his life to the Lord that night. The next time we went there, we found out that Mike had died the very next day. From the time he was wounded until the day he died, Mike relived that terrible crippling moment night after night as he lay in bed. Now, he finally has peace. He was crippled for me and he endured those terrifying nightmares for me.

We also met Jacob Emell at that veteran's home. If I can remember the story correctly, Jacob was being transported overseas on an aircraft carrier in World War II. Like Mike Douglas, Jacob was also afraid to fall asleep because of what he saw one day. One day a damaged fighter plane was attempting to land. It crash-landed onto the deck and a fire started. The fire spread inside the cockpit as Jacob valiantly tried to get the pilot out, who was screaming and banging his hands on the inside of the cockpit. That pilot died for me. But Jacob Emell relived that horrible event every night as he struggled to fall asleep. Nightmares woke him up many times. That dear man suffered for me.

I also think of other brave men on other fields of battle. Who could not be awestruck by courage of the men in the Doolittle raid, whose mission was to be the first American planes to bomb Tokyo after Pearl Harbor? They knew they would not have enough fuel to make it back, and many crew members subsequently fell into enemy hands. However, these winged heroes gave America her honor back. In one stroke they shored up the country's fractured morale. They flew that dangerous mission, and some died doing it, for me.

I am especially humbled by the remarkable men of D-Day, whose courage surpasses nearly anything else in military history. Those young men stormed the beaches of Normandy against what was, at first, overwhelming firepower. Many risked death as they parachuted behind the lines in the early morning hours on D-Day. Centuries before, William Shakespeare captured the spirit of D-Day perfectly when he wrote: "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile, This day shall gentle his condition: And gentlemen in England now a-bed Shall think themselves accursed they were not here, And hold their manhood cheap." The legacy of the heroic men of D-Day will live on forever. They took that beach for me. Many died for me there too.

One of my old neighbors, Michael Ozimina, was a member of the French Resistance during World War II, without whose help many more young Americans would have died in Normandy. These men and women risked everything to blow up bridges, cut telephone lines, derail enemy supply trains, and perform many other little-known acts of derring-do prior to D-Day. Many downed Allied aircrews owe their lives to the efforts of the French Resistance. Many died in retaliation for their intrepid acts. In a sense then, they too, died for me.

The daring young men who flew Allied bombing missions deep into the heart of Germany put aside their fear and displayed a fortitude and determination that we'll probably not see often again. In the opening years of American involvement in Europe, these kids flew their missions without air support. That took guts, real guts. They flew in cold airplanes and were shot at by German planes and anti-aircraft fire. Many did not live to see their twenty-fifth mission, when their tour of duty would be over. Many spent the rest of the war in captivity.

Then there are the sailors. I'm afraid to even go on a cruise ship, yet these brave sailors went to battle on ships and in submarines for months at a time, where rescue was not always assured. In many cases there would be no rescue. When a battleship or destroyer was sunk, many died. When a submarine was sunk, usually everyone died. These men risked everything for me.

There are other countries who were Allies of the United States in World War II, whose courage also inspires me. The staunchness of the British people as they were being savagely bombed during the Blitz is a model for how to bear up under adversity. Many had no homes as a result, but they had great dignity. Truly inspiring were the brave pilots of the Royal Air Force who flew into combat against all odds--and persevered--in the Battle of Britain. These lionhearted aviators turned the tide of the war. Had they failed, England would have been shortly invaded, and the war might have been lost. Resolute to the end, they unflinchingly flew into battle for me. Britain is helping us win the war on terror to this day. God bless them.

The dauntless determination of allies in Russia during the prolonged battle for Stalingrad is worthy of mention. Their indomitability turned the tide on the Eastern Front, and that was the beginning of the end for Germany. Men and women fought side by side against the invading German army. In one well-known case from that battle, young women would man the anti-aircraft guns mounted on rooftops. It was so hazardous that most would be killed after fifteen minutes, yet others would run to take their place knowing they had only minutes to live before the attacking German planes ended their life. They fought for their Motherland, but they also fought for me.

