A Salute to American Heroes

As I was contemplating the subject of my blog post for this weekend, I kept coming back to the fact that this is Memorial weekend. I thought of Vern, and I thought of Scott.

Over a year ago, I attended the memorial service of my husband's dear friend, Vern. I didn't know Vern well myself; but after listening to comrades, friends, and family speak of him, I think know him a lot better.

You see, Vern spent 32 years of his life in the Army, specifically Special Forces. My husband, Dennis, was also in SF and considered Vern a good friend and mentor.

Vern had four Purple Hearts, a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, was nominated for the Medal of Honor, and numerous other awards I can't begin to recall.

When Vern was in Viet Nam, he was assigned to a small Special Forces team of four who were dispatched to monitor the Viet Cong. I don't remember the details of where or when or even why, but in a way that doesn't matter. Unknowingly, they were dropped into the middle of over 500 Viet Cong soldiers. The helicopter's crew were killed and the helicopter destroyed. The four Green Berets dug in. SF soldiers carry enough firepower to sustain a fight almost indefinitely; but in this case, none of the four figured they'd make it out alive. After a long battle, Vern and his small group were still alive while the Viet Cong sustained 130 casualties. The VC retreated, certain that they were up against a much larger force. Little did they know that only four men held them off that day.

Scott, on the other hand, just graduated from his qualifications course to be a special forces medic. He's the son of a dear lifetime friend of mine. Being an SF soldier was his calling. It was what he wanted to do. After a tour in Iraq, he came bad even more convinced that he wanted to join this elite group of men.

Special forces soldiers are a different breed. They are highly intelligent, don't conform well to the regular army, yet are team players, and are modest and unassuming. They almost always possess an uncanny ability to compartmentalize. I can easily recognize a fake from a mile away. If a man brags about his service as a Green Beret, he wasn't one. These men simply do not brag about it, nor do they talk about it much except with their comrades.

These guys are truly fighting the war against terrorism, the ones in the trenches that quietly get the job done.

As for Vern, I know he's gone in peace to a better place. And Scott, I wish him safe and successful missions.

Whether or not you agree with the politics behind war, please salute those soldiers who gave and continue to give so much for so little in return. These are true American heroes, the silent defenders of freedom and champions of the opressed.

I salute you and may God bless you.