If you go to YouTube, you can see Medal of Honor stories of men from World War II, Korea and Vietnam ("my war").
As I sit in my chair and watch and listen to these men, and how they managed to survive the incredible combat situations that eventually led to them being nominated and awarded the Medal of Honor, -- the nation's highest military award -- my eyes tear-up.
For anyone that was in a war (or not...), it would be difficult not to have tears roll down your cheeks, if there is any sense or idea of what these men went through. Those that were not in uniform or in a war, can only sympathize, but not empathize.
And yet, to a man, every one of these real heroes, say that they wear that honored Medal for the men that did not make it back; that made the supreme sacrifice for their G.I. buddies, their country, and for the peoples of the countries they liberated from enemy control and domination...
Many of the men that were awarded the Medal of Honor, are gone now. Some of the men in the YouTube interviews have passed away; some are still alive, and well into their 90's... Even some of the men from the Vietnam War are in their 80's, and yes, even in their 90's also. Some were veterans from the Korean War that served again in the Vietnam War. Many of my brothers from the Vietnam War are passing away, as age and debilitating diseases takes its toll, especially from the chemical used to defoliate the jungles: Agent Orange...
If there is a common thread when these men told their stories -- some, though, cannot tell all the details, as it is too much; too gut-wrenching; way too emotional to do so -- it is that they just did what had to be done; they didn't think ahead and say: "Oh, I better do this, or this will happen"... No, they just did it; they acted; they saved lives; they took out the enemy...
And when the war(s) were over, and some of the enemy surrendered, the POWs were examined for documents or personal items, it was often found that the "enemy" was much like them. Some were of the same religion; some had families; some lost relatives in war, whether military or civilian, as "collateral damage," as there always are in war; most were tired of wars and rumors of wars...
Many of the captured enemy were surprised that they were treated decently (for the most part); had their wounds looked after; given decent food, and many repatriated to their country...
The inhumanity of war, was quickly replaced with the humanity of brotherhood...
The men who were awarded the Medal of Honor, also have another common thread: they know and hate the horrors of war, and to a man, love peace. A real soldier prepares for war, but in his heart, hopes that he never has to fight in war, and experience the terrible consequences that come with the failure of humanity to get along...
Pray for our country, and pray for peace, please...
Gene DeLalla
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