FREE ENTERPRISE vs. Socialism
A lesson from our past for our present day politicians and citizens,this movie clip, the final scene in the movie TUCKER, says it all.
There is Hope: Read Op Ed Column at THE DAILY CALLER:
"Reading Tea Leaves - Why American Free Markets Will Win and American Socialism Fail"
http://dailycaller.com/2010/05/28/reading-tea-leaves-americas-free-market-will-win/
Keeping faith and hope alive,
James Michael Pratt
Showing posts with label freedom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label freedom. Show all posts
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
FREEDOM, A NEW YEAR & WE THE PEOPLE
A STORY OF LOYALTY TO AMERICA & FREEDOM!
For two centuries people from all over the world have considered it a privilege to be called an "American." In this first post of the New Year 2010, I want to take you back to my nephew Grant Pratt's second deployment to Iraq and a letter he wrote home.
Consider our American freedom as you read; a freedom which I believe is under assault by fellow Americans in our nation's capitol. I speak of those liberties and fundamental citizen rights and guarantees built into the US Constitution by the Founding Fathers who, with wisdom, looked forward to our day hoping we might appreciate and safeguard their thoughtful work and sacrifices.
Read with gratitude for freedom, but also ponder on what you must do in a new war, here at home. This war is one of idealogy and fundamental principles requiring American citizens to stand up with a constitutional education, and tell elected leaders what "We the People..." Expect of them as their "employers."
"BURY MY HEART IN AMERICA"
Sergeant Grant Pratt, III is tonight on his third tour of duty in Iraq. At the time of this touching diary entry he was on his second tour, a Platoon Sergeant with the 1s Cavalry supervising 23 other medics and an aid station in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods of Baghdad. This letter home was sent September 11, 2007. In his own words he describes how one Iraqi has given him hope:
I wanted to take this opportunity to let everyone know of an experience I had here that really affected me.
I have wondered over the last seven months of my deployment if this war can be won militarily, or if there is any hope that this country can embrace a democratic government. In my eyes the people seem more intent on themselves and their contempt for other each other than making things work here.
With the things I have seen, experiences, and watching friends die I kind of believe that our endeavor here is pointless. I did not believe that there was a single Iraqi in this country that really cared if the violence stopped or that there were any that did not want to kill every American they see. Then I had something happen the other day that (did not change my mind necessarily) gave me some hope.
About a month ago an Iraqi came to my aid station; he is one of the Iraqis that works with us as an interpreter. His name is Sam and he is 20 years old. He came to my aid station with a severely broken and lacerated finger after it was shut in the 300 pound door of an armored vehicle. I spent about two hours cleaning his finger and suturing it, all the while making small talk. He continually told me how he wanted to come to America and join our Army so he could come back and do more for Iraq. He told me of how he loved Americans and all he wants is to become one.
I listened and talked with him until I was finished with my procedure and wished him well, and in my mind dismissed most of what he said as just words and never thought much else of it.
On September 9th it came across the radio that one of our vehicles had been hit by an explosion and we had one soldier killed, two wounded, as well as the interpreter that was with them. I put my gear on and went with the squadron commander to the hospital to check on our injured men.
It was quite a gruesome sight. First I saw my medic, who had minor wounds, then went to the young man who had served as the gunner. He had received blast wounds to the leg which had torn away a majority of his outer thigh. I then went to view the body of our fallen brother who died due to a head injury. We helped console the other members of the platoon as this was the second Soldier they had lost in five days. Overwhelmed by the experience, we walked in to see the interpreter, which turned out to be Sam.
Sam had suffered severe lacerations to the head, resulting in over 40 sutures and staples. He had a small skull fracture and a small brain hemorrhage. Despite his severe injuries he would only ask how the others were doing. He was covered in blood and in extreme pain and just wanted to be sure that the soldiers he was with were okay.
Once satisfied they would be taken care of, he took my commanders hand and said, "If I die please take my heart to the United States and bury it there." We assured him his injuries were not mortal and left him in the care of the doctors at the hospital and told him we would be back the next day to see him.
The next morning I received a call from the hospital telling me that Sam was going to be released to an Iraqi hospital, but that he did not want to go. He feared that because of his ethnic background that he would be denied treatment and sent away. I told them I would call back in a few minutes and that we would come and get him and continue his care at my aid station. After 20 minutes of talking to the commander and making arrangements, I called the hospital and told them we would be there shortly to pick him up when they informed me that they had already released him, and had given him money to get to the Iraqi hospital. Needless to say, we were a little upset.
We began searching the area around the hospital and could not locate Sam. We were worried that he would fall into the wrong hands as any Iraqi that works with the Americans are often killed because they are aiding the enemy.
Three hours later we got a call from the gate to our base that Sam was there. He had walked from the hospital to our base, about seven miles in flip flops and pajamas, despite fairly significant injuries. My medics brought him to the aid station and as we laid him on the bed I looked at him and said "You are a pretty tough guy." He grabbed my hand and looked me in the eyes and said, "I knew if I got here you would take care of me, Sergeant."
Tears filled the corner of my eyes and I replied "You bet I will." He then said, "I had to get back here for two reasons. First the memorial service for Johnson (the soldier we had lost a few days prior) is tonight and I cannot miss that. We also have an important mission tomorrow and they need me." I informed him he would make it to the service, but would not be going on patrol anytime soon. He argued for a short time then agreed that it would be in his best interest to relax for a couple of weeks before going outside the wire, but still insisted his guys (the U.S. Soldiers from his platoon) needed him.
Later that night I sat two rows behind Sam as we paid tribute to our fallen brother and watched as he mourned and cried with the rest of us. I realized he is as committed as the rest of us and is considered a brother to us.
I just got done rechecking his wounds and talking with him. He still insists on going back out with his guys because they need him. He talked about his dreams of living in California some day. I have to say I admire this guy. He displays courage like no other Iraqi I have seen and in some ways made me think again of my views.
Despite what you see and hear on the news, there are Iraqis like Sam that are dedicated to seeing their country succeed. There may not be many, but some sacrifice along side us with a simple dream of their country being better off, or like Sam of being an American citizen. It gives me some hope that things will eventually work out here, and that someday Sam will be an American citizen, because he has earned that right.
Grant
For two centuries people from all over the world have considered it a privilege to be called an "American." In this first post of the New Year 2010, I want to take you back to my nephew Grant Pratt's second deployment to Iraq and a letter he wrote home.
Consider our American freedom as you read; a freedom which I believe is under assault by fellow Americans in our nation's capitol. I speak of those liberties and fundamental citizen rights and guarantees built into the US Constitution by the Founding Fathers who, with wisdom, looked forward to our day hoping we might appreciate and safeguard their thoughtful work and sacrifices.
Read with gratitude for freedom, but also ponder on what you must do in a new war, here at home. This war is one of idealogy and fundamental principles requiring American citizens to stand up with a constitutional education, and tell elected leaders what "We the People..." Expect of them as their "employers."
"BURY MY HEART IN AMERICA"
Sergeant Grant Pratt, III is tonight on his third tour of duty in Iraq. At the time of this touching diary entry he was on his second tour, a Platoon Sergeant with the 1s Cavalry supervising 23 other medics and an aid station in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods of Baghdad. This letter home was sent September 11, 2007. In his own words he describes how one Iraqi has given him hope:
I wanted to take this opportunity to let everyone know of an experience I had here that really affected me.
