NBC News, today (November 11, 2006) reported about the many Veteran Day parades. (I won't put a link, because I'm sure it will not stay on the 'net that long.) The report talked about the "connection" between the public and the veterans. However, in New York, it appeared there were more shoppers than parade-watchers. UNTIL "a small group of Afghanistan and Iraq vets walked by" when the crowd appeared to more than double, applause and shouted "Thanks" were heard.

Well, it may be that America hasn't been at any "real" war for some time. Maybe they've forgotten. People don't seem to remember the former wars, even those whose veterans are still living. We see old men in funny hats marching in a parade. We go on picnics (if it's warm), cook out, maybe have a day off, and, in general enjoy ourselves. We don't remember that we CAN enjoy ourselves because of those Veterans. We don't remember what Memorial Day and Veteran's Day mean.

I turned 18 the year the draft was abolished (1973), so while I have a registration card, never had to go to Vietnam. My younger brother didn't even have to register.

I did not know of any member of my family actually AT war. My father and two uncles were too young for WWII, and though they were in the service (Dad in Germany, both uncles were sailors,), AFTER the war, and they didn't see any action, they did serve their country. I mentioned this to my father, and he told me my grand-uncle, Edward Bartley Glover, was in WWII as a signalman; and that he'd written him a number of times in dots and dashes. His son, Ronnie, recently retired from the US Air Force.

On April 24, 1945, My wife's ex-husband's father, James L Klump, was in Germany, riding in a vehicle behind a jeep in which his twin brother, Sgt Thomas G Klump, was riding. James saw his brother shot dead. Sgt Klump is buried at Lorraine American Cemetery, St. Avold (Moselle), France.

My own ex-wife's father, Sgt Harry George Feldkamp, was a POW in WWII, captured by the Germans after the B17 in which he was tailgunner, She-HasTa, was damaged over Germany during a bomb-run on July 29, 1944, then had to ditch in North Sea, losing the waistgunner, who had been shot "almost in half" by Harry's account. They were at sea for four days, and were captured when they landed on shore.

They were taken to Stalag Luft III (for airmen), where they stayed until the Russians began advancing in their direction. They were forced to march 50+ miles in bitter Winter blizzard weather, many with not enough clothing or food, herded into boxcars, and moved to Stalag Luft XIII-D. Two months later, the Americans advancing, they were forced to march around 100 miles to Stalag VII-A. Soon, there were rumors that Patton's Third Army was close, and that Hitler had ordered all camp survivors killed. Many of the captors ran; others didn't for some reason, and hearing of the coming downfall, didn't want the onus of killing all the prisoners to fall on them. Patton's Third Army liberated the camp on April 29, 1945. It had been only the 2nd or 3rd flight by Harry's crew, and he spent most of that year in German prison camps, but he was still a vet (and a hero for surviving.)

Those are the more contemporary veterans in my family, but, while many of my ancestors were Friends, and were opposed, I wanted to remember my ancestor veterans (not all direct, but related and listed as having served in my genealogy database), and their service to this country.

I'm sure there are more, but the only ancestors I've found, so far, who I'm relatively certain served in the American Revolution, was Andrew Alexander, James Alexander, probably Captain William Bobbitt Sr, Samuel Dooley. Robert Giffen, John Henderson, Jame McCune, Colonel Thomas McCune, Major Joseph Mitchell, and Augustine Shelburn(e). For them, most probably buried in graves not noting the service, we should be thankful for their serving, as, if not for them and their compatriots, there would BE no United States of America.

Robert Mintier is the only one I currently have listed as having served in the War of 1812, though again, I'm sure there are more. We should be thankful to these men, because while we couldn't annex Canada, the British couldn't capture Baltimore and New Orleans, though both sides tried for two years. This war "confirmed American Independence." (source: History Central: War of 1812)

