Memorial Day thoughts and links
My father was an ambulance driver in the U.S. Army during World War II. He brought home malaria as a souvenir from the Philippines.
My uncle served during World War II in the Navy, sailing the Pacific.
My mother decided that, since babies would have to wait until my father came home, she should make herself useful in the war effort, and enlisted in the Women Marines, where she served in a secretarial capacity. Yes, that's what women were allowed to do in the military, in those days. But my mother has always taken great pride in her military service, and saved her Marine uniform hat for decades.
My husband served on active duty in the U.S. Air Force Reserves during the Vietnam War. It was only by good fortune that he was not shipped out to either Korea--he was called to active duty after the Pueblo Incident--or Vietnam, and served his two-year tour of duty in the U.S., delaying his graduate studies to serve his country. He still has has his Air Force combat boots and duffel bag.
The son of an old friend of ours is currently serving in the United States Armed Forces.
Seraphic Secret salutes those who've helped maintain the morale of U.S. troops over the years.
Soccer Dad is thinking of the troops, and links to thoughts and a video about our men and women in uniform.
See what our man at the Muqata, an American-Israeli, has to say about U.S. Memorial Day, with the help of a link to a story and photo concerning Arlington National Cemetery.
On this day, we should remember the old saying, "Freedom isn't free," and keep in our thoughts our troops, veterans, and those struck down while serving our country.
My uncle served during World War II in the Navy, sailing the Pacific.
My mother decided that, since babies would have to wait until my father came home, she should make herself useful in the war effort, and enlisted in the Women Marines, where she served in a secretarial capacity. Yes, that's what women were allowed to do in the military, in those days. But my mother has always taken great pride in her military service, and saved her Marine uniform hat for decades.
My husband served on active duty in the U.S. Air Force Reserves during the Vietnam War. It was only by good fortune that he was not shipped out to either Korea--he was called to active duty after the Pueblo Incident--or Vietnam, and served his two-year tour of duty in the U.S., delaying his graduate studies to serve his country. He still has has his Air Force combat boots and duffel bag.
The son of an old friend of ours is currently serving in the United States Armed Forces.
Seraphic Secret salutes those who've helped maintain the morale of U.S. troops over the years.
Soccer Dad is thinking of the troops, and links to thoughts and a video about our men and women in uniform.
See what our man at the Muqata, an American-Israeli, has to say about U.S. Memorial Day, with the help of a link to a story and photo concerning Arlington National Cemetery.
On this day, we should remember the old saying, "Freedom isn't free," and keep in our thoughts our troops, veterans, and those struck down while serving our country.
posted by Shira Salamone at 9:47 AM
4 Comments:
"But my mother has always taken great pride in her military service. . ."
Why the but?
She didn't have much choice as to the capacity in which she could serve her country. For example, not too many women in the military got to serve as pilots, back then. But you're right: Even the armed forces need people to do the typing and recordkeeping.
Your mother has every right to be proud of her service and her helping the war effort. Your phrasing and response implies that because it wasn't up to your standards, it's to be dismissed. She served her country and aided in the war effort, that's enough. Where her country deployed her is not for anyone to judge.
Right on all counts. I guess my feminist bias is showing, which is pretty ironic, considering that I'm currently happily employed as a secretary. My mother has much of which to be proud.
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