One forgotten branch of the service that made an immeasurable contribution to the World War II war effort of not just America, but her Allies as well, was the United States Merchant Marine. They displayed great resoluteness on the high seas in keeping America's war machine moving. For a time, if a ship was torpedoed and sunk, the other ships in the convoy were under strict orders to not slow down to pick up survivors, and thereby make themselves a target. My father-in-law, Pasquale DeFiore, was among those brave sailors. His convoy was under this no-rescue order, and his ship was sunk. Somehow, miraculously, he was rescued. It took a lot of courage to voluntarily sail on one of those ships under such circumstances. God was looking out for my father-in-law, but God was also looking out for my future wife and me.

Not only did it take an awful lot of courage to voluntarily get on one of those ships, but it took even more courage to get on one a second time! I don't know how they did it, but they did. But had they not done it, our troops and allies would have suffered tremendous shortages in weapons and supplies, and we would not have been able to press home the fight. In other words, we would have lost W.W.II., and the Greatest Generation would now hang their heads in shame. Our infantrymen and airmen owe a lot to the Merchant Marine, and I have a lot of respect for them and what they did--without complaint. That took real courage.

And the Merchant Marine did do it, day in and day out, in all types of weather in all types of seas, in heavy seas and in the face of repeated U-Boat attacks. May God shine His favor upon these brave men. May God shine His favor upon my father-in-law.

I am told that my father-in-law occasionally has nightmares about the sinking. This is not uncommon among many of the America heroes I've met and interviewed. It seems that only the brave get them because only the truly brave--like my father-in-law--put themselves in such hazardous situations.

Some other units are less well known. The first all-Japanese unit in the American Army, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, fought valiantly in World War II and racked up one of the most impressive combat records of the war. Approximately 18,000 total awards were bestowed upon the 442nd, including 9,486 Purple Hearts, 52 Distinguished Service Crosses, 560 Silver Stars, seven Distinguished Unit Citations, and one Medal of Honor.

The first all-black fighter-plane wing in World War Two has come to be called the Tuskegee Airmen. Over 15,000 combat sorties were flown by this unit. They destroyed 111 German airplanes in the air, and another 150 enemy planes were put out of action while still on the ground. They also destroyed 950 railcars, trucks and other motor vehicles. Sixty-six of their pilots were killed in action or lost due to accidents. Thirty-two pilots were downed and captured as POWs. They received 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 744 Air Medals, eight Purple Hearts and 14 Bronze Stars. Not one single Allied bomber assigned to their protection was lost to enemy fighter attack. This is a singularly unique achievement that remains unmatched to this day.

In 1836, Hispanics fought for, and against, the Alamo. The Hispanics allied with Texas displayed great bravery, and all of them died fighting for their young country. Since then, they have fought many times for our freedom.

The first Hispanic Medal of Honor recipient of World War II was Private Joe P. Martinis. He was posthumously honored for his role in the American retaking of the Aleutian Islands in 1943. His Medal of Honor citation reads in part:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy.... In the face of severe hostile machinegun, rifle, and mortar fire, Pvt. Martinez, an automatic rifleman, rose to his feet and resumed his advance... His example inspired others to follow. After a most difficult climb, Pvt. Martinez eliminated resistance from part of the enemy position by BAR [machine-gun] fire and hand grenades, thus assisting the advance of other attacking elements.... Passage was barred by enemy fire from either flank and from tiers of snow trenches in front. Despite these obstacles, and knowing of their existence, Pvt. Martinez again led the troops on and up, personally silencing several trenches with BAR fire and ultimately reaching the pass itself. Here, just below the knifelike rim of the pass, Pvt. Martinez encountered a final enemy-occupied trench and as he was engaged in firing into it he was mortally wounded. The pass, however, was taken, and its capture was an important preliminary to the end of organized hostile resistance on the island.

