A salute to all who have served their country. This day always brings prose written by Maj Michael Davis O'Donnell (Dak To Vietnam 9 Jan 1970) to my mind:


"If you are able, save a place inside of you and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go.

Be not ashamed to say you loved them, though you may or may not always. Take what they have left and what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own.

And in that time, when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind."


O'Donnell's helicopter was shot down on Mar 24th 1970- he, his crew, and the spec ops team they were extracting perished- their remains were recovered and repatrioted on 12 Apr 1995.


May there be a day when soldiering is not necessary.

Nick

And a salute to all those who have by whatever means diplomatic, exemplary, or covert rendered uncountable unknown wars unnecessary.