Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Remembering Veteran's Day


My Dad, Captain C. William Smith, K Company, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, 1967.

Today is the anniversary of Armistice Day. This day commemorates the signing of the World War I armistice, ending the war most terrible for the soldiers fighting it and unquestionably the most pointless that the modern world has seen. For over four years, Britain, France and Germany lost an average of over 1,000 men each day. By the end of the war, Britain's casualty rate was 45%, and most every young man at that time served in the defense of their country. A whole generation of men was lost.



The ceasefire was to take place at the eleventh hour on what happened to be the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918. Fittingly for the wasteful nature of that conflict, some of the generals on the allies' side ordered an offensive on the Germans that morning, immediately before the ceasefire (that all the world knew about) was to take effect. Several thousand additional soldiers' lives were pointlessly squandered.

If you ever want to read some depressing poetry, you cannot get better than the stuff from WWI soldiers like Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen. I know. That is what my dad thought would be appropriate for our bedtime ritual when I was a small kid. While I don't think I will be introducing that to Andrew anytime soon, I think it might have been sort of good for me. At least, I learned what an amputee was at an early age.

Maybe it is fitting, too, that Veterans' Day be celebrated on the anniversary of the end of the most wasteful and pointless war the world has known, because it serves as a reminder the horror of war.

I hope, though, that we can also remember on this day that, while World War I was not a worthwhile endeavour, there are things worth fighting for, and there are things worth dying for. Our freedom was bought with a price, and continues to be paid for by a dwindling number of brave soldiers who make the ultimate sacrifice for us. For that, they deserve our everlasting respect. Unfortunately, that often does not seem to be something they get from many politicians or citizens.



In the mid-late 1960s, Charles DeGaulle demanded that all U.S. troops, stationed there ever since we had to liberate them during WWII, be withdrawn from France. It was critical during the Cold War era that we keep soldiers stationed throughout Europe, but with the dawn of the Peace Movement, it was no longer very popular. "No more American troops on French soil!" became the mantra of the French leader. Dean Rusk, Secretary of State under Johnson, was called upon to respond, and his response could not have been better:

"Shall we remove our cemeteries, too?"

I think this story exemplifies the too-frequent instances of the sneering ingratitude of nations whose freedoms our brave soldiers have laid down their lives to win back or protect. The world owes our soldiers a debt of gratitude (and more) which they can never repay, and so do we. Let us repay what we can in remembering.

I am proud of our nation and grateful for the millions of soldiers who have sacrificed their time, their careers and sometimes their very lives to keep me as unacquainted as I am with the horrors of war and to protect the freedom which I so often take for granted.

10 comments:

Michelle said...

that was a really nice post. I love the pic of your dad. Such a sweet guy!

Ollie and Floyd said...

Thanks so much for this post -- I was particularly struck by your statement about the dwindling numbers of people willing to answer our nation's call. The burden of defending our freedom is certainly shared disproportionately. The least we can do, as we disproportionately enjoy the benefits of that freedom, is to appreciate those who are sacrificing so much to safegaurd it for us.

Monica Rich said...

Nice post, Allie. And great picture of your dad. Did you scan it in all by yourself? :)

When Adam joined the Air Force after graduating from BYU, the question he got most often, asked in a tone that implied surprise and near disgust, was "Why would you do that? You already have your degree." As if the military was just the means to a free education. So sad that so few are willing to "join up" today.

Troy and Nancee Tegeder said...

THat was a wonderful post. Please give more historical blog posts. I love to read them. I miss your family. Your dad and mom are wonderful. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to stay there even if it was for only a few weeks.

Jenny said...

Thank you for this heartfelt post. We owe such an enormous debt of gratitude to the men and women who defend our liberty and safety. Great picture of your dad!

melissa said...

thanks so much for that post, Toby. Veteran's Day was crazy and hectic for us, so I was not able to take the time to pay tribute and expain to the kids in any substancial manner the significance of that day. I am looking forward to reading your post to them and sharing the photo of Dad in his uniform (which Agustin thinks resembles Brigham, by the way)
Love and thanks,
missy

Dan and Hilary said...

Nice piece! I really enjoyed it and couldn't agree more. I am actually reading "The First World War" by Hew Strachan, and I can't believed you summed everything up so well.

Audrey and the Boys said...

Thanks for your thoughts. I have felt close to the soldiers of our current wars because my brother-in-law is serving in Afghanistan. I love your dad. There just couldn't be a nicer man. That is a great photo.

katie said...

Great post, Toby. Is dad aware that you have posted such a "stunning" photo of him? :) Or did he use the word "dazzling"? Just kidding, dad.

Tat said...

Thanks for this post. I have always loved that Rusk quote. One of my grandmother's uncles died in WWI. From disease. Which I believe is how most of the casualties occurred. Talk about pointless.