I have wondered over the last seven months of my deployment if this war can be won militarily, or if there is any hope that this country can embrace a democratic government. In my eyes the people seem more intent on themselves and their contempt for other each other than making things work here.
With the things I have seen, experiences, and watching friends die I kind of believe that our endeavor here is pointless. I did not believe that there was a single Iraqi in this country that really cared if the violence stopped or that there were any that did not want to kill every American they see. Then I had something happen the other day that (did not change my mind necessarily) gave me some hope.
About a month ago an Iraqi came to my aid station; he is one of the Iraqis that works with us as an interpreter. His name is Sam and he is 20 years old. He came to my aid station with a severely broken and lacerated finger after it was shut in the 300 pound door of an armored vehicle. I spent about two hours cleaning his finger and suturing it, all the while making small talk. He continually told me how he wanted to come to America and join our Army so he could come back and do more for Iraq. He told me of how he loved Americans and all he wants is to become one.
I listened and talked with him until I was finished with my procedure and wished him well, and in my mind dismissed most of what he said as just words and never thought much else of it.
On September 9th it came across the radio that one of our vehicles had been hit by an explosion and we had one soldier killed, two wounded, as well as the interpreter that was with them. I put my gear on and went with the squadron commander to the hospital to check on our injured men.
It was quite a gruesome sight. First I saw my medic, who had minor wounds, then went to the young man who had served as the gunner. He had received blast wounds to the leg which had torn away a majority of his outer thigh. I then went to view the body of our fallen brother who died due to a head injury. We helped console the other members of the platoon as this was the second Soldier they had lost in five days. Overwhelmed by the experience, we walked in to see the interpreter, which turned out to be Sam.
Sam had suffered severe lacerations to the head, resulting in over 40 sutures and staples. He had a small skull fracture and a small brain hemorrhage. Despite his severe injuries he would only ask how the others were doing. He was covered in blood and in extreme pain and just wanted to be sure that the soldiers he was with were okay.
Once satisfied they would be taken care of, he took my commanders hand and said, "If I die please take my heart to the United States and bury it there." We assured him his injuries were not mortal and left him in the care of the doctors at the hospital and told him we would be back the next day to see him.
The next morning I received a call from the hospital telling me that Sam was going to be released to an Iraqi hospital, but that he did not want to go. He feared that because of his ethnic background that he would be denied treatment and sent away. I told them I would call back in a few minutes and that we would come and get him and continue his care at my aid station. After 20 minutes of talking to the commander and making arrangements, I called the hospital and told them we would be there shortly to pick him up when they informed me that they had already released him, and had given him money to get to the Iraqi hospital. Needless to say, we were a little upset.
We began searching the area around the hospital and could not locate Sam. We were worried that he would fall into the wrong hands as any Iraqi that works with the Americans are often killed because they are aiding the enemy.
Three hours later we got a call from the gate to our base that Sam was there. He had walked from the hospital to our base, about seven miles in flip flops and pajamas, despite fairly significant injuries. My medics brought him to the aid station and as we laid him on the bed I looked at him and said "You are a pretty tough guy." He grabbed my hand and looked me in the eyes and said, "I knew if I got here you would take care of me, Sergeant."
Tears filled the corner of my eyes and I replied "You bet I will." He then said, "I had to get back here for two reasons. First the memorial service for Johnson (the soldier we had lost a few days prior) is tonight and I cannot miss that. We also have an important mission tomorrow and they need me." I informed him he would make it to the service, but would not be going on patrol anytime soon. He argued for a short time then agreed that it would be in his best interest to relax for a couple of weeks before going outside the wire, but still insisted his guys (the U.S. Soldiers from his platoon) needed him.
Later that night I sat two rows behind Sam as we paid tribute to our fallen brother and watched as he mourned and cried with the rest of us. I realized he is as committed as the rest of us and is considered a brother to us.
I just got done rechecking his wounds and talking with him. He still insists on going back out with his guys because they need him. He talked about his dreams of living in California some day. I have to say I admire this guy. He displays courage like no other Iraqi I have seen and in some ways made me think again of my views.
Despite what you see and hear on the news, there are Iraqis like Sam that are dedicated to seeing their country succeed. There may not be many, but some sacrifice along side us with a simple dream of their country being better off, or like Sam of being an American citizen. It gives me some hope that things will eventually work out here, and that someday Sam will be an American citizen, because he has earned that right.
Grant
Saturday, November 21, 2009
THE GIPPER WOULD APPROVE
All American Beliefs
Ronald Reagan is a leader for our time, and he loved football. My governor as a teen, and the President who rescued an economy in shambles, a captured Embassy in Iran, and a world in extreme Cold War when I was a young struggling married man with one kid, was part Hollywood and part politician, but ALL AMERICAN.
WARNING: DO NOT SEE THE MOVIE RECOMMENDED BELOW IF... well read on.
That's almost all you need to know when I say: "The Gipper would approve."
What would he approve of? INFORMATION; relevant truth, substance, and a reality check on what every citizen needs to know to save our country and make of him or her an ALL AMERICAN.
It was a good day, yesterday. I know that my business partner in PowerThink Publishing, world leader in ebook development,Carlos Packer, and I have created the educational equivalent to the 'A Bomb' when used to inform oneself in defense of our republic against all enemies foreign and "domestic."
THE US CONSTITUTION COACH Kit - RONALD REAGAN LEADERSHIP EDITION, over 60,000 critical documents of US history and politics on dvd/cdrom plus 32 video, mp3, and text speeches by the greatest President of the last century.
Launched both on the San Diego talker station, Rick Robert's Show 760 KFMB and presented to the Reagan Presidential Library in my hometown; Simi Valley, CA.
Check it out at www.powerthink.com and watch the surreal video of Reagan speaking in 1964 as if he were witnessing our day.
To top the day off, I went to our favorite theatre and watched the best movie I've seen all year: THE BLIND SIDE. I love football, but that is not why I went. (It was Sandra Bullock at first, just didn't tell Jeanne)
WARNING: DO NOT GO SEE THIS MOVIE IF: You enjoy true stories of overcoming adversity, kindness, mercy, love, faith, humor, and heart-filled triumph.
The "Gipper" would approve. Glad he is part of my life again and part of restoring American confidence in the US Constitution. And part Hollywood he would have loved this movie and taken Nancy out to enjoy it as a man of faith,optimism, hope, football, and what ALL AMERICAN means. Enjoy this trailer:
Ronald Reagan is a leader for our time, and he loved football. My governor as a teen, and the President who rescued an economy in shambles, a captured Embassy in Iran, and a world in extreme Cold War when I was a young struggling married man with one kid, was part Hollywood and part politician, but ALL AMERICAN.
WARNING: DO NOT SEE THE MOVIE RECOMMENDED BELOW IF... well read on.
That's almost all you need to know when I say: "The Gipper would approve."
What would he approve of? INFORMATION; relevant truth, substance, and a reality check on what every citizen needs to know to save our country and make of him or her an ALL AMERICAN.
It was a good day, yesterday. I know that my business partner in PowerThink Publishing, world leader in ebook development,Carlos Packer, and I have created the educational equivalent to the 'A Bomb' when used to inform oneself in defense of our republic against all enemies foreign and "domestic."
