Sam, I am saying “Thank You for your service” in silence. You and other veterans know what it means when you catch a gaze into your eyes. America is going through a low point right now. Our abundance and not knowing history lead us to it. But a pendulum always returns. We must have faith in our American idea.
The G.I.s were silent not just in the attack but on the stretcher as well. I can't remember which account I read it in, perhaps Frank Irgang's *Etched In Purple*, but while the Germans cried and shouted in the pain of their wounds, the Americans were said to lie there silently, waiting for healing or the end. They were not maudlin Hollywood characters bawling for their mothers. And yet these silent men were not dour or grim. The citizens of Maastricht wrote to the NYT upon their liberation,
"The pleasant smile of your boys has stolen our hearts. Their laughing faces, their vigorous and brave appearance, their kindheartedness and especially their simplicity have told us that these sons of the great American Republic bear true democracy in their hearts and that the world may be glad the United States has interested itself in behalf of our country and of Europe."
I met many of those men in my youth and they smiled just as much and were just as silent.
Anyone who suggests that Americans can’t fight doesn’t understand the most dangerous animal on the planet is a 19 year old American boy with an automatic rifle.
What a great comparison between the approaches of British, French, and American. There's a resonance, a hum, a feeling that is important in the American idea. I believe this inner voice we share is what external forces (our enemies) are trying to corrupt. Calling out American ideals, celebrating them, and honoring veterans like yourself is essential for this reason.
It's amazing to me that an American can be offended by someone erecting the American flag. They have a right to feel that way, but the concern still exists.
Well said, Jesse. I have to believe it’s just a phase, the pendulum swinging, until a wake up call happens and America again realizes how fortunate it is.
During the first Gulf War, I watched soldiers voluntarily leave air-conditioned, modular, wards in our MASH and sleep in a GP large tent so wounded Iraqi women and children wouldn’t have to deal with the heat and sand. The American soldier, no one else is like him. We are blessed to have them defending this nation.
New reader, great essay, and thanks for your service. Maybe I’m a bit off base, but reading your essay and descriptions, Solzhenitsyn’s (?) quote about “the men who wanted to be left alone” kept rattling through my head as at least a partial explanation. That quote has always struck me as something highly explanatory about Americans in general, and the American military specifically. Those soldiers fighting silently didn’t want to be there and didn’t pick the fight, but they were going to finish what someone else started, even at great cost to themselves. Must have been a terrifying prospect staring out from those concrete pillboxes.
I think you’re right, and if were Solzhenitsyn who said that, I would not be surprised. Those who are most likely to burn the world are probably those who do not want to be left alone. Thanks for dropping this here.
It was one of the best experiences of my life, and I am beyond lucky to have met some of the most incredible people on earth. I appreciate it, Ron. Thank you for reading.
Well said. The loveless and violent are among the most dangerous, ironically only matched by the naïveté of denying the existence of darkness/ renouncing the capacity for violence and mistaking that for love.
For some, the “softer” side of this has been perverted into a mewling and completely unbalanced weirdness that’s disturbing to behold.
It’s a tricky path to light without sounding like a psycho, thus my admiration for the work you’re doing here.
Yes. We're filling out a quadrant right now. I have to hold myself back in my essays. I also want to go down this road, but without 300 pages of caveats and nuance, it can, as you said, come across as psychotic. But it is true.
Love and violence. I think we can violence without the love. But love is not possible without the violence. We can probably go even further down this rabbit hole, Tim. Maybe we should.
You're too modest Sam. It isn't America's fortune to produce great fighting men, it's been part of America's origin and destiny that men like you were born here and chose to serve our country in battle. May America continue to be worthy of our great American fighting men. That can no longer be taken for granted.
Sam, I am saying “Thank You for your service” in silence. You and other veterans know what it means when you catch a gaze into your eyes. America is going through a low point right now. Our abundance and not knowing history lead us to it. But a pendulum always returns. We must have faith in our American idea.
Thank you Barry. We have an incredible lineage to look back on.
The G.I.s were silent not just in the attack but on the stretcher as well. I can't remember which account I read it in, perhaps Frank Irgang's *Etched In Purple*, but while the Germans cried and shouted in the pain of their wounds, the Americans were said to lie there silently, waiting for healing or the end. They were not maudlin Hollywood characters bawling for their mothers. And yet these silent men were not dour or grim. The citizens of Maastricht wrote to the NYT upon their liberation,
"The pleasant smile of your boys has stolen our hearts. Their laughing faces, their vigorous and brave appearance, their kindheartedness and especially their simplicity have told us that these sons of the great American Republic bear true democracy in their hearts and that the world may be glad the United States has interested itself in behalf of our country and of Europe."
