I posted this in your honor because so many of our Vets will never turn their backs on the sacred OATH that they took, some so long ago........unlike the traitorous elected officials that have NO CONCEPTION of what the OATH that they took means to all that is America.

RE: American Values?

Contributed by The Gray Dog

The Gray Dog’s Note: The original title for this post was simply, “Escapism.” But while I was writing this in my attempt to escape, I was drawn in by a few posts some of the other dogs had recently contributed. It was in the writing of this post that I once again realized there is only one real escape and that it is visited upon some way too early in life. It took a bit of effort to write. The score updates are in real time from last night’s game.

While I sit at my keyboard, I am watching the Detroit Tigers in the ALCS (American League Championship Series) trying to escape life’s little problems and recapture some of the youthful exuberance that seems to have faded from my life over the years. (Current score, Oakland 3, Detroit 1) My love affair with the Tigers began as a nine year old in the summer of 1961. I could but I won’t recite their starting lineup. If you are an older Tiger fan, you know who they are, if not, I would bet you could care less. And though the Tigers won 101 games that year, usually good enough to clinch a pennant, and also won their season series against the Yankees, they still finished in second place to New York. That was the year Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris captured the attention of all baseball fans as they battled to capture Babe Ruth’s single season home run record. I think Maris won*.

Al Kaline was my hero. Stormin’ Norman Cash was a close second, and Rocky Colavito, who lived in the same “downriver community” of Taylor, Michigan as I did, was next. Just saying their names makes me smile. But players come and go, and the one constant of being a Tiger fan was listening to the games called by Tiger broadcaster Ernie Harwell. This past Saturday as the Tigers eliminated the New York Yankees; Ernie at the age of 81 was in the ESPN broadcast booth to call the 3rd and 4th innings. His voice was as strong and certain as I remember it forty-five years ago. For a short while, the rest of the world disappeared and I was nine years old again. (Current score, Detroit 5, Oakland 3).

I told you I was at the keyboard while I was watching this game. I’m watching, writing and reading posts by some of my good friends at OWD. I guess I’m just another victim of the 21st century compulsion to multi-task, as this evening is not providing the escape I was seeking.

I just read George Mellinger’s post, “Eulogy of the Common Soldier.” It is the “prescient” poem written by an eighteen year old who only six years later died in combat in Iraq. 1st Lt. Aaron Seesan will never sit back and contemplate his life. There will be no time for him to recapture a youth that was stripped from him. He will never have the opportunity to look back.

Next to William “1st Cav” Page’s post “John Murtha and his Deal With the Devil.” William recounts his personal experience during Viet Nam’s “The Battle of Kontum.” Their mission was to rescue and save an American advisor to the 22nd ARVN regiment, Captain Kenneth Yonan. William tells us, “Overwhelming elements of three uniformed regular NVA divisions supported by tanks prevented it.”

Captain Yonan did not have the opportunity to indulge himself of escaping from life’s little problems. He is forever young.

My friend Zero Ponsdorf, offers the post, “American Values?” He asks the question, what is “Just one thing that will stand as American, without nuance or reservation?”

First and most importantly, I offer 1st Lt. Aaron Seesan and Capt. Kenneth Yonan. And far down the road, while I indulge myself this evening, I offer you the vision of America through the eyes of a nine year old, the Detroit Tigers. (Current score, Detroit 7, Oakland 4)

What are American values? What a great question you pose Zero. I would suggest that they are the individual values derived from a common American Spirit. To me it might be “baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet.” To others it might be “football, pizza, nachos and Ford.” But for Lt. Seesan, Kenneth Yonan, and all of us that served, it is all derived from General MacArthur’s immortal words “Duty, Honor, Country.” (Current score, Detroit 8, Oakland 5)

There is no nuance or reservation in that statement. Three simple words that, are purely American. No interpretation necessary.

I now go to bed this evening with a smile on my lips and a mist in my eyes. Here's a sports update for Lt. Seesan and Capt Yonan and thousands of other vets that didn’t have the chance to share this evening. Oakland left the bases full with the winning run at the plate. (Final score Detroit 8, Oakland 5) Goodnight Troops. I hope you enjoyed the game.

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