Discussions
Memorial Day in the US
Posted by clioandme • 1 year ago • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS]
Topics: memorial day, veterans, war
My response to the recent thread on the "Saddest Song Ever" made me think that I should do a Memorial Day post next week. For those of you not in the know, that is a holiday in the US when we are supposed to remember our soldiers who died in war, though often it is just an excuse for a lovely weekend of picnics, friends, and families, which is good too. Anyway, will any of you be doing anything special on Memorial Day? Will any of you be blogging about it?
Here's my response on that thread: www.blogcatalog.com/discuss/entry/saddest-songs-ever#comment_363494 The music I mention will make you sad or angry or both.
And here's Wikipedia's explanation of Memorial Day: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day
User Comments
-
Good call Stoneman. Let's remember the guys who fought for something other than corp profits or the crazy dreams of neo con butchers. Lets remember the real heroes, the guys from down our streets that ruined their lives for us. -
American's don't celebrate remembrance day do you? It's November 11th in Canada. I'm pretty sure the UK celebrates it then too.
Our long may weekend is this weekend...Queen Victoria's birthday...eventho she's dead now.
-
Yeah we have it the same as you.
-
In the US we call that Veteran's Day. Unfortunately, a lot of employers don't give us the day off. I usually find myself teaching on that day, though there are special events.
France celebrates that day too, though Germany does not (for obvious reasons). -
The whole of England stops for a minute at the 11th of nov at 11 am in tribute.
-
When I was a kid it was a day off school, but the veterens felt kids weren't learning about what the day meant, so now it's not a holiday but schoools do focus on education that day. The banks and federal offices are closed tho. It's a pretty big deal here, but I grew up in a military family and always spent that day at a Cenotaph somewhere. Plus we have the poppies...which most people start to wear around the beginning of November. I find we get a lot of information about it thru the media on that day and leading up to it.
Yes, we all stop at 11 am for the tribute as well. All the radio stations and TV stations. It's a nice tribute. -
@ aningeniusname: That is moving. I think the memory is less powerful in the U.S, because we entered the First World War late and bled much less.
@ drowsey: Canada too? Thanks for sharing that. -
Check out the post I did last year mark ... I was surprised by all the Americans who told me they don't do anything like this. I think that is very sad.
drowseymonkey.blogspot.com/2007/11/remembrance-day-lest-we-forget.html -
Will do. Here was my Veteran's Day post last year: clioandme.wordpress.com/2007/11/12/speaking-of-veterans-the-bonus-army-marc...
-
It's more relevant to us I think because every tiny village has a war memorial, every family lost someone. In my own family we can count ten boys that never came back and we were lucky.
-
I leave my students in shock when I cite the numbers.
-
Yes, we have war memorials in almost every little town as well. I'm saddened that the US doesn't do more, especially since so many of their youth are off fighting in a war right now.
-
-
The sad thing is not so much the numbers but the whole generation of poets, artists,writers and scientists that the carnage destroyed. It should have been a warning to us about mechanized warfare.
-
I think Wilfred Owen's poem says it all.
What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
-Only the monstrous anger of the guns.
Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle
Can patter out their hasty orisons.
No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells;
Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,-
The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;
And bugles calling for them from sad shires.
What candles may be held to speed them all?
Not in the hands of boys but in their eyes
Shall shine the holy glimmers of good-byes.
The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall;
Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,
And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.
Wilfred died in the trenches
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilfred_Owen-
If anyone is interested, they can find more sources from this war here:
homepage.mac.com/markstoneman/world%20war%20one.html
-
-
So about Memorial Day in the US, are any US citizens or residents going to do or blog anything special?
-
I may post some of the Memorial day postcards I have collected from the Victorian/Edwardian era on my thrifting blog.
There are a lot of interesting patriotic ones from the early 1900s that have intriguing graphics and often interesting messages on the back. -
Nice idea. Postcards were a widespread and wonderful art form in those days.