THE US CONSTITUTION COACH Kit - RONALD REAGAN LEADERSHIP EDITION, over 60,000 critical documents of US history and politics on dvd/cdrom plus 32 video, mp3, and text speeches by the greatest President of the last century.
Launched both on the San Diego talker station, Rick Robert's Show 760 KFMB and presented to the Reagan Presidential Library in my hometown; Simi Valley, CA.
Check it out at www.powerthink.com and watch the surreal video of Reagan speaking in 1964 as if he were witnessing our day.
To top the day off, I went to our favorite theatre and watched the best movie I've seen all year: THE BLIND SIDE. I love football, but that is not why I went. (It was Sandra Bullock at first, just didn't tell Jeanne)
WARNING: DO NOT GO SEE THIS MOVIE IF: You enjoy true stories of overcoming adversity, kindness, mercy, love, faith, humor, and heart-filled triumph.
The "Gipper" would approve. Glad he is part of my life again and part of restoring American confidence in the US Constitution. And part Hollywood he would have loved this movie and taken Nancy out to enjoy it as a man of faith,optimism, hope, football, and what ALL AMERICAN means. Enjoy this trailer:
Sunday, September 20, 2009
MARCHING WITH THE MOB on 9-12
OR...IT'S ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION, STUPID!
Four Mobster Guys from New Jersey
Marching with the Mob and a Visit to Hollowed Ground... I chose to go to Washington DC on Sept 12th to be a small part of something I sensed was going to be big. This is a quick report, which I feel obligated to write so that the truth of what I saw and felt is available on the Internet as a permanent record.
EN ROUTE: Flying out for Dulles International in Virginia, I was surprised to be surrounded by people in rows, both front and behind me, chatting it up; up until then, perfect strangers. Each guessed their seat-mates intentions by the books they had pulled out to read; two had Common Sense by Glenn Beck, and three had Cleon Skousen's "The Five Thousand Leap." I had just pulled my study copy out of the same book as the 3 behind and across from me, and decided to not get in the conversation, nor share that I was the publisher of Skousen's opus, but observe.
Each shared their motivations for going to Washington DC, and each not sure what they would find. None were representing any group, just going as individuals, as one man across the isle from me said: "I felt inspired to go. I don't know why, but my wife and I just decided to take the trip from our Christmas savings and make this our present to each other." They spoke of fiscal responsibility, family values, and expectations for the Congress and President to represent the voice of the people; and all determined to express displeasure with the apparent rush toward socialism. This was a "the Constitution matters to us" crowd.
ON PENNSYLVANIA AVE: I didn't have a group I belonged to but did have friends from Tea Party Patriot Live radio show from Orlando, FL. They became my marching buddies. We started at Freedom Plaza near the White House. People converged from all directions. If you examine photos from the event you will see a high percentage of marchers over forty. The placards were home-made, against mandated government run health care, fiscal irresponsibility, socialism, and liberal dominated policy making in rapid breath-taking speed that didn't allow time for digestion and study by our elected representatives or citizens.
OF NOTE: I recall the liberal and leftist lead protests of the 60's and 70's; they always descended from the ideals of their leaders to actual violent, loud, and property destructive behavior leaving an aftermath of trash, garbage, and injury.
MISSING:Television cameras from all the major networks. Not one. Just FOX and CNN.
In contrast this "mob," which liberal Congressional House leaders called conservative town hall protesters of the summer of 2009, were courteous, constructive, yes loud, but they actually peacefully dissented and cleaned up their own trash. (I took photo evidence of trash cans filled with used placards, and clean streets.)
I estimate the crowd was no less than 100,000 as I wandered back from the Capitol building and saw protesters filling Pennsylvania Ave for two solid hours after I arrived, walking shoulder to shoulder, until the spill over filled the Mall the distance between the Capitol Building to the north and Washington monument to the south.
An atmosphere of calm and celebration was apparent throughout the day. A victorious sense of accomplishment along with a reverence for what Washington represented; accompanied everyone I met; and I found people from every state of the Union had come in spontaneity, just as I had overheard on my flight in to Dulles.
What I saw and felt was FREEDOM.
THE BATTLEFIELD FOR THE UNION IN PENNSYLVANIA
SACRED FREEDOM and UNION: I celebrated the sense of sacred liberty the next day by a solo trip to Gettysburg battlefield, where once, long ago the fate of the Union was challenged over three bloody days of American fighting American. I climbed Big Round Top were I met four Alabamians who came, drawn as I was, to blood soaked hallowed ground where ancestors in arms fought countrymen who's motivations were, on both sides, FREEDOM.
We greeted, but spoke quietly, in awe of what took place there a violent day in July 1863. Yankee to Southerners who now only wanted one thing; to preserve the Union they love, parted knowing we would ever be united in love for country.
The country is torn again, but not by geographies. Don't be fooled by the disinformation from the media and government liberals in opposition to Freedom movements nationwide. They will call us a "mob," Nazi's, thugs, right-wingers, and racists. Heaven only knows what else...
We are NOT anti anything but "stupidity."
This is a First Amendment inspired revolution by educated people, non-violent in nature, by-in-large faith-filled for God and country with one thought; to return sanity to government, fiscally, morally, and in harmony with traditional American values. The ballot box and free speech will be the people's only weapons. Americans north, south, east, and west simply want to be AMERICAN.
And, if we could shout it in unison so that the Legislative and Executive branch of the government could hear it, it would be this:
"It's about the Constitution, stupid!"
James Pratt
Four Mobster Guys from New Jersey
Marching with the Mob and a Visit to Hollowed Ground... I chose to go to Washington DC on Sept 12th to be a small part of something I sensed was going to be big. This is a quick report, which I feel obligated to write so that the truth of what I saw and felt is available on the Internet as a permanent record.
EN ROUTE: Flying out for Dulles International in Virginia, I was surprised to be surrounded by people in rows, both front and behind me, chatting it up; up until then, perfect strangers. Each guessed their seat-mates intentions by the books they had pulled out to read; two had Common Sense by Glenn Beck, and three had Cleon Skousen's "The Five Thousand Leap." I had just pulled my study copy out of the same book as the 3 behind and across from me, and decided to not get in the conversation, nor share that I was the publisher of Skousen's opus, but observe.
Each shared their motivations for going to Washington DC, and each not sure what they would find. None were representing any group, just going as individuals, as one man across the isle from me said: "I felt inspired to go. I don't know why, but my wife and I just decided to take the trip from our Christmas savings and make this our present to each other." They spoke of fiscal responsibility, family values, and expectations for the Congress and President to represent the voice of the people; and all determined to express displeasure with the apparent rush toward socialism. This was a "the Constitution matters to us" crowd.
ON PENNSYLVANIA AVE: I didn't have a group I belonged to but did have friends from Tea Party Patriot Live radio show from Orlando, FL. They became my marching buddies. We started at Freedom Plaza near the White House. People converged from all directions. If you examine photos from the event you will see a high percentage of marchers over forty. The placards were home-made, against mandated government run health care, fiscal irresponsibility, socialism, and liberal dominated policy making in rapid breath-taking speed that didn't allow time for digestion and study by our elected representatives or citizens.
OF NOTE: I recall the liberal and leftist lead protests of the 60's and 70's; they always descended from the ideals of their leaders to actual violent, loud, and property destructive behavior leaving an aftermath of trash, garbage, and injury.
