Book given to U.S. veterans in 1919 to help them readjust to civilian life (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Or for that matter, the hundreds of thousands of U.S. Veterans we hail JUST for returning. We salute the Veterans of all wars; today the oldest living veterans are from World War II, The Big One, as my parents generation referred to the war that shaped and altered their lives. That war brought about many changes in life as they knew it. My father and his friends grew up in an America that was growing industrially and agriculturally and with an ever-expanding middle class. Most were raised by frugal parents (my grandparents) who remembered all too clearly the sufferings of the Great Depression. However, their lives were not overshadowed by nuclear threat and they were the children of a people who were thrilled and excited to be in the United States and imbued their children with a love of their newly-adopted country. And so their sons went to war. Most of those remaining veterans are now in their 80’s. My dad died a few years ago and I remember vividly how in the last ten to fifteen years, he spent hours reminiscing about his days aboard a destroyer, how scared he was in the Battle of Leyte, how he and his buddies got drunk in Hawaii and all got tattoos. I never understood this almost-obsession with the war days. His life was certainly more than the years he spent in the Navy, but as he got older, he just wanted to talk about the 1940’s.
We also honor the Veterans of the Korean War and the Vietnamese War today. Those veterans are in my age group; I don’t know any in my present circle of friends so not sure if as we age, they’re going to spend hours discussing those days in Asia. My brother served in Vietnam as a tail gunner on helicopters, a very hairy position. He returned home in one piece, at least physically. However, when they came home, there were no ticker tape parades, there was no big fanfare – I think the best they got was a chance for a VA mortgage. In the end, although serving your country is always a noble deed, the war itself was not popular and many who were honorably discharged, returned home feeling dishonored. BUT today, you too are celebrated for your service to our country.
Now we are winding down not one but two wars and our veterans are coming home and many not all in one piece. It is important that we support a government that welcomes these servicemen and women home, that we offer them continuing education and the opportunity to find decent jobs. Hopefully we have elected a President who will honor these moral obligations and a Congress and Senate that will enact the necessary legislation to make it happen!
I always used to call my Dad on Veteran’s Day because I knew that call was as important to him as one on his birthday. If you know a veteran, call him or her and thank them!
Related articles
- The Battle of Leyte Gulf (svmshippingblog.wordpress.com)
- Obama hails veterans, pledges continued support – Reuters (reuters.com)
Bill Ding and his band of clowns are the security patrol for this blog site. He is a favorite toy from the 50*s. By the way sometimes a blog is just an ego-maniacal stream of conscience.
Pbenjay's Blog 
ARGO – You Are There!
Posted in From My Point of View - Personal commentary on Movies and Books on October 23, 2012| 2 Comments »
English: Ben Affleck (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
If you ever wanted (why??) to know what it would feel like to be under attack in a foreign country, then you should see ARGO.
Actually you should go and see ARGO for lots of good reasons: Ben Affleck is brilliant as the CIA’s extraction expert. Some of my readers were just kids when 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days in Iran. The United States gave the hated Shah of Iran asylum because he was dying. The Iranians, naturally wanted to try the dictator as a criminal and since they were thwarted by the United States in this matter, protests outside the American Embassy were a daily event.
The movie opens with the American Embassy under attack by an angry and hostile mob chanting loudly outside the gates. Those who were adult at that time know what happened next. The mob climbed the fences and stormed the Embassy compound. The intense chaos and the sheer terror sent shivers through me. And that was only the opening scene. I could not stop shivering and shaking throughout the entire movie. I had a scarf that I kept fussing with and holding it up over my mouth. I swear my teeth were chattering!
The movie is the true story of how 6 Americans escaped. The CIA working with the Canadian government executed a thrilling and scary rescue. Ben Affleck as Tony Mendez gave an outstanding performance as the cool, level-headed, pragmatic, creative and courageous CIA expert. He was understated, quietly exuding confidence that comes only to those who believe in their abilities and strengths. Mr. Affleck also skillfully directed this action-packed and psychological thriller. Watching the event un-fold was nerve-wracking for me because I don’t like to watch violence and even though those scenes were limited, it was the tension , stretched taut as a high wire act throughout the entire film that kept me shaking.
The fact that I knew the ending and outcome in no way lessened the heightened intensity of the film and by the end I was exhausted.
Alan Arkin and John Goodman used their comedic timing and deadpan delivery to bring some comic relief to this serious story. They were wonderfully cast and it was delightful to visit with these old pros again.
ARGO is a movie about a movie that is never made BUT appears to be in production to the whole world, and especially so to the Iranian government. It is the brainchild of Tony Mendez and his ingenious plan to extract the Americans trapped in the Canadian Embassy where they fled during the attack. Imagine if you can, the six semi-hostages as technicians and location scouts! And this is where John Goodman and Alan Arkin come in.
ARGO is on the fast-track to the Academy Awards, catch it when it comes to your local theater.
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