-
After a friend asked me, "What is memorial day for anyway?" I feel compelled to write a post on Memorial Day that highlights why we celebrate it.
Rebecca -
The question doesn't surprise me. Good response.
-
I have a feature on my site (Accountability.com) that will be taking names and adding it to my virtual "Memorial Wall". I hope to have it up and running by Saturday to go with a post on a dear friend I lost in Afghanistan.
Would appreciate you passing the word if you can.
-
-
Here are a few more relevant links on the topic.
Apparently the day began in the late 1860s, after the US Civil War. That explains the difference to Remembrance Day in France, Britain, Canada, and other countries who bled so badly in the Great War (aka World War One). A brief history on a site determined to reawaken awareness of the day is here: www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html . A positive feature about this page is its many links.
Another interesting site with loads of links to primary sources (including sheet music) is one maintained by the Library of Congress: memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/may30.html . One thing I did not realize is that some Southern states have (or had) a separate day, because they did not want to share one with the Northern states.
PBS is broadcasting the National Memorial Day concert. Their web page explains and includes links to local listings. www.pbs.org/memorialdayconcert/
The US government has a page of links. The first two on the list are "Barbecue Safety" and "Boating Safety", recognition of how the holiday is also largely seen as the first day of summer and a much needed long weekend in a country where people do not get a lot of paid vacation. www.usa.gov/Topics/Memorial_Day.shtml
Maybe some of these links will give some of you ideas. I'm sure I've only scratched the surface, especially since this holiday is also a local matter, with each community and family doing things its own way.-
Pretty good set of links. Good resource. -
Good Links
-
-
I feel this topic deserves a bump. Please do tell me if you use any time on the coming weekend to remember fallen soldiers, whether privately or on your blog.
-
absolutely
-
-
I do my own personal prayers, and the church I attend always has a tribute and prayer for the fallen soldiers. Also the city newspaper does a write-up and the Newspaper online for our area does too. It is especially poignant when we know so many of our young man and women are in harms way now! Plus there are various other things going on in town that are different from year to year!-
Christmas at my parent's church in 2006 really struck me. They live in a small town in New Hampshire and go to a neighboring town for church. That town isn't that big either, yet the list of soldiers being prayed for was startlingly long.
-
-
Well, it's Wed. and Memoiral Day weekend draws nearer. Sorry folks, but I'm not letting this one go. I'm gonna keep reminding people---especially US citizens---about a holiday meant to honor the sacrifices of many soldiers who died in war. I think it's something people can get behind regardless of where they stand on the current wars the US is fighting.
I haven't figured out my blog post, but I did do a short one already asking whether people would be blogging about this: clioandme.wordpress.com/2008/05/19/observing-memorial-day/ -
Out of my five grand-grandfathers who went off to World War 1, 4 died and 1 survived to fight in World War 2 where he was captured by the Japanese and tortured into insanity.
War is hell, eh.-
A variety of numbers I scratched together for a lecture, while forgetting to record my sources.
Percentage of soldiers *killed* in World War One by nationality. (And no matter what country you're talking, it's astounding.)
– Serbia – 37%
– Turkey – 27%
– Romania – 25%
– Bulgaria – 22%
– Germany – 15.4%
– France – 16% of army 22% of the officers who saw combat & 18% of the soldiers who saw combat
Average number of daily deaths between 8/1914 and 11/1918, keeping in mind great variations by day:
– 1,300 German Soldiers
– 900 French Soldiers
To help give an idea of what that means, compare it to the large number of casualties the US experienced in World War Two. They averaged out to 123 per day, itself an astounding number, even if small in relation to European and Asian figures.
Of the 70 million soldiers who fought in the Great War, more than half were wounded or killed.
Some links to good sites on this war: homepage.mac.com/markstoneman/world%20war%20one.html -
Dunno how I missed Britain there. The thing that stands out in that case is those Pal Regiments, where whole towns volunteered at the same time and were slaughtered in the same battle.