MISSING:Television cameras from all the major networks. Not one. Just FOX and CNN.
In contrast this "mob," which liberal Congressional House leaders called conservative town hall protesters of the summer of 2009, were courteous, constructive, yes loud, but they actually peacefully dissented and cleaned up their own trash. (I took photo evidence of trash cans filled with used placards, and clean streets.)
I estimate the crowd was no less than 100,000 as I wandered back from the Capitol building and saw protesters filling Pennsylvania Ave for two solid hours after I arrived, walking shoulder to shoulder, until the spill over filled the Mall the distance between the Capitol Building to the north and Washington monument to the south.
An atmosphere of calm and celebration was apparent throughout the day. A victorious sense of accomplishment along with a reverence for what Washington represented; accompanied everyone I met; and I found people from every state of the Union had come in spontaneity, just as I had overheard on my flight in to Dulles.
What I saw and felt was FREEDOM.
THE BATTLEFIELD FOR THE UNION IN PENNSYLVANIA
SACRED FREEDOM and UNION: I celebrated the sense of sacred liberty the next day by a solo trip to Gettysburg battlefield, where once, long ago the fate of the Union was challenged over three bloody days of American fighting American. I climbed Big Round Top were I met four Alabamians who came, drawn as I was, to blood soaked hallowed ground where ancestors in arms fought countrymen who's motivations were, on both sides, FREEDOM.
We greeted, but spoke quietly, in awe of what took place there a violent day in July 1863. Yankee to Southerners who now only wanted one thing; to preserve the Union they love, parted knowing we would ever be united in love for country.
The country is torn again, but not by geographies. Don't be fooled by the disinformation from the media and government liberals in opposition to Freedom movements nationwide. They will call us a "mob," Nazi's, thugs, right-wingers, and racists. Heaven only knows what else...
We are NOT anti anything but "stupidity."
This is a First Amendment inspired revolution by educated people, non-violent in nature, by-in-large faith-filled for God and country with one thought; to return sanity to government, fiscally, morally, and in harmony with traditional American values. The ballot box and free speech will be the people's only weapons. Americans north, south, east, and west simply want to be AMERICAN.
And, if we could shout it in unison so that the Legislative and Executive branch of the government could hear it, it would be this:
"It's about the Constitution, stupid!"
James Pratt
Friday, June 5, 2009
D DAY -- REMEMBERING THEM
D DAY June 6, 1944 SPECIAL REPORT & PRAYER
I first sent this report out as a member of the "Official US Press Pool" at Normandy, France on the 60th Anniversary of D-Day. Still relevant, I'm happy to say Howie Beach, is still alive, well, and just finished his memories soon to be available on AMAZON.COM: Titled: "THE PRIVATE WAR OF HOWIE BEACH." A "must read" for anyone interested in the soldier's eyewitness account of D-Day through VE Day.
REMEMBERING SOLDIERS WHO SAVED THE PLANET
James Michael Pratt – Official US Press Pool
Normandy June 6, 2004
As a member of the official US Press Pool to the multi-national sixtieth anniversary ceremonies commemorating the Allied D-Day invasion of June 6, 1944, I had the privilege of witnessing a never-to-be-repeated celebration of honor and courage at the battlefield locations in Normandy, France.
The war was nearly five years old for our British and other allies by 1944. The gathering of old warriors in their eighties and nineties said it all. They came because they knew this would be the last time in their lives such a large congregation of nations and people would pay them and their fallen comrades homage. We, the sons and daughters, came for the same reason.
My father’s age of old-young men, are leaving us at more than 1000 veterans a day. They take their history of war, love, and bravery with them to a place their comrades who died in arms have preceded them to. I miss Dad, a man who entered Rome, Italy with the victorious Allies on June 4, 1944, 2 days before the famous Normandy landings. I am growing in awareness at how much I will miss all of them. So I stumble a bit at conveying the depth of reverence and awe I felt among the 10,000 crosses so elegantly and poignantly witnessing to us of young men's sacrifice.
Equally in awe were hundreds of the aged veterans, like Howie Beach, 79 years old, from La Habra, Cailifornia. I was privileged to receive an oral history lesson of his experience of coming ashore and then 11 months of fighting hell that followed. In childlike candor he seemed the young soldier asking me, the gray haired wise old man, this question: “Do you think I can find them?”
He teared up, and I got a lump in my throat as he added, "I lost seven good friends in France and Belgium and I want to find them. Do you think I can find where they are buried?"
“Yes,” I answered. "Your friends can be found, Howie.”
“Oh,” was his simple reply as he searched the meaning of sixty years having passed.
“You are 19 years old again, aren't you?” I asked.
“What?” he asked with moist eyes.
“You aren’t 79 today. You are 19.” I knew that the recognition of this first trip back to France - one totally done in peace, and not carrying a rifle - was slowly dawning on Howie, and confusion of 60 years of time so compressed now mixed with memories so startlingly fresh.
“How do you know that…how I feel?” he responded with surprise.
“Everyone feels the same way. We are eternally young inside, like the young soldier friends of yours. They haven’t aged, and in some ways, neither have you,” I replied.
“That’s right! It is just like it was all yesterday. I don’t understand it. I shut it out for so many years and now it’s as if I am there again and it is all fresh; fresh in my mind, I mean.”
This was Howie’s moment to teach and my opportunity to learn. Howie opened up and I took notes on the spontaneous oral history lesson. I didn't need a movie screen; his eyes shared the scenes of comradeship and horror of battle as if it played out just days ago.
Howie Beach was one of many men, American, British, French, and Canadian who I met on travels for one week in June to honor on film and in the written word American Dads who stormed on to these beaches in an effort to save the planet from self-created demons and evil. These men had a call, and all recounted how they felt quite ordinary then, but part of something bigger.
“It was a mission,” Howie reminded us. “We were part of millions in uniform. Most of us figured it was a matter of time before we were dead men anyway, so we fought like mad.”
Norman Akers, a British soldier traveling to Normandy to be at a reunion of fellow British D-Day survivors was with his daughter, when I met him. He showed us an original photo of his brother’s shrapnel torn helmet lying upon a fresh mound of earth where he lay buried. The custom of the British was to immediately bury their soldiers where they fell. Later he was crossing into Belgium and then Holland during Operation Market Garden and came upon a bridge named “Akers Bridge.” He inquired and found out from a British officer, “Oh yes. That would be named for your brother. He was quite the hero, you know.”
Norman Akers looked proud, wistful, and sad all at the same time as his 83 year-old eyes strained at the graying photo of the bridge he was sharing with us; the sign posted as “Akers Bridge,” and what it meant to him to “carry on” as the surviving Akers brother of a war that consumed so many hundreds of thousands of British sons. “It seems like yesterday now,” he whispered. “I can’t understand why, but it is all so clear again.”
I thanked him for his service for us. Our British allies lost nearly one million sons beside our American forces in bringing victory to the cause. These two men both testified that they were not uncommon of other men of their time. They think of their dead brothers and comrades as the true heroes. But they survived to remind us of the cost; that FREEDOM WASN'T FREE. And now those “common men” of yesterday remind us of just how much one good man can do to make a difference in the world.
