The New Greatest Generation

7 October 2009

The past weekend was a costly one for our Military in Afghanistan, with the loss of eight US soldiers in that well coordinated Taliban attack in the remote base at the border with Afghanistan, in the Konar/Nuristan province.

But some of the details are emerging and they prove, once again, the caliber of Americans that are today manning the ranks of our Military.

According to a report from an ABC journalist, who accompanied the Medevac helos into the battle, when the chopper was loaded with wounded and ready to lift, the Medevac crew was told that only three wounded were leaving: one American and two Afghani soldiers. The Medics told that the other wounded were refusing evacuation in order to remain with their buddies in the fight, which lased about 12 hours.

Moreover, the Medics reported to the Medevac crew that soldiers were donating blood in the thick of the battle, to be transfused into their wounded friends, all, again, while the battle enraged around them.

I have said it before, and I will repeat it again: this is the New Greatest Generation.

In a time in our country when the majority of people get really stressed and down because the fast food order is wrong or the coffee house is out of their favorite exotic flavor, in an time when people are depressed because they had to cancel the vacation or are upset about the latest Dancing with the Stars elimination, I am somewhat encouraged by the testimony of the very best our country has: our Military.

These are the samples of dedication to the man to the right and the one to the left that we civilians find hard to comprehend. How many of us would do the same for a co-worker?

And yet, I do not hear the cry of indignation from the American people over the open disregard our politicians in Washington have for the same men and women they send into harm's way. I don't hear a general uprising of public voices protesting a Commander-in-Chief who is only interested in his image and popularity.

And while politicians in Washington renege daily the oath of office they took when they were elected, our Military bleeds and dies for the one they took, including the unspoken oath they take to remain true to their comrades in arm.
It is a lesson that I hope the American people who have reach such a self-destructive level of apathy and selfishness will learn before our beloved country, the same country people like these soldiers are voluntarily serving, is damaged beyond repair.
May God bless our Military.

And these are my Thoughts!
Frank Semperpapa