-
-
Here are some British stats on the first day of the battle of the Somme, Britain suffered 67,470 casualties and 19,240 dead. That's just the first day of the battle opposed to 57,000 American casualties in the full ten years of the Vietnam war.
-
I applaud you, Mark. Living virtually within site of Gettysburg, I take a regular trip on Memorial Day weekend and spend some quiet time, remembering all the brave young men who were blown apart near the Angle, or on the slope of Little Round Top.
I pay some special visits to lesser known spots - including one I posted about here on BC before (26th NC vs. 24th Michigan on day 1 - when the "boy Colonel" led his Tarheels against the Iron Brigade).
I'll usually climb the observation tower near on Culp's Hill, or the one near the Longstreet statue, and spend a good half hour up there - very early in the morning before the crowds arrive.
I never know what to say to them. I suppose it's thanks, but often it's just a way of saying "I recognize your actions."
I put U.S. (and rebel) flags at certain locations where I know indescribable things occurred. Then it's on to the Cemetary. If you ever get to walk the Cemetary at Gettysburg - it's not just the thousands of young men who perished in those three days of battle. Take a look around you at the graves on the preiphary and note how many of Pennsylvania's sons have a date of death that reads: June 6, 1944.
Many of them lie there as well. We're planning on heading up to see my son's namesakes grave - SFC Randall Shughart - or what's left of him I should say - in Carlisle as well.
As far as songs go, the one that always resonated with me has ties to both the Civil War (where it was popular) and Randy Shughart (as it was featured in the film Black Hawk Down):
"The minstrel boy to the war is gone,
In the ranks of death you'll find him;
His father's sword he hath girded on,
And his wild harp slung behind him;
"Land of Song!" cried the warrior bard,
"Tho' all the world betrays thee,
One sword, at least, thy right shall guard,
One faithful harp shall praise thee!"
The Minstrel fell! But the foeman's chain
Could not bring that proud soul under;
The harp he lov'd ne'er spoke again,
For he tore its chords asunder;
And said "No chains shall sully thee,
Thou soul of love and brav'ry!
Thy songs were made for the pure and free
They shall never sound in slavery!"
Thank you for calling attention to this day.-
very nice
-
-
Wow, Kdawg. You think about this a lot. Yes, it is indeed an emotional thing. Would you believe that in over ten years in DC I have never brought myself to visit Arlington Cemetery? Maybe this year I will get over myself and do it.
-
I think quoting numbers and poetry kinda misses the whole point.
Freedom is not free.-
I think different people remember and respect the fallen in their own way.
The poems and figures, by the way, also recall the Great War, and those quoting them come from other countries. That war has a multiplicity of meanings, only one of which is the one you offer. -
mark,
As you say, everyone has their own way of remembering and respecting. Keeping this thread going is a good thing and I applaud you. I will be sure to check it everyday.
Having served over 25 years, I have seen my share of young lives lost. I know the friends and family really appreciate everyone's efforts, regardless of how they do it, to remember our fallen brothers & sisters.
Thank you
-
-
I'm cross-referencing the thread Anok started, because it contains a lot of conversation on the meaning of the deaths of soldiers who have fought in the Iraq War. This is for my own future reference, and because I linked to this thread on "Clio and Me." Some of it is just bickering, but there are also genuine and enlightening emotions and sentiments being expressed.
www.blogcatalog.com/discuss/entry/i-made-the-news -
I have never been in the military and I abhor war and the supposed glory of war. But from as far back as the Napoleonic wars up to the current campaigns my family have fought in the British army. I don't applaud the objectives of most of these wars but I have a respect for guys that have to do the dirty work of there so called betters.
I also have a respect for the guys who say no and to paraphrase the great Mohamed Ali if i was asked to fight I would have to say "No Muslim ever called me nigger"-
Yeah, no arab ever called me a yob, chav, white trash, hooligan or hoi polloi.
-
-
I'm only familiar with a little of the literature on how Western societies remember their dead, but here's a good early effort in that direction: George L. Mosse, Fallen Soldiers: Reshaping the Memory of the World Wars (New York/Oxford 1990).