Our French hosts were generous in their regard for their American friends who gave their lives to liberate their country. American flags hung from the windows of Normandy countryside homes along with French, British, and Canadian flags.
A proud people, sometimes with disputes regarding American foreign policy, they lacked no gratitude for their hero “soldats Americain” who waded from chest deep water into withering enemy fire on D- Day beaches. More than 50,000 French civilians would also end up surrendering their lives to bombs made by Germans, and the Allies as they lived in the midst of warfare during those first terrible summer months of 1944.
The city I stayed in, Caen, France, is as charitable today in her regard for American, British, and Canadian sacrifice as it was 60 years before when nearly 95% of the buildings were destroyed and thousands of inhabitants were killed or wounded during the several weeks of fighting there between Allied and German forces.
Somehow everyone gathering during the week ending June 6th 2004 to honor our dead and living veterans of the great conflict understood that with the sacrifice, with something given up and lost, the pendulum of justice swung fully to the opposite direction offering a precious but sacred blood-stained gain in return.
In Howie Beach’s life the loss was friends and the innocence he had known as a teenager when he was called upon to become a killer of men. What he gained was a profound depth of appreciation for freedom, a love beyond measure for comrades, and a decency he would live the remainder of his life in spite of carnage and terror he experienced.
In Norman Aker’s life it was the same, plus the sacrifice of his beloved older brother. For French men and woman it was often their homes being destroyed along with family members being sacrificed for their final freedom.
One week earlier I had the honor of speaking to thirty wounded Marine’s at the invitation of personal friend at Camp Lejeune, NC. Now home from Iraq and Afghanistan’s battle fields, these men had gathered to listen to the Chaplain’s instructions on how to transform from warrior to peace-time dad and husband.
The Marines wondered aloud if we, the American citizen, appreciated them; if we cared. Many are husbands and dads, doing simply what they know their fathers and grandfathers did in World War Two, Korea, Vietnam and other conflicts.
“Will the American people be grateful?” one asked. “Will they let us finish our job?” another questioned. “I used to take my family for granted,” added a young staff sergeant. “I used to act like a drill sergeant to my young son. But when I got back from Iraq, and some of my friends didn’t, I just looked into his eyes and when he said ‘Daddy…and I…’” His throat closed tight on his own words. He wiped at the tears. “I’m not the same man,” he began once more. “I’ll never be the same man. I will never take my family or this country for granted again.”
Gratitude, love, honor. I witnessed these with our current crop of heroes, some Marines who want nothing from us but understanding and respect. And then on June 6th 2004, in an overflowing abundance of appreciation on French soil, hallowed and made sacred by men who died and also lived to tell their tales, I understood what soldiers of every time and conflict may have wondered when they asked themselves, “Will they remember me back home?”
I imagined in my mind’s eye a beneficent Creator offering an approval for a collective gathering of the spirits of the fallen whose bodies lay buried in the Normandy sod. Dads, sons, brothers, heroes all – I imagined another cerebration taking place near us; the dead among the ten thousand crosses, witnessing an earnest heartfelt homage being paid to them.
“Do they remember me back home?” I thought I heard whispered.
I knew the answer and whispered back: “Yes soldier, we do remember. We haven’t forgotten you. And we never will.”
THE D-DAY PRAYER by FDR:
James Michael Pratt - June 6, 2004
www.jmpratt.com
I first sent this report out as a member of the "Official US Press Pool" at Normandy, France on the 60th Anniversary of D-Day. Still relevant, I'm happy to say Howie Beach, is still alive, well, and just finished his memories soon to be available on AMAZON.COM: Titled: "THE PRIVATE WAR OF HOWIE BEACH." A "must read" for anyone interested in the soldier's eyewitness account of D-Day through VE Day.
REMEMBERING SOLDIERS WHO SAVED THE PLANET
James Michael Pratt – Official US Press Pool
Normandy June 6, 2004
As a member of the official US Press Pool to the multi-national sixtieth anniversary ceremonies commemorating the Allied D-Day invasion of June 6, 1944, I had the privilege of witnessing a never-to-be-repeated celebration of honor and courage at the battlefield locations in Normandy, France.
The war was nearly five years old for our British and other allies by 1944. The gathering of old warriors in their eighties and nineties said it all. They came because they knew this would be the last time in their lives such a large congregation of nations and people would pay them and their fallen comrades homage. We, the sons and daughters, came for the same reason.
My father’s age of old-young men, are leaving us at more than 1000 veterans a day. They take their history of war, love, and bravery with them to a place their comrades who died in arms have preceded them to. I miss Dad, a man who entered Rome, Italy with the victorious Allies on June 4, 1944, 2 days before the famous Normandy landings. I am growing in awareness at how much I will miss all of them. So I stumble a bit at conveying the depth of reverence and awe I felt among the 10,000 crosses so elegantly and poignantly witnessing to us of young men's sacrifice.
Equally in awe were hundreds of the aged veterans, like Howie Beach, 79 years old, from La Habra, Cailifornia. I was privileged to receive an oral history lesson of his experience of coming ashore and then 11 months of fighting hell that followed. In childlike candor he seemed the young soldier asking me, the gray haired wise old man, this question: “Do you think I can find them?”
He teared up, and I got a lump in my throat as he added, "I lost seven good friends in France and Belgium and I want to find them. Do you think I can find where they are buried?"
“Yes,” I answered. "Your friends can be found, Howie.”
“Oh,” was his simple reply as he searched the meaning of sixty years having passed.
“You are 19 years old again, aren't you?” I asked.
“What?” he asked with moist eyes.
“You aren’t 79 today. You are 19.” I knew that the recognition of this first trip back to France - one totally done in peace, and not carrying a rifle - was slowly dawning on Howie, and confusion of 60 years of time so compressed now mixed with memories so startlingly fresh.
“How do you know that…how I feel?” he responded with surprise.
“Everyone feels the same way. We are eternally young inside, like the young soldier friends of yours. They haven’t aged, and in some ways, neither have you,” I replied.
“That’s right! It is just like it was all yesterday. I don’t understand it. I shut it out for so many years and now it’s as if I am there again and it is all fresh; fresh in my mind, I mean.”
This was Howie’s moment to teach and my opportunity to learn. Howie opened up and I took notes on the spontaneous oral history lesson. I didn't need a movie screen; his eyes shared the scenes of comradeship and horror of battle as if it played out just days ago.
Howie Beach was one of many men, American, British, French, and Canadian who I met on travels for one week in June to honor on film and in the written word American Dads who stormed on to these beaches in an effort to save the planet from self-created demons and evil. These men had a call, and all recounted how they felt quite ordinary then, but part of something bigger.
“It was a mission,” Howie reminded us. “We were part of millions in uniform. Most of us figured it was a matter of time before we were dead men anyway, so we fought like mad.”
Norman Akers, a British soldier traveling to Normandy to be at a reunion of fellow British D-Day survivors was with his daughter, when I met him. He showed us an original photo of his brother’s shrapnel torn helmet lying upon a fresh mound of earth where he lay buried. The custom of the British was to immediately bury their soldiers where they fell. Later he was crossing into Belgium and then Holland during Operation Market Garden and came upon a bridge named “Akers Bridge.” He inquired and found out from a British officer, “Oh yes. That would be named for your brother. He was quite the hero, you know.”