The 141st Infantry Regiment from Texas had an especially high concentration of Hispanic soldiers. This distinguished unit saw 361 days of combat during World War II, earning three Medals of Honor, 31 Distinguished Service Crosses, 12 Legions of Merit, 492 Silver Stars, 11 Soldier's Medals, and 1685 Bronze Stars. Hispanics were awarded 12 of the 431 Medals of Honor awarded during the World War II.

A high percentage of Hispanic soldiers were awarded the Purple Heart for being wounded in action. This shows the determined bravery of the Hispanic soldier in the face of great adversity. They have certainly distinguished themselves in battle beyond what was expected of them.

More recently, in Mogadishu, Somalia, two brave American Soldiers willingly gave their lives trying to save four crewmen surrounded in a downed Blackhawk helicopter. I combine their Medal of Honor citations:

Sergeant First Class Randall D. Shughart and his team leader, Master Sergeant Gary I. Gordon, gave their lives when they unhesitatingly volunteered to protect four critically wounded personnel, despite being well aware of the growing number of enemy personnel closing in on the site. Master Sergeant Gordon gave a rifle with the last five rounds of ammunition to the pilot with the words, "good luck." Then, armed only with his pistol, Gordon continued to fight until he was fatally wounded. Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. Their actions saved the pilot's life. Their extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest standards of military service and reflect great credit upon him, their unit and the United States Army.

Iraq, Afghanistan

Let's not forget our brave men and women who are bravely fighting the war on terror in Iraq, Afghanistan, at home and around the world. It is as much a war as World War II was--it's just on a different battlefield with a new type of determined enemy who has no conscience. Although the current fight is mainly taking place in these Iraq and Afghanistan, the battlefield could spread across the globe. We must not flinch. We must not turn away. We must finish the task. The true patriot in our days is still the brave America Soldier, fighting to prevent modern-day terrorists from extending that battlefield to America. They deserve our support and prayers. They're fighting for me. They're fighting for you. The soldiers I've met for the most part have the highest sense of duty, integrity, and character of any group of people I've ever known. Apparently, America's finest choose the profession of arms in order to safeguard you, our liberties, and me. We will owe them for the duration of our lives.

Equally important are all the support and non-combat personnel in the military. Every one of them signed up knowing that they could be called on to put their life on the line at any moment. More importantly, without their prowess and skill, the military would collapse. Without their expertise, the frontline combat troops would be emasculated. Honor them as well. They do their job with great competence and command.

For those of you serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, and those of you who previously served there, God bless you. You have done a good thing for America and the world. Not everyone may see it in that light yet, but in time most will. Keep in mind that not all of America was behind World War I and World War II at the time either. Hold your head up high. You did good--real good.

Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith was the first soldier in the war on terror to be awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions near the Baghdad International Airport, in Baghdad, Iraq on 4 April 2003. His citation in part reads:

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.

The Army says that Smith "distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty." Most certainly he did. I have no doubt that many other American Soldiers distinguished themselves in the same manner, but their actions are not known because all involved perished in the effort. Where do we get such heroes? Only in America.

Marine Lance Corporal Philip Martini of Lansing, Ill., died April 8th as a result of small arms fire while conducting combat operations in Iraq. I am eternally grateful for the likes of Philip, who gave his life for me, a man he never knew. He volunteered to fight — and die if need be — for my freedoms. Like thousands of brave soldiers, sailors and airmen before him, Philip knew that death could come at any moment and when it came, it found a lionhearted American Soldier saying "Here I am, take me instead!" I will never be able to thank guys like him enough. When evil threatened our freedoms, they stood firm and said "Not on my watch!" Where but in America do you find such men? John 15:13 says "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." Surely America's veterans and war dead have counted all Americans as among their friends.

In my mind, all who serve are heroes, and I owe each and every one of them a debt I can never repay.