A more recent book that deals with France, tells its tale of France during the Great War differently than before, allowing much room for death and the meanings and memories of death: Stéphane Audoin-Rouzeau and Annette Becker, 14-18 (Paris 2000, New York 2002). Its three major sections are called Violence, Crusade, and Mourning. All quite appropriate for the war in question, though unconventional in the historiography.
And if you would rather read about the experiences of soldiers, one excellent book that analyzes their personal narratives is Samuel Hynes, The Soldiers' Tale: Bearing Witness to Modern War. (Penguin, 1997). It runs from the First World War through Viet Nam. It's definitely in paperback too. -
Thanks Mark for creating a thread that reminds people of the real meaning behind the holiday.
Coming from a military family, memorial day has always had a special meaning. In recent years it has become a bitter-sweet day for our family as some of our loved ones are deployed.
To date, we have not lost any of our family members but I have great sympathy for my close friends who have. -
Mark, as another reference, I hope you won't mind me linking back to this earlier BC discussion. It dealt with heroes and I went on a mini-obsessive string of vignettes about heros from Gettysburg in it - in case anyone is interested.
www.blogcatalog.com/discuss/entry/your-american-hero-
I completely missed that thread. Think I was in a mad dash to finish grading everything for the semester.
-
-
I will do something for Memorial Day on my site. I just haven't made up my mind exactly what, yet.
Living in a town adjacent to a major Army base, it has always been a bigger deal here than perhaps in other places. -
Thanks for letting us know, April. Maybe we should all put our links here once we've done them, whether that's before on, or right after Memorial Day Weekend.
Edit: By the way, if someone doesn't have an appropriate blog for this, talk here anyway. That's what Kdawg's doing. (Or is there a horse racing angle here that I haven't figured out?)-
You actually have me thinking. If I get the chance this weekend, I might do a vignette on the blog for Memorial Day about the little known but strategically important skirmish here in Hanover, PA that delayed JEB Stuart from linking up with Lee until late in the evening on the 2nd day. My thinking is cavalry involves horses - so it's semi-relevant off-topic fodder.
It may well have cost the South victory in the ecehelon attack/turning movement that Lee initiated with his 1st Corps on Day 2.
George Custer was here with his Michigan Wolverines. Judson "Kilcavalry" Kilpatrick was here. Many of the trails they used are still rural roads to this day.
It's just hard finding documents with detailed info on them to construct the post on. There's a grat Blue&Gray magazine feature on it from a few years back, but my father has our copy. He's giving a tour of the Gettysburg campaign to some wounded vets in a few weeks after he retires officially.
-
-
I posted about this back when I first joined, but it seems fitting now.
One of the most touching moments in US History - which I first became aware of from watching the magnificent Ken Burns documentary on the Civil War.
It's taken from the 50th anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg - and more specirically the 50th anniversary of the rebel advance against the center of the Union line known romantically as "Pickett's Charge."
You're looking at veterans of George Pickett's all-Virginia Division, who 50 years earlier had formed behind the line of trees to their rear in an attacking column of perhaps 13,000 men. They were joined by the mixed-state divisions of Henry Heth (under the command of Isaac Trimble due to Heth's wounding on day 1) and Dorsey Pender (now under the command of Johnston Pettigrew, due to Pender's death the previous day).
At 3 O'clock in the afternoon, the 3 divisions stepped out of the woods, towards the stone wall roughly 1 1/2 miles away. They covered the ground in the old swinging route step, closing perhaps 100 yds per minute. Silent as they marched, forbidden to fire or even unleash their feared "rebel yell" until they were "on top of their enemies."
We get some great quotes of pagenty from Union observers:
"...more than half a mile their front extends, rank pressing rank, man touching man. Their red flags wave, their horseman gallop up and down, a sloping forest of flashing steel - right on they move as with one soul."
When the southerners got within 200 yds, Alexander Webb's brigade, along with Alonzo Cusing's guns, opened fire. Giant swaths appeared in the rebel lines.