Norman Akers looked proud, wistful, and sad all at the same time as his 83 year-old eyes strained at the graying photo of the bridge he was sharing with us; the sign posted as “Akers Bridge,” and what it meant to him to “carry on” as the surviving Akers brother of a war that consumed so many hundreds of thousands of British sons. “It seems like yesterday now,” he whispered. “I can’t understand why, but it is all so clear again.”
I thanked him for his service for us. Our British allies lost nearly one million sons beside our American forces in bringing victory to the cause. These two men both testified that they were not uncommon of other men of their time. They think of their dead brothers and comrades as the true heroes. But they survived to remind us of the cost; that FREEDOM WASN'T FREE. And now those “common men” of yesterday remind us of just how much one good man can do to make a difference in the world.
Our French hosts were generous in their regard for their American friends who gave their lives to liberate their country. American flags hung from the windows of Normandy countryside homes along with French, British, and Canadian flags.
A proud people, sometimes with disputes regarding American foreign policy, they lacked no gratitude for their hero “soldats Americain” who waded from chest deep water into withering enemy fire on D- Day beaches. More than 50,000 French civilians would also end up surrendering their lives to bombs made by Germans, and the Allies as they lived in the midst of warfare during those first terrible summer months of 1944.
The city I stayed in, Caen, France, is as charitable today in her regard for American, British, and Canadian sacrifice as it was 60 years before when nearly 95% of the buildings were destroyed and thousands of inhabitants were killed or wounded during the several weeks of fighting there between Allied and German forces.
Somehow everyone gathering during the week ending June 6th 2004 to honor our dead and living veterans of the great conflict understood that with the sacrifice, with something given up and lost, the pendulum of justice swung fully to the opposite direction offering a precious but sacred blood-stained gain in return.
In Howie Beach’s life the loss was friends and the innocence he had known as a teenager when he was called upon to become a killer of men. What he gained was a profound depth of appreciation for freedom, a love beyond measure for comrades, and a decency he would live the remainder of his life in spite of carnage and terror he experienced.
In Norman Aker’s life it was the same, plus the sacrifice of his beloved older brother. For French men and woman it was often their homes being destroyed along with family members being sacrificed for their final freedom.
One week earlier I had the honor of speaking to thirty wounded Marine’s at the invitation of personal friend at Camp Lejeune, NC. Now home from Iraq and Afghanistan’s battle fields, these men had gathered to listen to the Chaplain’s instructions on how to transform from warrior to peace-time dad and husband.
The Marines wondered aloud if we, the American citizen, appreciated them; if we cared. Many are husbands and dads, doing simply what they know their fathers and grandfathers did in World War Two, Korea, Vietnam and other conflicts.
“Will the American people be grateful?” one asked. “Will they let us finish our job?” another questioned. “I used to take my family for granted,” added a young staff sergeant. “I used to act like a drill sergeant to my young son. But when I got back from Iraq, and some of my friends didn’t, I just looked into his eyes and when he said ‘Daddy…and I…’” His throat closed tight on his own words. He wiped at the tears. “I’m not the same man,” he began once more. “I’ll never be the same man. I will never take my family or this country for granted again.”
Gratitude, love, honor. I witnessed these with our current crop of heroes, some Marines who want nothing from us but understanding and respect. And then on June 6th 2004, in an overflowing abundance of appreciation on French soil, hallowed and made sacred by men who died and also lived to tell their tales, I understood what soldiers of every time and conflict may have wondered when they asked themselves, “Will they remember me back home?”
I imagined in my mind’s eye a beneficent Creator offering an approval for a collective gathering of the spirits of the fallen whose bodies lay buried in the Normandy sod. Dads, sons, brothers, heroes all – I imagined another cerebration taking place near us; the dead among the ten thousand crosses, witnessing an earnest heartfelt homage being paid to them.
“Do they remember me back home?” I thought I heard whispered.
I knew the answer and whispered back: “Yes soldier, we do remember. We haven’t forgotten you. And we never will.”
THE D-DAY PRAYER by FDR:
James Michael Pratt - June 6, 2004
www.jmpratt.com
Saturday, May 23, 2009
"BURY MY HEART in the United States"
Tender MEMORIAL DAY read, first posted on 9/11 6 years after the day New York was attacked.
I felt many, if not all readers would enjoy this and pass it along to friends. Sometimes another perspective is helpful in order to appreciate the GOOD which comes from the service our men and women at war give to a world in need of hope. How about a point of view from a Freedom loving Iraqi and equally freedom loving America soldier...
An Iraqi, a tired American Soldier and...A MUST READ!
Letter by Sergeant Grant L. Pratt III, 1st Cav. Baghdad, Sept. 2007
Sergeant Grant Pratt, III is on his second tour of duty in Iraq. He is a Platoon Sergeant with the 1s Cavalry and supervises 23 other medics and an aid station in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods of Baghdad. This letter home was sent September 11, 2007. In his own words he describes how one Iraqi has given him hope:
"Bury My Heart in the United States"
I wanted to take this opportunity to let everyone know of an experience I had here that really affected me.
I have wondered over the last seven months of my deployment if this war can be won militarily, or if there is any hope that this country can embrace a democratic government. In my eyes the people seem more intent on themselves and their contempt for other each other than making things work here.
With the things I have seen, experiences, and watching friends die I kind of believe that our endeavor here is pointless. I did not believe that there was a single Iraqi in this country that really cared if the violence stopped or that there were any that did not want to kill every American they see. Then I had something happen the other day that (did not change my mind necessarily) gave me some hope.
About a month ago an Iraqi came to my aid station; he is one of the Iraqis that works with us as an interpreter. His name is Sam and he is 20 years old. He came to my aid station with a severely broken and lacerated finger after it was shut in the 300 pound door of an armored vehicle. I spent about two hours cleaning his finger and suturing it, all the while making small talk. He continually told me how he wanted to come to America and join our Army so he could come back and do more for Iraq. He told me of how he loved Americans and all he wants is to become one.
I listened and talked with him until I was finished with my procedure and wished him well, and in my mind dismissed most of what he said as just words and never thought much else of it.
On September 9th it came across the radio that one of our vehicles had been hit by an explosion and we had one soldier killed, two wounded, as well as the interpreter that was with them. I put my gear on and went with the squadron commander to the hospital to check on our injured men.
It was quite a gruesome sight. First I saw my medic, who had minor wounds, then went to the young man who had served as the gunner. He had received blast wounds to the leg which had torn away a majority of his outer thigh. I then went to view the body of our fallen brother who died due to a head injury. We helped console the other members of the platoon as this was the second Soldier they had lost in five days. Overwhelmed by the experience, we walked in to see the interpreter, which turned out to be Sam.
Sam had suffered severe lacerations to the head, resulting in over 40 sutures and staples. He had a small skull fracture and a small brain hemorrhage. Despite his severe injuries he would only ask how the others were doing. He was covered in blood and in extreme pain and just wanted to be sure that the soldiers he was with were okay.
Once satisfied they would be taken care of, he took my commanders hand and said, "If I die please take my heart to the United States and bury it there." We assured him his injuries were not mortal and left him in the care of the doctors at the hospital and told him we would be back the next day to see him.
