I can add little to the Joplin story but I do know shortly before the Joplin tornado my previous neighborhood was hit by a tornado. An E4 tornado (160 MPH winds) passed over our church (Holy Spirit) containing 300 souls attending Good Friday mass and nobody was hurt. We lost our steeple and had some roof damage but nobody in the entire devastated area was killed which also seemed like a miracle to me.
My next door neighbor recently had a friend visiting from the UK. At a dinner for his birthday we started chatting and I am not sure how the discussion migrated to what he did during the Vietnam War but it did. He operated in Laos as a member of a four member team. Their objective was to rescue downed flight crews that had been captured. His British unit was not alone; four or five other countries had teams doing the same mission. Out of 12 downed flight crews the UK unit rescued 2. On one of their missions they heard loud screaming coming from a jungle clearing. They followed the sound of the screaming and found an airman that had been skinned alive and hung in a tree by the Vietnamese. It was a Vietnamese effort to draw in troops to help the screaming airman and then attack and kill them. The visiting UK ex-trooper was ordered to shoot and kill the screaming airman so no other friendly warriors would be at risk. He complied. I have had a tough time getting that image out of my mind and it has triggered some thoughts of other unsung heroes that endured more than death on our behalf. I still recall from reading David McCullough’s book 1776 several years ago about the hardships the brave American warriors endured trying to win our freedom from the British. The main memory from that book is the young soldiers marching in December with no shoes. We all know about Senator John McCain’s long lasting hell as a tortured captive in Vietnam. The above is just a small token of what our fighting men have endured through the years to give us freedom and preserve it. I am glad we take time each year to think about their sacrifices and thank the Lord for all the brave souls that have fought for us. I had just finished advanced infantry training as a reservist when the Cuban missile crisis broke. I was stationed at Fort Polk where the tanks and live ammunition were being loaded onto freight cars to prepare for the invasion of Cuba and we were sure we were going to war. It would have been an awful hell for me because I can’t stand killing anything and not real excited to be killed. However, I was resigned to our plight but so happy when the ordeal was over. Even though it is sad to think about all of the lost souls from war we can take a bit of solace from Fareed Zakaria’s article linked to this blog about how the World is currently relatively peaceful. Let’s pray it stays that way for a long time – Ron Jackson
Double click below image:
I had a morning visit by the “Donald” and his mate after their morning dip in our pool. Makes me a little jealous; they get it all without the association fees. This place is going to the ducks.
The best-selling author and former senator discusses his text We Can All Do Better, in which he assesses the state of the U.S., the toll placed on its people and what role each American can play to help the nation reach its full potential.
Thanks to my daughter, Cheryl, for the below:
One morning, the husband returns the boat to their lakeside cottage after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap.
Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out.
She motors out a short distance, anchors, puts her feet up, and begins to read her book..
The peace and solitude are magnificent.
Along comes a Fish and Game Warden in his boat.
He pulls up alongside the woman and says,’Good morning, Ma’am. What are you doing?”Reading a book,’she replies, (thinking,’Isn’t that obvious?’)
‘You’re in a Restricted Fishing Area, ‘he informs her.
’I'm sorry, officer, but I’m not fishing. I’m reading.’
‘Yes, but I see you have all the equipment.
For all I know you could start at any moment.
I’ll have to take you in and write you up.’
’If you do that, I’ll have to charge you with sexual assault, ‘says the woman.
‘But I haven’t even touched you,’says the Game Warden.
‘That’s true, but you have all the equipment.
For all I know you could start at any moment.’
‘Have a nice day ma’am,’and he left.