"...the rebel lines were at once enveloped in a dense cloud of dust - arms, heads, blankets, guns, and backpacks were tossed into the clear air."
Entire regiments ceased to exist.
As the rebel advance staggered, Lewis Armistead of Virginia rallied his reserve brigade at the Emmitsburg road.
"C'mon boys, c'mon! What will you think of yourselves, tomorrow?" With that he placed his hat atop his sword point, and yelled for his Virginians to follow him into the no-man's land between them and their blue-coated foes.
Armistead and his Virginians would reach the Union wall. Armistead would step over the wall, waving his hat on his sword, and managed to seize a Union battery (Cushings?)- before being shot down. All who followed were killed or captured.
Fast forward 50 years and once again veterans blue and gray had met to honor their fallen comrades. The highlight of the day was to be a re-enactment by the handful of surviving rebels.
The old men fell into position the way they had 50 years earlier in the prime of their life. At the designated signal, the silver-haried column began to move forward.
When the reached the Emmitsburg Road, in unison the southern veterans unleashed one-last defiant rebel yell.
"It was at that point" an onlooker from the NY Times observed" that their northern enemies could no longer resist themselves, and they flung themselves at their former enemeies in grey. Not in mortal combat, but in brotherly love and affection."
The two groups met just past the Emmitsburg road, where handshakes were quickly followed by hugs and embraces - and ultimately free flowing tears.
Oliver Wendell Holmes would later write:
"...we had shared the incommunicable experience of war. We had felt - we STILL feel, the passion of lite at it's top. In our youths our hearts were touched with fire." -
I have a feature on my site (AccountabilityCorner.com) that will be taking names and adding it to my virtual "Memorial Wall". I hope to have it up and running by Saturday to go with a post on a dear friend I lost in Afghanistan.
Would appreciate you passing the word if you can.-
Here's a direct link to that announcement; AccountabilityCorner.com/viewpoints/list-your-veteran-on-the-virtual-honor-...
-
-
I'm a navy vet, and I tell ya it means a lot when people remember. I have friends over fighting now and in the past and to see them come home is something diffrent.
My dad fought in Vietnam and he told me is horror stories and how when he came home people spit at him and where so mean.
So thanks for posting about it!-
The difference between reactions to vets from Nam and now is a positive development. I'm glad now that people are able to express their opposition to the war without taking it out on the vets.
-
which is weird, because US soldiers were probably the most effective resistance to the Vietnam War.
libcom.org/history/vietnam-gi-resistance
-
-
So who else is blogging about Memorial Day? There are lots of possibilities.
-
I grew up in a military family and married a military man, so we always participate in local Memorial Day activities.
I will definitely be blogging about it on theoffendedamerican.com . -
Well, Memorial Day weekend is here in the U.S. Beautiful day in Washington, DC. I had to work, so won't be going to any events till tomorrow. Have seen the usual motorcycles, which are part of an annual event called Rolling Thunder.
-
Have you ever been in the Pentagon when they were lined up out in the parking lot? I co-worker told me the building vibrates....
-
You know, I've never even been to the Pentagon, unless you count ending up in its parking lot when I took a wrong turn.
-
-
I was looking online for databases of US soldiers killed in Iraq. There are several excellent ones listed here: www.cyberjournalist.net/news/001219.php
And here is the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Wall Page: thewall-usa.com/ -
I would like to offer my latest endeavor...finished and ready:
accountabilitycorner.com/the-honor-wall/index.php
As well as a memoir and view on the current war personally felt:
accountabilitycorner.com/viewpoints/goodbye-brother-bostick-.goodbye.html
I would appreciate it if you'd take the time to read over it. If not, please remember why we celebrate...it's always important, but never more timely than now. -
Penny Ronning has also done a blog that fits this discussion:
www.typepad.com/t/trackback/2863706/29418606-
A trackback link won't work. Do you have the direct link to the post perhaps?
