WHAT OUR MILITARY HAS DONE FOR US

Has also been posted on: My Republican Blog

I'm writing this as a tribute to our military personnel, those serving now, and those who have served, both living and dead. Our soldiers, no longer only men but both men and women, put their lives on the line for us 24 hours a day seven days a week and many in this country show very little gratitude for such an overwhelming sacrifice. I will tell you why I'm personally grateful.

World War II began on September 1, 1939 - exactly two years and one month before my birthday. On December 7th, 1941 the slaughter of Pearl Harbor took place. I was two months and six days old. America became involved in world war two as a direct result of Pearl Harbor. 291,557 of our military personnel were killed in that war. That's: TWO HUNDRED-NINETY-ONE THOUSAND, FIVE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-FIVE deaths, all in order to keep America safe. 671,846 of our military were wounded. If not for those willing to fight and sacrifice their lives for this country we would be speaking German now. We would not be a free people. We would be just another poor country run by a selfish dictator.

The "Cold War" hung over my head since the late 40's. I grew up with routine survival drills in school, as did my first three children, because of the very real possibility of a nuclear bomb falling on us at any time. Drills for survival were routine occurrences all through my school-life and my children's school life and beyond. We were trained to sit under our desks with our heads down and our arms over our heads. Little good that would have done! I believe it was done to simply give us kids a sense of security. This threat remained until November 9th, 1989 when the border seperating Western and Eastern Germany was opened. It was a Thursday when the Berlin Wall fell. I was 48 years old.

Going back a ways, there was the Korean War - That began on June 25th, 1950 and lasted until July 17th of 1953. 54,000 deaths, 103,000 wounded.

The Cuban Crisis - October 18 to October 29, 1962: President John F. Kennedy told the world on October 22, 1962 that the Soviet Union was building a secret missile base in Cuba, which is only 90 miles off the Coast of Florida. Again, I had a personal interest in this one because my husband was stationed in the Florida Everglades with a Hawk Anti-Aircraft Missile unit, with Missile's trained toward Cuba. Another Hawk Missile unit was located south of Cape Canaveral. This could have been a Nuclear Holocaust if Kruschev had not backed off ...and many of us would not be here today.

Vietnam...(1964-1975) We who lived through it will never forget it. I'm not going to rehash the politics of the loony left here because we all know it. 47,410 of our troops died in that effort, 153,303 were wounded. All those deaths disrespected because we withdrew and left South Vietnam and Cambodia hanging. Enough said, other than my husband spent 1969 there and I and the children (like military families now) waited the year out not knowing whether he would come home or not.

The Gulf War (1990-1991). 147 deaths in that one, 467 wounded.

Now it's Terrorism. September 11, 2001: 2,749 civilians were killed. That's civilians, just going about their normal routine of living. Men, women and children who had every right to expect they would have a great day when they woke up that morning. They had their plans. Some of them were married, some were lonely, some were in love. Each and every one of them were innocent of anything other than being American, but for Terrorists being an American is enough. So 10 incredibly stupid and unconcionable murderers did their horrendous deed. Another attack has not happened in the meantime and it is because of our military personnel and our President. Iraq has been saved from a cruel and murderous dictating thug and is on the road to a freedom and democracy, and that is because of our military personnel and President Bush. Each and every American Citizen ought to be thankful for our President and for our troops because otherwise this country would have suffered who knows how many deaths in the years since 9/11/2001. Some people would once again leave a country to the mercy of their enemy, an enemy who doesn't know the meaning of mercy. Some people would dishonor our wounded and dead military by invalidating everything they are working toward accomplishing. Those who would do so should ask themselves what they will do when Terrorists begin killing off their loved ones? Where is the empathy of the left for the dead victims of 9/11 and their survivors? When did these people throw their common-sense out the window; indeed, did they ever have any? One has to wonder.

My gratitude and the gratitude of those who appreciate the sacrifices of the many people who have died in every war since the establishment of this great country, goes out to our troops serving so valiently now. Thank you, each and every one of you, for what you are doing and what you have accomplished thus far. May God keep you safe and warm and may you all understand that you are loved and appreciated.

Unlike many people I know, history didn't begin with my birth. Without the following sacrifices the United States may not even be the "United States". Our ancestors could have easily been killed, making our births null and void. Our gratitude needs to extend beyond the time of our own life-span:

World WarI (Also known as "The Great War" [1914 - 1918]) 117,000 deaths, 204,000 wounded.

Spanish American War (1898 - 1902) 385 deaths, 1,662 wounded.

Indian Wars (1866 - 1890) 1,000 deaths (approximate) No record of wounded. This does not include civilian deaths.

Civil War (1861 - 1865) 558,079 deaths, 412,175 wounded.

Mexican War (1846 - 1848) 1,733 deaths, 4,152 wounded.

War of 1812 (1812 - 1815) 2,260 deaths, 4,505 wounded.

The Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 - October 20, 1781) 4,435 deaths, 6,188 wounded.

And that brings us to the beginning of the great and wonderful "United States of America" where all are free and countless numbers of people have come to live because it's the greatest nation on earth, thanks to every single person listed in both of the above categories, and thanks to those who were not harmed but fought, or were willing to fight and were not called upon to do so. May God bless you all!