Flags of our Fathers

[The Iceman 6]

This thread is good timing. I'm right in the middle of the book (awesome book) and just sent this email to my Dad

you're gonna love this book dad, easy company didn't F around, one guy was 14 when joined marines, fooled recruiter by muscular looks, was driving trucks or something, the guy stalls away on one of the armada's boats headed for iwo jimo, no rifle, no gear, a bunch of supportive marines feed him on the way to iwo, jumps off boat, grabs dead rifle from fellow marine, the guy is now 17 by the way, advances with other marines, comes upon an ambush of 8 japanese soldiers, nails two guys right in the head, the japanese soldier throws a grenade @ him and the other marines, he buries the grenade in the sand, then another grenade comes, he buries that one and jumps on both grenades, KABOOM - shot up in the air about 20 feet, the other marines kill the japanese soldiers. they go to collect the guys dog tags and he's STILL ALIVE and conscious. 21 reconstructive surgeries later, he was the youngest medal of honor recipient in united states history at age 17 a freshman in high school. when asked 54 years later why he did it, his reply was simple "to save my buddies"

[Flaptail]

He had a brother in the Marines as well, my Uncle Joe, who came back a drunk and was till he died. He also had two sons go into the MARINES, one came back in a box, my brother John, and my Brother Richard is now retired in Florida. 10 days after my Brother John, his best friend David Roy, who gre up next door to us and who John had been best friends with since kindergarten through high school, joined the Marines together and went to NAM in the same platoon ahd who was with Joh when he died, was killed also. Last November we buried my 1st cousin Bertrand "Butch" Nadeau. He was in Nam same time as my bro John when John got killed, Butch was a Marine sniper with 22 registered kills, had the ears on a piece of wire dipped in varnish and hung on the wire. He succumbed to cancer from Agent Orange exposure at 56 years old. He lived with us when he was a kid cause his Mom, my aunt, was a f&cking nut case. My Dad was a big influence on him and that is why he joined the Marines.

My father let them all go, it was thier choice and thier right he told my mother. He told each one exactly what war was like, one on one before they left. He hated guns but knew that someone had to bear the responsibility of keeping us safe. Someone has to stand watch.

Myself, after visiting Parris Island to see my brothers graduate, I decided the Navy was going to be it when it came to my turn but the turn never came, Senator Kennedy and Congressman Tip O'Niel requested my draft card be sent to them right after I turned 18. They sent it to them and when I tried to sign up in the Navy I got a call from the recruiter saying they could not take me, even the Coast Guard wouldn't take me. There had been a hold put on anymore of my family being admitted to the service because of my brother John.

[The Iceman 6]

Flap -

Excellent reads, thanks....

Ice