-
-
a tip of the cap to all the brave men and women who have served and are serving this country. we owe you more than we could ever repay you.
-
@markstoneman: Great thread! My wife (Truthoughts) did a great post (with some awesome pics) yesterday on her tribute her grandparents who were in the Air Force.
truthoughtstoday.wordpress.com/2008/05/23/memorial-day-memories/ -
I've got post of sorts on one of my websites: brendans-island.com/memday02.htm .
Also, I've done a few posts in "Apathetic Lemming of the North:"
Memorial Day weekend
apatheticlemming.blogspot.com/2008/05/memorial-day-weekend-2008.html
Memorial Day parades
apatheticlemming.blogspot.com/2008/05/memorial-day-weekend-2008-parades.htm...
Fleet Week in NYC (not Memorial Day, but coincidental with it)
apatheticlemming.blogspot.com/2008/05/fleet-week-2008-new-york-city-not-muc... -
Thanks for the Memorial Day posts and links folks. Keep em coming.
-
National Memorial Day Concert on NPR this evening on PBS at 8:00 tinyurl.com/6br3q
Looks like I'll be going to the Mall for it for the first time since I've lived here. If it's like other events, even when it's crowded, there's someplace far away to sit down.
Cultural translation: "the Mall" here does not refer to a shopping mall but a huge outdoor area downtown surrounded by museums, monuments, memorials, and so on. Here: www.nps.gov/nr/travel/wash/dc70.htm -
I decided to write an open letter to the US soldiers.
christianadvicesite.com/general/general-stories/49-general-stories/70-open-...-
That's a nice way to handle a post.
-
-
This embattled shore, portal of freedom, is forever hallowed by the ideals, the valor and the sacrifices of our fellow countrymen.
danallen.com/blurb.php?dogNow=1041
-
"For those of you who knew them I can not propose to tell you how to memorialize them. Other than as a man maybe no more than flesh and blood, Then surely- That which makes flesh and blood a soldier, is no more than a man- and tears."
You can read the rest here ravenscawl.wordpress.com/2008/05/25/shed-tear-for-a-soldier/-
I agree that politics has no place on this day. It's simply about mourning the dead, honoring their sacrifice.
-
~markstoneman
I beginning to find it rather discouraging the lack of post on this subject today in comparison to discussions About
"What Is Your PageRank (PR)?" 94
"How Many Daily Visitors you have?" 202
Highest Adsense earnings per day ? 123
-
-
I have a post up mythoughts-ssb.blogspot.com/2008/05/my-thoughts-memorial-day.html
I don't feel I would be able to do justice for the soldiers serving America so it's just a brief sentence and video.-
A video is good. My post on my history blog last week devoted more space to an image than words.
-
-
-
~Donlewis
Thank you For sharing (Sargent- Sowers) Story with the rest of the world.
-
-
Yes, here is my entry. I did a painting inspired by a conversation with my son who was in the marines.
jafabrit.blogspot.com/-
~jafabrit
What an interesting vision you have, and thank you.
-
-
since my friend ~MohandasLighque is having password issue's
www.blogcatalog.com/post/05d0646bea8e4c123104414d48b078ed -
Good call Stoneman. It's important that we remember those who have given so much for our freedoms.
www.ruinousright.com/2008/05/in-memory-of-our-fallen-soldiers.html -
Keeping this thread on top. Nech!
-
Too bad we can't sticky it for today.
-
No problem. I'll be back every 30 minutes or so and make sure it stays there for today.
-
-
@Don and Shirley: Thank you.
I finally got my own post up, this one on my personal blog, since I decided not to go academic on this one: markstoneman.wordpress.com/2008/05/26/memorial-day/-
Thanks Mark. And back to the top we go!
-
Dah, doo, doo, doo, dah,da, da, da that's all I want to say to you.
-
~markstoneman
I knew You had one in ya! Thank you. -
yes
-
Happy Memorial Day
-
-
Great post, Dawg, about the best I've ever seen here.