I met many of those men in my youth and they smiled just as much and were just as silent.
This is excellent. I have Etched in Purple on my to-read shelf and can’t wait to dig in. Thank you for sharing.
Outstanding, WoW!! Sam a great essay!!
I really appreciate it Don. Thank you for reading.
Anyone who suggests that Americans can’t fight doesn’t understand the most dangerous animal on the planet is a 19 year old American boy with an automatic rifle.
This could not be more well said. There is a misconception that Americans are unwarlike and soft. History profoundly disagrees.
This is beautiful work. It hit me right in my nearly-nonexistent feels. 😀
That’s hilarious, thank you Kit!
What a great comparison between the approaches of British, French, and American. There's a resonance, a hum, a feeling that is important in the American idea. I believe this inner voice we share is what external forces (our enemies) are trying to corrupt. Calling out American ideals, celebrating them, and honoring veterans like yourself is essential for this reason.
It's amazing to me that an American can be offended by someone erecting the American flag. They have a right to feel that way, but the concern still exists.
Thanks as always for your thoughtful insights.
Well said, Jesse. I have to believe it’s just a phase, the pendulum swinging, until a wake up call happens and America again realizes how fortunate it is.
During the first Gulf War, I watched soldiers voluntarily leave air-conditioned, modular, wards in our MASH and sleep in a GP large tent so wounded Iraqi women and children wouldn’t have to deal with the heat and sand. The American soldier, no one else is like him. We are blessed to have them defending this nation.
This is beautiful. This is what more Americans need to hear about.
Sam,
New reader, great essay, and thanks for your service. Maybe I’m a bit off base, but reading your essay and descriptions, Solzhenitsyn’s (?) quote about “the men who wanted to be left alone” kept rattling through my head as at least a partial explanation. That quote has always struck me as something highly explanatory about Americans in general, and the American military specifically. Those soldiers fighting silently didn’t want to be there and didn’t pick the fight, but they were going to finish what someone else started, even at great cost to themselves. Must have been a terrifying prospect staring out from those concrete pillboxes.
Anyway, thanks again.
I think you’re right, and if were Solzhenitsyn who said that, I would not be surprised. Those who are most likely to burn the world are probably those who do not want to be left alone. Thanks for dropping this here.
Magnificent thoughts.
Short term realism + long term optimism
Rock on Daniel. Any other equation probably won’t work out well for us. it would also just be defeatist or delusional. I’ll take the good fight.
Thank you, Sam, for this ambitious and heartfelt essay!
I’m glad you made it back.
You're very welcome, John, thank you for diving in!
Great essay, Sam. Thank you, and others like you who serve us so well.
It was one of the best experiences of my life, and I am beyond lucky to have met some of the most incredible people on earth. I appreciate it, Ron. Thank you for reading.
What a beautiful essay. Thank you so much for this, and for your service, Mr. Alaimo.
It was my absolute pleasure, Betsy. Thank you for being here.
Brilliant, Sam. I’ve been waiting for this one since we messaged back and forth about the concept, and it exceeds all expectations.
Love and violence.
Thank you.
Well said. The loveless and violent are among the most dangerous, ironically only matched by the naïveté of denying the existence of darkness/ renouncing the capacity for violence and mistaking that for love.
For some, the “softer” side of this has been perverted into a mewling and completely unbalanced weirdness that’s disturbing to behold.
It’s a tricky path to light without sounding like a psycho, thus my admiration for the work you’re doing here.
Yes. We're filling out a quadrant right now. I have to hold myself back in my essays. I also want to go down this road, but without 300 pages of caveats and nuance, it can, as you said, come across as psychotic. But it is true.
Love and violence. I think we can violence without the love. But love is not possible without the violence. We can probably go even further down this rabbit hole, Tim. Maybe we should.
You’re a true “romantic” in the best sense of the word, Sam. A nice companion to your gritty realism!
Haha thank you Baird. I saw that quote from the German POW and I figured something beautiful hid beneath it.
Superb essay.
I appreciate it Greg. Thanks for reading.
A true warrior’s reflection. Thank you for your service, Sam.
It was my pleasure Chris. We could not be more fortunate with how many incredible fighters came before us.
You're too modest Sam. It isn't America's fortune to produce great fighting men, it's been part of America's origin and destiny that men like you were born here and chose to serve our country in battle. May America continue to be worthy of our great American fighting men. That can no longer be taken for granted.