The next morning I received a call from the hospital telling me that Sam was going to be released to an Iraqi hospital, but that he did not want to go. He feared that because of his ethnic background that he would be denied treatment and sent away. I told them I would call back in a few minutes and that we would come and get him and continue his care at my aid station. After 20 minutes of talking to the commander and making arrangements, I called the hospital and told them we would be there shortly to pick him up when they informed me that they had already released him, and had given him money to get to the Iraqi hospital. Needless to say, we were a little upset.
We began searching the area around the hospital and could not locate Sam. We were worried that he would fall into the wrong hands as any Iraqi that works with the Americans are often killed because they are aiding the enemy.
Three hours later we got a call from the gate to our base that Sam was there. He had walked from the hospital to our base, about seven miles in flip flops and pajamas, despite fairly significant injuries. My medics brought him to the aid station and as we laid him on the bed I looked at him and said "You are a pretty tough guy." He grabbed my hand and looked me in the eyes and said, "I knew if I got here you would take care of me, Sergeant."
Tears filled the corner of my eyes and I replied "You bet I will." He then said, "I had to get back here for two reasons. First the memorial service for Johnson (the soldier we had lost a few days prior) is tonight and I cannot miss that. We also have an important mission tomorrow and they need me." I informed him he would make it to the service, but would not be going on patrol anytime soon. He argued for a short time then agreed that it would be in his best interest to relax for a couple of weeks before going outside the wire, but still insisted his guys (the U.S. Soldiers from his platoon) needed him.
Later that night I sat two rows behind Sam as we paid tribute to our fallen brother and watched as he mourned and cried with the rest of us. I realized he is as committed as the rest of us and is considered a brother to us.
I just got done rechecking his wounds and talking with him. He still insists on going back out with his guys because they need him. He talked about his dreams of living in California some day. I have to say I admire this guy. He displays courage like no other Iraqi I have seen and in some ways made me think again of my views.
Despite what you see and hear on the news, there are Iraqis like Sam that are dedicated to seeing their country succeed. There may not be many, but some sacrifice along side us with a simple dream of their country being better off, or like Sam of being an American citizen. It gives me some hope that things will eventually work out here, and that someday Sam will be an American citizen, because he has earned that right.
Grant
Thank you for reading and sharing! MORE BLOG POSTS COMING from www.jmpratt.com and www.powerthink.com. James Pratt
I felt many, if not all readers would enjoy this and pass it along to friends. Sometimes another perspective is helpful in order to appreciate the GOOD which comes from the service our men and women at war give to a world in need of hope. How about a point of view from a Freedom loving Iraqi and equally freedom loving America soldier...
An Iraqi, a tired American Soldier and...A MUST READ!
Letter by Sergeant Grant L. Pratt III, 1st Cav. Baghdad, Sept. 2007
Sergeant Grant Pratt, III is on his second tour of duty in Iraq. He is a Platoon Sergeant with the 1s Cavalry and supervises 23 other medics and an aid station in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods of Baghdad. This letter home was sent September 11, 2007. In his own words he describes how one Iraqi has given him hope:
"Bury My Heart in the United States"
I wanted to take this opportunity to let everyone know of an experience I had here that really affected me.
I have wondered over the last seven months of my deployment if this war can be won militarily, or if there is any hope that this country can embrace a democratic government. In my eyes the people seem more intent on themselves and their contempt for other each other than making things work here.
With the things I have seen, experiences, and watching friends die I kind of believe that our endeavor here is pointless. I did not believe that there was a single Iraqi in this country that really cared if the violence stopped or that there were any that did not want to kill every American they see. Then I had something happen the other day that (did not change my mind necessarily) gave me some hope.
About a month ago an Iraqi came to my aid station; he is one of the Iraqis that works with us as an interpreter. His name is Sam and he is 20 years old. He came to my aid station with a severely broken and lacerated finger after it was shut in the 300 pound door of an armored vehicle. I spent about two hours cleaning his finger and suturing it, all the while making small talk. He continually told me how he wanted to come to America and join our Army so he could come back and do more for Iraq. He told me of how he loved Americans and all he wants is to become one.
I listened and talked with him until I was finished with my procedure and wished him well, and in my mind dismissed most of what he said as just words and never thought much else of it.
On September 9th it came across the radio that one of our vehicles had been hit by an explosion and we had one soldier killed, two wounded, as well as the interpreter that was with them. I put my gear on and went with the squadron commander to the hospital to check on our injured men.
It was quite a gruesome sight. First I saw my medic, who had minor wounds, then went to the young man who had served as the gunner. He had received blast wounds to the leg which had torn away a majority of his outer thigh. I then went to view the body of our fallen brother who died due to a head injury. We helped console the other members of the platoon as this was the second Soldier they had lost in five days. Overwhelmed by the experience, we walked in to see the interpreter, which turned out to be Sam.
Sam had suffered severe lacerations to the head, resulting in over 40 sutures and staples. He had a small skull fracture and a small brain hemorrhage. Despite his severe injuries he would only ask how the others were doing. He was covered in blood and in extreme pain and just wanted to be sure that the soldiers he was with were okay.
Once satisfied they would be taken care of, he took my commanders hand and said, "If I die please take my heart to the United States and bury it there." We assured him his injuries were not mortal and left him in the care of the doctors at the hospital and told him we would be back the next day to see him.
The next morning I received a call from the hospital telling me that Sam was going to be released to an Iraqi hospital, but that he did not want to go. He feared that because of his ethnic background that he would be denied treatment and sent away. I told them I would call back in a few minutes and that we would come and get him and continue his care at my aid station. After 20 minutes of talking to the commander and making arrangements, I called the hospital and told them we would be there shortly to pick him up when they informed me that they had already released him, and had given him money to get to the Iraqi hospital. Needless to say, we were a little upset.
We began searching the area around the hospital and could not locate Sam. We were worried that he would fall into the wrong hands as any Iraqi that works with the Americans are often killed because they are aiding the enemy.
Three hours later we got a call from the gate to our base that Sam was there. He had walked from the hospital to our base, about seven miles in flip flops and pajamas, despite fairly significant injuries. My medics brought him to the aid station and as we laid him on the bed I looked at him and said "You are a pretty tough guy." He grabbed my hand and looked me in the eyes and said, "I knew if I got here you would take care of me, Sergeant."
Tears filled the corner of my eyes and I replied "You bet I will." He then said, "I had to get back here for two reasons. First the memorial service for Johnson (the soldier we had lost a few days prior) is tonight and I cannot miss that. We also have an important mission tomorrow and they need me." I informed him he would make it to the service, but would not be going on patrol anytime soon. He argued for a short time then agreed that it would be in his best interest to relax for a couple of weeks before going outside the wire, but still insisted his guys (the U.S. Soldiers from his platoon) needed him.
Later that night I sat two rows behind Sam as we paid tribute to our fallen brother and watched as he mourned and cried with the rest of us. I realized he is as committed as the rest of us and is considered a brother to us.
I just got done rechecking his wounds and talking with him. He still insists on going back out with his guys because they need him. He talked about his dreams of living in California some day. I have to say I admire this guy. He displays courage like no other Iraqi I have seen and in some ways made me think again of my views.
Despite what you see and hear on the news, there are Iraqis like Sam that are dedicated to seeing their country succeed. There may not be many, but some sacrifice along side us with a simple dream of their country being better off, or like Sam of being an American citizen. It gives me some hope that things will eventually work out here, and that someday Sam will be an American citizen, because he has earned that right.