During the Civil War, thousands upon thousands fought, and thousands upon thousands died. The North fought to free the slaves and to keep eleven southern states from seceding from the Union, while the South wanted to keep the slaves and secede. I have not found any of our family that fought with the South, though in many cases, there was brother-against-brother, family-against-family fighting, so would not be surprised. Some only served a few weeks or a few months, while others served for years. Currently, I have listed James Wilson Alexander, William Baker, Daniel S Denton (KIA), various Dooleys, Stephen Louis Doty (musician), James S Dye, Fernando C Eller, Moses Ervin, John Hanna, Evan Hockett, Marvin Runa Jr, Alexander H Mintier, David Mintier, James Mintier, Thomas H Mintier, Thomas Ransdell, Ignatius Renner, James Andrew Richardson, George A Rogers, Barnabus Sanders, Moses Sanders, Conrad Schatzman, John F Schussler, Jordan Sermersheim, John Willard Shafer, Levin W Shafer, Rev. Seth S Simonton, (Rev.) David Sleeth, Col. Joseph Thoburn, Flavius Josephus Witham, Sylvester Witham. We should be thankful to these men, because we are 50 UNITED States, not 39 and 11 or some other ratio, and the slaves became free.

While I don't currently list any relatives who took part in the Spanish-American War, we should be thankful for their service (mostly volunteer), to Cuba, and various other colonies of Spain, from then-Spain's atrocities (over 200,000 died of starvation, rebels were executed, etc.). When that war ended, Cuba was independent, and those other colonies, in the Caribbean and Pacific, came under United States control.

For the following, I only have a few actually listed. I have many more who were registered or enlisted, and I'm sure, many more who served, though many were farmers, teachers and ministers, and, as I said before, Friends.

WWI occurred when various imperialistic factions invaded other countries' sovereignty. There were other causes for the war, and the US entering into it, but when all was said and done, various regimes were destroyed, new countries emerged, and the map of Europe was changed forever. New technologies were also developed, as is the need in many cases, when waging war. Most of them we took for granted years later (and still do for some). Among those of my family who served in WWI were: LeRoy Ball, Clarence C Dye, David Everett Giffen, (Rev) Harold Sleeth Giffen, Joseph Giffen, Walter J Herrmann, Carl Paul Hinkle, (Rev) John Earl Jackman, Earl D Sanders, Max Reed Shafer.

WWII rid the world of Hitler, and made Japan a constitutional monarchy with the emperor as a figurehead. Again, many new countries were created, again, changing the map of Europe, as well as southern Asia. Among those of my family who served in WWII, were: Robert A Becker, Earl J Clos, Donald J Dunn, Ralph D Dunn, Ambrose H Eckert, Harry George Feldkamp (see above), Donald James Heck, Jr, Robert F Howden, Marshall J Ketring, Thomas G Klump (see above), William W Leap, James M Millikan, Madison Wendell "Jack" Millikan, Sylvester G Prechtel, Edgar A Treber (KIA), Robert Earnest Treber,

Following WWII, Korea was split into two. After elections in the south, the US pulled almost all of its troops out of South Korea. With Communist China and the Soviet Union backing, North Korea attempted to unify Korea by force. The US got permission from the UN to supply arms and air support to South Korea, the promise to help repel the attackers and restore peace, if needed, and the Korean War was on. Those in my extended family who I have as having served in this war were: Charles Gilbert Birden and Richard Lee Henderson.

Vietnam - As far as I know, no one in my listed family served. As with Korea, we were attempting to aid a democratic country, trying to protect it from Communism.

After Vietnam, we were at peace for some time. I had one friend, Dan, who joined the Coast Guard shortly after high-school for a tour. Another friend, Glenn, joined the Navy a few years later.

I have no knowledge of anyone in my extended family, nor any friends, who served in Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, the Afghanistan War, or Iraqi Freedom. My wife's children (all young adults) have told us they knew of some, and knew some of those who have given their all. I'm sure my kids, nieces and nephews and various cousins may know of some, too.

I've received this statement in email a number of times, and feel the need to say it here:

Remember also, that freedom includes the freedom to protest and say stupid things about those who fight and die to protect that freedom.

It seems in almost every war, there are those who are opposed. While most used to watch with disapproval, protesting has become much more vocal since the 60s.

The thing to remember, is many of those protesting don't have someone serving. I have heard very few stories of soldiers (or their families) who have been in Iraq, who say we shouldn't be there. Many have re-upped to go back, even after being grievously injured. These protestors are opposed for various reasons, including that they believe the Government lies about everything, such as why we are at war.