Only in America

There is some public dissent going on in the mostly-Liberal media recently, about the conduct of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. When I hear modern-day Liberals disparage the great sacrifices that the men and women of our military are making--and are continually willing to make--it pains me to even think that these soldiers might get a whiff of this distasteful dissent going on in America today. This discord is represented by a very small percentage of Americans. Their contention, over whether or not we should be in Iraq, may be well represented in the mainstream media, but it does not represent the views of the average heartland American. There is no dispute as to the commitment of the soldier on the ground, fighting for the welfare of his country or of the overwhelming support of the country. Overwhelmingly, we are solidly behind you! I can only say to our brave men and women: Fight on! Most of America is with you, and we honor and support your service.

In time, our modern-day patriots in Iraq and Afghanistan will be looked upon by all with the same grace and gratitude that history has bestowed upon the guys and gals from the "greatest generation." Armed with this foresight, we have the precious opportunity to let them know how we feel now. Modern day warriors--they are cut out of the same cloth as the Greatest Generation.

So just who belongs to the "Greatest Generation"? Was it those who fought in W.W.II? Surely they were. Was it also the doughboys of W.W.I? Yes. How about the Korean War, or the Vietnam War vet? No doubt. They were under-appreciated in the media, but their sacrifices were not lost on me. How about the Civil War soldier, black or white? Absolutely. And what about the intrepid heroes of the Revolutionary War? Without a doubt, heroes, all of them. Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan? I honor you. Troops still fighting there, or possibly in other areas of the world soon? May God bless and protect you as you fight for me, whom you do not even know.

I have recently seen a few websites that have displayed the photos of disabled and disfigured American soldiers injured in the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. I cried, I really did. To sustain such injuries on my behalf leaves me speechless, and I know that the words that you are now reading cannot adequately convey the immense gratitude and pride that I feel--and always will feel--for them, the American Soldier.

If you are one of those soldiers and are reading this, I say this to you:

"May God bless and keep you; may His countenance ever shine upon you; may He bless your every move and may he bless your descendants. You will never be far from my thoughts. My freedom depended on you and when the time came, you gave all or were willing to give all, for one man and his wife whom you never met. So I say unashamedly--I love and honor you. You are always in my thoughts. May God protect you and may America always remember you."

And so I say that he who forgets a nation's heroes forsakes his own benefit.

Lost but to God

I work with a few heroes of the Iraqi and Afghanistan war effort. Their last names are Sieja, Thomas, Nation, and Chatman, and no doubt there are others that I am not aware of, but we owe a debt of gratitude to all of them.

Some will never be found apart from God's angels, who have marked their fall with a holy marker--their remains lost to all but God. I lost a high school friend, Robert Kikkert, who was killed in Vietnam aboard the USS Newport News. He was among twenty who died on October 1, 1972. He died in my place.

The words of Major Michael Davis O'Donnell, engraved onto the national Vietnam Memorial, teach us how to honor The American Soldier, past or present:

"If you are able, save for them a place inside of you and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go. Be not ashamed to say you loved them, though you may or may not have always. Take what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own. And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind."

If you have to blame someone for America's military actions, blame me, for the brave American Soldier did it all for me.

In the end...

Many fought the opening stages of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. They courageously fought for me. God bless them all.

Many still fight the war on terror in various capacities, but make no mistake about it, it is a war, and they fight for me. My prayers are with them.

Many marched forward in other times, not knowing what lay ahead of them. They faced this fear for me.

Many have made great sacrifices not knowing the outcome. They braved death for me.

Many were grievously wounded. They were wounded for me.

Many have made the ultimate sacrifice, some knowing they were going to die. They died for me.

Many suffered greatly as prisoners of war. They suffered for me.

Many suffer lasting mental and emotional anguish over what they have seen. They endure that for me.

Many were never found and still lie in some forgotten field or in some unfathomable part of the ocean, thousands of miles from their homeland. I have found a place for them in my heart.

They did those things for me.

I will never forget them.

Guy Adams

The Robert Merrill Kikkert Memorial
http://www.uss-newport-news.com/memorial/crew/nn_memor_kikkert.htm