I am an Air Force Brat. My dad did multiple tours to SE Asia and Vietnam during the war, as well as a SAC alert crew during the cold war. Thank you to all that served and a special salute to AH members that served.
I received this neat story a day ago, from a guy that was a co-pilot for my dad in Vietnam. I don't know who the original author is.
It was at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 that the guns were silenced in what was later to be called “The Great War” or “The War to End All Wars”, but it was not until later in 1919 that an Armistice was signed formally ending hostilities between Germany and the Allied Forces. For years it was 11 November that was celebrated as Armistice Day to remember the veterans of that war. But, as history reveals it was the Armistice that laid the foundation for the rebuilding of the German war machine that led to World War II. Regrettably more wars followed and more veterans would be required to serve and make the ultimate sacrifice so in 1938 Armistice Day was formally renamed Veterans Day and it finally became a national holiday by and Act of Congress in 1954. Each person who has or is serving was required to sign a blank check to the citizens of the United States of America that would be good for service to the country up to and including that persons life if required. Interestingly, in all the wars fought America has not sought the expansion of its land mass, but has only requested that countries America has fought to free would dedicate only enough ground for the burial of those who died in the service of this country and to the freedom of theirs. It is easy to acknowledge those sacrifices by the rows of white crosses and Stars of David. But, for those who have served and come home it is not so visible. Ironically, in the month of October 1918 two diametrically opposite members of the U.S. Army would provide examples of war heroes coming home and seeking to adjust to life back home. Their service occurred just miles apart in the Mueses-Argonne offensive and each were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions. It is how they delt with their war experiences that seem to chronical the historical types of reactions veterans have when they return and seek to pick up from where they left off when they left for war. Those soldiers and their stories tell us much about veterans.
The first is a young man named Alvin York from the hills of Tennessee, a small town of Pall Mall, where he grew up as a kind of rounder who was an excellent marksman and farmer. But, he had a conversion experience that turned him into a devout Christian and when America entered World War I and he received his draft notice he sought to be a consciences objector but was denied so he presented himself for service in the Army where he showed his prowess as a marksman. But those around him questioned how he would serve in combat due to his attempt to be declared a CO. However that was about to change when his unit arrived in France. He was part of a small patrol directed to recon the enemy positions. As they moved behind enemy lines they were spotted and pinned down by fire with all the units leadership wounded except York, who was a corporal at that time. Singlehandedly York moved himself to the German flank and started picking of German solders with his rifle, killing an estimated 25 before the German commander ordered his men to surrender. All told Corporal York captured 132 German soldiers and with the remaining able men in his unit they marched the captured Germans back to American lines. For his actions, now Sargent York was awarded the Medal of Honor and the French equivalent of the Medal of Honor. He returned home to ticker tape parades and a farm awarded to him by the citizens of Tennessee. His acts of courage took place on 18 October 1918, but when he returned home he had been exposed to a broader world filled with mechanized warfare and realized education was important for young people. He founded the York Agricultural Institute to improve education for rural youths, and a Bible school. Later he worked as a supervisor in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and further gave of himself to the betterment of education in Tennessee.
The second man was named Charles W. Whittlesey a young man who graduated from college with honors and then to Harvard Law School where he was a classmate with Theodore Roosevelt Jr. He became a lawyer and practiced with a firm in New York City and also served as an officer in the Army reserve. He was activated into the army with the declaration of war and shipped out to France. He was promoted to Major and placed in command of a composite battalion which was ordered to participate in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.. His battalion was ordered to move forward as a part of the offensive into the middle of German lines in a very dense forest and he moved his men so well that they were the only unit to press forward while the units on his right and left flanks stalled and fell back. During the period of 2-7 October 1918 his men fought valiantly causing the Germans to think this was the main Allied attack and drew German forces from other areas to confront them. This battalion was tagged as The Lost Battalion and received worldwide notoriety but they were not really lost as they knew where they were and they were where they were supposed to be but all communications, except for carrier pigeons, were cut. Finally, American forces fought through and relieved the survivors. Major Whittlesey and his second in command were awarded the Medal of Honor. He too returned home and sought to reestablish his normal life but his notoriety, the publicity , and the memories of men lost haunted him. He returned to his law practice and worked with the Red Cross and was a part of the internment ceremony for the Unknown Soldier of World War I in November of 1921. Two weeks later he was a passenger aboard the British steamship SS Tola sailing to Havana, Cuba. After what was described as a very refreshing evening at the captain’s table he went back to his stateroom and sometime after midnight left the ship never to be found. He left a letter to the captain apologizing for the trouble he was causing and letters to his family that have never been disclosed as to what he wrote.
Two different examples of how veterans return home. Some focused to taking advantage of life and doing what they can to help their family, community and county, and another who is so engulfed with loss and grief that he could no longer face the world. These two uniquely yoked individuals ironically reflect the two extremes of how returning veterans face the future and devote their lives. Many more fall in between and just go about living their lives, loving their families and communities and contributing each day to the betterment of our country. They each day provide the living examples of the saying Home of the Free Because of the Brave. So, as we approach Veterans Day 2024 remember those who have served and realize as we see them each day we have no way of knowing the experiences that have brought them along our path or what of those experiences they still carry with them. We must just be thankful each of them were willing to serve and because of them we are blessed with a life full of liberty and freedom not experienced anywhere else in the world. For those who paid the ultimate sacrifice we give thanks and honor, and for those who returned home we need to seek ways to assist those of them who were not able like Sgt York to fashion a new life and seek to ensure they do not fall into the abyss that engulfed Major Whittlesey. Bless them all.
