G'Day everyone, Dutch here! Welcome to my little place in the Universe!

Going to do a short blog for Memorial Day.. Separating it into two parts.. One the traditional, the second related to my war, Vietnam..

Years ago, when I was young.. I seen a couple of movie about the Charge of the Light Brigade.. I wasn’t into poetry but read the poem about the charge and memorized it… blunders, factors that take place, etc. happen in all wars and this was no exception.. But I thought the poem said it all about the courage and the loyalty of a soldier.. Little did I know at the time that I would have the opportunity to experience being in a position to see if I had that courage and loyalty, although not in a cavalry charge.. I will post part of the poem, the part that sticks out the most in my mind.. The excerpt is from the poem, The Charge Of The Light Brigade by Lord Alfred Tennyson..

“Forward, the Light Brigade! Was there a man dismay’d? Not tho’ the soldier knew Some one had blunder’d. Theirs not to make rely, Theirs not the reason why, Theirs but to do or die Into the valley of the Death Rode the six hundred.

Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon in front of them Volley’d and thunder’d Storm’d at with shot and shell Boldly they rode and well, Into the jaws of Death Into the mouth of hell, Rode the six hundred..

I never rode in a cavalry charge but know all about “shot and shell.. That being said I salute all those who have served and/or fallen before me, I salute those who have served/or fallen today, and I salute those who will more than likely serve and/or fallen after me..

Arlington..

Flowers, to brighten your day

May you rest in peace..

and at this time to salute my American brothers in arms… that went to war with me in Vietnam, some who never returned.. Most were kids with dreams.. To be shattered in a heartbeat..

I was a 4 year regular, a volunteer in the United States Marine Corps.. The only branch of the service drafting was the US Army… I was going to dwell on the number of ways a large number of Americans, including leaders of this country past and present, used to avoid the draft and not go to Vietnam, but will not.. Have chosen to pay tribute to those that, unlike my fellow countrymen, went shoulder to shoulder with me in the rice paddies and jungles of Vietnam.. Their governments were not “officially” participating in the conflict and those young men and women were “volunteers” but like the poem.. They were there, maybe small in numbers but they were there..

.. I would like to take this time to thank those men and women who were there with me and to their families for the sacrifice they made.. There may have been others represented but I knew these were there because our paths crossed.. In recognition and to honor them I would like to play their national anthems..

Great Britain..

Austraila

New Zealand

Canada

To those Americans that served and died in Vietnam.. Those from other countries that joined us in battle, served and died in Vietnam.. I salute you!!!!!.. May you rest in peace…..

So, with leaving a song I heard many a time in Nam, I hope everyone, wherever you are, have a wonderful weekend and may it be filled with peace, laughter, love and happiness..