As for me, big thing in my area is the annual Sacramento Jazz Jubilee. The best traditional jazz (New Orleans and Kansas City Dixieland), all the way up through blues, swing, big band jazz, pop, bop, boogie, and disco. Sadly, I will miss it again this year. I will be a subtraction from the 100,000 or so attending. -
A friend of mine sent me an email with this post. Came as shock, but gave me a great sense of pride. The boy who posted it is just only turned 14 years old. I know because he's my son! I think we often expect that our children at a young age just don't get it, But think they get far more than we imagine.
www.youtube.com/bulletin_read?id=1YIoAbIOJAY&user=SonofRavenscawl -
Earlier this afternoon, my mother, my uncle and I visited the cemetery where my dad is buried, who happened to be a Vietnam veteran. We placed placed small flags on all the graves that indicated they were a veteran; a total of 17.
I also placed 2 posts on my blog concerning Memorial Day. -
My sincere thank to all veterans of war for their bravery and courage. Happy Memorial Day!
-
Thanks to all of you who have contributed. I've seen all the posts, even if I didn't always comment. It is, after all, not always an easy topic to write or comment on.
Don't know how well I'll be connected to the internet the next few days, but I'll dig this back up to see if anyone else has anything to share. -
Not sure if this has been posted elsewhere on BC.... A search didn't turn up anything.
Interactive Vietnam Veterans Memorial
go.footnote.com/thewall
Browse or search all 58,320 names inscribed on The Wall.-
~RuinousRight
Thanks for the link! -
You're welcome.
(and back to the top it goes)
-
-
!
-
I'm a little teapot short and stout...
-
Thanks for keeping this thread open and on top!
-
You guys are a trip! Thank you. Not too far away from midnight here, but at least one of you lives out west, if I'm not mistaken, so I'm guessing this is gonna stay alive for some time to come.
Didn't get to the parade in DC today, but it was a fine weekend here, and I'm glad I made it to Arlington, the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, and the concert on the West Lawn. I'm also real glad to see interest in this topic here on BC, including from people in other countries.-
!Hola! ?Que tal? Muy bien ?Y tu? I'm really just talking to myself. 15 and it will be 12:00 AM here.
-
-
I got 15 after midnight Here!
-
-
First time I heard that.
The only singing we ever did in the field artillery was in cadence in formation. Some of that was macabre too, though none reached this level of imagining death on one's own side. Takes a lot of bravado to sing this one, I'll bet, which members of the 82nd have in full measure, I'm sure. -
Hey! you gota have a sense of humor! Even if it's a little twisted.
Ain't nothin but "JUMPER" Fun!
www.majordickwinters.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=39&start=0&st=0&sk=t&s...
It was played at FT. Benning to! 70-81 at jump school -
That's what I figured.
Ours were not up to this level. So, for example,
Grab another eight-inch round,
Blow those f***ing commies down,
All I wanna see are bloody bodies, commie bodies.
Grab another hand granade,
Pull that pin don't be afraid,
All I wanna see . . .
You can't prepare for this business without this kind of humor.
Course, there was also sex. I suppose you know the story that leads to some good drinking and sex, with a few lines too graphic for BC, and then:
The wedding was a formal one
Her father had a white shotgun
The moral of the story is clear
Instead of whisky, stick to beer
And of course there was that song about a girl from Paris, France. But I'll stop there. Just repeated these lyrics to give people who don't know this kind of thing a flavor.
(edited to add: so it's not played officially anymore?)
-
-
Yeah we had regular cadence
"Hey ,Hey, Capt'n Jack
meet me down by the railroad track.
With that whiskey in your hand,
I want to be a drinkin Man"
They can get pretty rude sometimes-
Takes the mind of the feet. A few cadence callers had a talent for making the miles go by real quick.
-
True, But we had are share of sadist
Well that's it for me!
Peace, And thank you all for helping me through. this is always
a tough day for me as well as I'm sure many others.~Ravenscawl -
Good night.
-
Add Your Comment
Login to leave a comment.
