Saturday, June 06, 2009
No next time, please!
This is the time of year when Pearl Harbor looms in most American's minds to one degree or another. In my case, as it does in many others, it looms large and personal
simply because I served in the armed forces during World War 2 . I served as a Torpedoman aboard a Destroyer Escort and later aboard an Aircraft carrier. I don't intend to spend any time regaling you with my 'heroism' and 'devotion to duty'. I only did what I was trained and expected to do in accordance with U.S Navy regulations. My reflections then, are primarily intended to dwell for a moment on those who served and did not come home to showers of ticker tape and drum beats. These men and women paid the ultimate price for their patriotism and exposure to the horrors of war. This is not something relevant to just veterans of the second world war of course, but it is the only one I participated in, so grant me the privilege of expressing my gratitude to my comrades in arms who didn't make it home in that particular time frame.Right now is the only time most of us will ever have to try and prevent another "war to end all wars" The next one could finally achieve that purpose and while I most likely will not be here to bear witness, I'd rest a lot easier believing it will never happen.
George Morin
Auburn, Ga.
simply because I served in the armed forces during World War 2 . I served as a Torpedoman aboard a Destroyer Escort and later aboard an Aircraft carrier. I don't intend to spend any time regaling you with my 'heroism' and 'devotion to duty'. I only did what I was trained and expected to do in accordance with U.S Navy regulations. My reflections then, are primarily intended to dwell for a moment on those who served and did not come home to showers of ticker tape and drum beats. These men and women paid the ultimate price for their patriotism and exposure to the horrors of war. This is not something relevant to just veterans of the second world war of course, but it is the only one I participated in, so grant me the privilege of expressing my gratitude to my comrades in arms who didn't make it home in that particular time frame.Right now is the only time most of us will ever have to try and prevent another "war to end all wars" The next one could finally achieve that purpose and while I most likely will not be here to bear witness, I'd rest a lot easier believing it will never happen.
George Morin
Auburn, Ga.
