Quote:
Originally Posted by Cicero
(Post 495686)
This is a conditioned response. I am no longer Pavlov's dog and can choose for myself now, what I am giving my respect to, and my moments of silence.
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Cicero,
I'm not sure if you meant to dishonor me, if it were only me, I wouldn't care.
When I trained a young man to enter and clear a room, I trained some conditioned responses.
When I taught a young man about the history, tradition, and customs of the Army...I believe I was teaching him to respect the men and women whose shoulders he stands upon today. Soldiers like the following:
SHERIDAN, CARL V.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company K, 47th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. Place and date: Frenzenberg Castle, Weisweiler, Germany, 26 November 1944. Entered service at: Baltimore, Md. Birth: Baltimore, Md. G.O. No.: 43, 30 May 1445. Citation: Attached to the 2d Battalion of the 47th Infantry on 26 November 1944, for the attack on Frenzenberg Castle, in the vicinity of Weisweiler, Germany, Company K, after an advance of 1,000 yards through a shattering barrage of enemy artillery and mortar fire, had captured 2 buildings in the courtyard of the castle but was left with an effective fighting strength of only 35 men. During the advance, Pfc. Sheridan, acting as a bazooka gunner, had braved the enemy fire to stop and procure the additional rockets carried by his ammunition bearer who was wounded. Upon rejoining his company in the captured buildings, he found it in a furious fight with approximately 70 enemy paratroopers occupying the castle gate house. This was a solidly built stone structure surrounded by a deep water-filled moat 20 feet wide. The only approach to the heavily defended position was across the courtyard and over a drawbridge leading to a barricaded oaken door. Pfc. Sheridan, realizing that his bazooka was the only available weapon with sufficient power to penetrate the heavy oak planking, with complete disregard for his own safety left the protection of the buildings and in the face of heavy and intense small-arms and grenade fire, crossed the courtyard to the drawbridge entrance where he could bring direct fire to bear against the door. Although handicapped by the lack of an assistant, and a constant target for the enemy fire that burst around him, he skillfully and effectively handled his awkward weapon to place two well-aimed rockets into the structure. Observing that the door was only weakened, and realizing that a gap must be made for a successful assault, he loaded his last rocket, took careful aim, and blasted a hole through the heavy planks. Turning to his company he shouted, "Come on, let's get them!" With his .45 pistol blazing, he charged into the gaping entrance and was killed by the withering fire that met him. The final assault on Frezenberg Castle was made through the gap which Pfc. Sheridan gave his life to create.
The above is a Medal of Honor Citation. I know this story well, I was a Drill Sergeant in B 2/47 Infantry at Fort Benning. I know that his company strength that day started at 240 men, I also know that he stopped in the middle of of 1000 yard advance under heavy artillery fire to pick up more weight. More weight that proved to be crucial in the coming fight. He normally only carried two rounds for his Bazooka. The 35 men left out of 240 did not stop and say "fuck it, I"m done", they finished the job. I will always maintain that we honor these brave fighting men when ever we display respect and honor to the flag of our nation. Including standing in the theater before a movie while the National Anthem is played.
You may compare such actions to Pavlov's dogs, in doing so you devalue and dishonor these same brave fighting men of our history.
Quite frankly it pisses me the fuck off.
/off rant.