Well, true or not, at least it appears that many of the protestors have learned a valuable lesson from the late 60s and early 70s protests... If you don't like the war, so be it - Protest IT. But you cannot blame or NOT support the soldiers. They are only following orders, which they are required to do. (And their deaths are NOT because we allow homosexuality! It's so you can SAY stupid shit like that!)

Yes, there are those who will commit atrocities, very few, if any, under orders. If they were not soldiers on duty, it would just be considered another crime. But why is it that whenever one is committed, and reported, the protests arise that they were ORDERED to do them, and for some reason, it trickles all the way up to the President? There are very few people, if any, who really know, but I would seriously doubt it. Remember that the President is a manager. He has delegated to his staff members certain authorities. The staff have delegated authorities... and so on, down to the grunt on the front lines. Can you really believe that somewhere in that chain of command, that if the President ordered anything illegal, that no one would question or report it? Is the President responsible? Depends on what and when he was told by his advisors. But to blame the President for a soldier who murders, rapes, pillages, etc., is ridiculous. Yes, you can say that the soldier wouldn't have been there if the President hadn't ordered the war, but that's about as far as you can really go.

So, you can protest the war all you want. BUT, now that it's happening, we should support all those involved, from the soldier in Iraq and the injured vet, returning - to the President, and the people they are trying to free from oppression.

Look at the past, and think. If WWII were covered by the media near as immediately (and with the same "slants") as Iraqi Freedom is, there would have been HUGE outcries about the number of casualties that occurred, especially on D-Day (3000 dead of the 40,000 who hit Omaha Beach in the first few HOURS). If this had happened, and people protested as they are now, and the President had bent to the "will of the people" (usually the Vocal Minority), and pulled the US troops out, Hitler would have consolidated most of Europe under the Third Reich, killing anyone opposed or who did not "look right". Isn't it ironic that a short, black-haired man dreamed of a Germany of tall blue-eyed blondes? (Ok... There are some jokes that could be placed here, but this is a serious piece.)

Remember, also, that some of those we are fighting, we helped a number of years ago, then "pulled out" to keep from being drawn into their war. Many of them have become terrorists, BECAUSE we didn't continue to help. If we leave the region, especially Afghanistan and Iraq, in flux...

Something else to think about; Harry S. Truman said:

That's what we're doing, isn't it? Would you protestors rather they be fighting in your back yard? We're dealing with terrorists. There are surely cells in the US and other countries, but we're finding them and/or keeping their leaders busy in Afghanistan and Iraq, so they aren't acting. Let's keep it that way, huh? Let's not have a real "Jericho", here.

Look at the past wars. (See History Central, Wikipedia (search for each war), and numerous other sites on the internet.). Discover that most were fought to preserve freedom and democracy. Look at the costs, both in money and men (and women and children and ...). Look at all the technology and life-saving gadgets that came from them. Is the latter a reason to go to war? Of course not. But the former IS.

Am I a war-monger? No. I don't like war, any more than the next person. But when you see the oppression and atrocities that are performed by some governments, when you see one government "bullying" another, do you just ignore it?

Think about this... That's what's happening in America, itself... We see the homeless; We see the starving; We see the gangs; We see the kids being bullied; We see ... And what do we do about it? Turn our backs... Look away... Say, "There but for the grace of God..." And what happens? The bullies become emboldened. The homeless, starving, and bullied, at some point will rebel. And we wonder why crime is on the rise. Think of THAT, and expand your thoughts to whole regions and countries of the world. Do you still wonder why war happens?

Anyway, again, remember, American soldiers (and I'm including all of the military in this term) are willing to die for yours and others' freedom. They are willing to put themselves in harm's way to protect us and our way of life, and allow others to know it. While they carry guns, they are our ambassadors to the common people wherever they are. They are the reasons we have the freedoms we have today. They are the reasons much of Europe is democratic, today. They are why we speak English in the US. They are why there can be such vocal protests.

Remember this on Veteran's Day, when we remember the living veterans, and Memorial Day, when we celebrate those who have died.

Thank you to all the veterans, their families and friends, for your service and sacrifice to this country. And, thank you, my ancestors and their relatives, for helping to make the world we live in, and making it safer, for a time, at least.

by Bill Sanders © November 12, 2006 - email:

Be sure to see the Indiana War Memorials (Indianapolis, IN), and those throughout the US and world.

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