Grant
Thank you for reading and sharing! MORE BLOG POSTS COMING from www.jmpratt.com and www.powerthink.com. James Pratt
Friday, March 20, 2009
5000 Year Leap by W. Cleon Skousen
An Elegant Thinker and Writer
Birth of a National Bestseller: I'm so proud to announce the birth of the 30 YEAR ANNIVERSARY EDITION of W. Cleon Skousen's THE FIVE THOUSAND YEAR LEAP, commissioned by his sons and family to my small publishing company, American Documents, and distributed by PowerThink.
I met Dr. Skousen on several occasions, first in 1981 when this book was published and just before he passed away in 2006. I never met another man, outside of my own father, with a gentler and kinder spirit, and more firm conviction for God and country coupled with passion for truth, morality, ethics, law, and family.
It was the 1930's when law school student, and later FBI Agent W. Cleon Skousen, wondered why socialism was the college professor's choice in perspectives for successful governance. Working in the nation's capitol, he was further stunned by the average Congressman's lack of understanding of the US Constitution. He set out to remedy that in an age where an increasing number of college students and celebrities idolized men like Fascist Mussolini, and communists Lenin, and Stalin. Soon to arise on the international scene would be Hitler of Germany and Mao of China. No matter that 10's of millions had died and more than 100 million would yet die under their philosophies and regimes, those Marxist and socialist inspired ideologies were not about individuals, but the undoing of capitalism and the perceived ruling classes.
A populism driven by steel resulted; guns, bullets, bombs, and mayhem, the "people's revolutions" these despots preached was nothing more than "tyrants rule." Individuals were seen as expendable and no more valuable than grass to be trampled, cut down, or left to burn in the path of revolutionary fires.
I first studied Skousen's national bestseller, THE 5000 YEAR LEAP in 1981. It explores 28 principles the Founding Fathers used to create the 222 year-old document guiding the American success story. I could never have imagined this day, when everything it warned against would become an item of daily news.
This 30 Year Anniversary edition with Foreword by Glenn Beck (given by him to Skousen's sons and copyright holders for use in this edition) is now available at our website with other specials including our 7 day old CD ROM study tool, the US CONSTITUTION COACH KIT... a product I believe will be the only tool you will ever need to gain a thorough understanding of our 222 year old history and its founding documents.
By the way, no one illuminates the news, makes its meaning more applicable to Dr. Skousen's work than the highly entertaining Glenn Beck. He is a true friend to Dr. Skousen who would have loved him like a son. I urge all readers of this and my other blogs and works to enjoy his daily insights.
We are so honored to be authorized by the Skousen family to bring you this amazing book and its story. Only at: www.usconstitutioncoach.com, www.5000yearleap.com, and www.5000yearleap.net.
James M. Pratt
Birth of a National Bestseller: I'm so proud to announce the birth of the 30 YEAR ANNIVERSARY EDITION of W. Cleon Skousen's THE FIVE THOUSAND YEAR LEAP, commissioned by his sons and family to my small publishing company, American Documents, and distributed by PowerThink.
I met Dr. Skousen on several occasions, first in 1981 when this book was published and just before he passed away in 2006. I never met another man, outside of my own father, with a gentler and kinder spirit, and more firm conviction for God and country coupled with passion for truth, morality, ethics, law, and family.
It was the 1930's when law school student, and later FBI Agent W. Cleon Skousen, wondered why socialism was the college professor's choice in perspectives for successful governance. Working in the nation's capitol, he was further stunned by the average Congressman's lack of understanding of the US Constitution. He set out to remedy that in an age where an increasing number of college students and celebrities idolized men like Fascist Mussolini, and communists Lenin, and Stalin. Soon to arise on the international scene would be Hitler of Germany and Mao of China. No matter that 10's of millions had died and more than 100 million would yet die under their philosophies and regimes, those Marxist and socialist inspired ideologies were not about individuals, but the undoing of capitalism and the perceived ruling classes.
A populism driven by steel resulted; guns, bullets, bombs, and mayhem, the "people's revolutions" these despots preached was nothing more than "tyrants rule." Individuals were seen as expendable and no more valuable than grass to be trampled, cut down, or left to burn in the path of revolutionary fires.
I first studied Skousen's national bestseller, THE 5000 YEAR LEAP in 1981. It explores 28 principles the Founding Fathers used to create the 222 year-old document guiding the American success story. I could never have imagined this day, when everything it warned against would become an item of daily news.
This 30 Year Anniversary edition with Foreword by Glenn Beck (given by him to Skousen's sons and copyright holders for use in this edition) is now available at our website with other specials including our 7 day old CD ROM study tool, the US CONSTITUTION COACH KIT... a product I believe will be the only tool you will ever need to gain a thorough understanding of our 222 year old history and its founding documents.
By the way, no one illuminates the news, makes its meaning more applicable to Dr. Skousen's work than the highly entertaining Glenn Beck. He is a true friend to Dr. Skousen who would have loved him like a son. I urge all readers of this and my other blogs and works to enjoy his daily insights.
We are so honored to be authorized by the Skousen family to bring you this amazing book and its story. Only at: www.usconstitutioncoach.com, www.5000yearleap.com, and www.5000yearleap.net.
James M. Pratt
Monday, December 1, 2008
PROCLAIM LIBERTY...For Christmas
“Proclaim liberty throughout all the land and unto all the inhabitants thereof.” Leviticus 25:10.
Inscribed upon THE LIBERTY BELL, at its permanent residence in Philadelphia, PA. are those words from Leviticus of the Old Testament. Wise and enduring words which would bring peace to everyone all year around. Speaking of "peace..."
“Christ’s Mass” is upon us. I love this time of year. It is more joy-filled, light-hearted, and giving. I believe the spirit of Christmas is literally a spiritual manifestation from God of how the world could be all the time if we proclaimed His liberty and freedom to all…
The Christmas season is a perfect occasion to rejoice and celebrate the words “freedom” and “liberty.” Most often associated in the average mind with country and independence, the words come from the God of Israel thousands of years before the United States was established as a free nation. When liberty was spoken of by God it had dual meanings:
Personal Liberty: One was the liberty and freedom from the effects of sin and breaking laws through an atoning Redeemer, thus giving us freedom from the burden, weight, and punishment that is a natural consequence of law-breaking. By simply offering “virtue” as a path, God offers “freedom” to any individual who is willing to try his experiment in "liberty."
National Liberty: The other meaning God had in mind is quite literal; that we should offer the same equality within God’s framework of laws to every man, woman and child. By “proclaiming liberty” to act, according to morals and virtue, God expected people to choose leaders of conscience and virtue to ensure personal freedoms were never trampled or denied.
This nation was established by men and women who believed it would take a high degree of individual morals and virtue to “self-govern;” an experiment seldom tried in past history. I will be sharing their written words upon this subject in coming months. Know this; most nations had always been governed by “rulers” who set the “policy,” created the laws, and expected compliance.
Our Founding Fathers offered, “We the People” the governing role through the vote, trusting us to pick wise and morally virtuous people who understood that “self-government” also meant “self-control.” A “balance of power” was also inspired so that no “single person” could be the total “policy” maker or “ruler.”
Without going into today's headlines, allow me to ask:“How much self-control as individuals and as governing parties are you seeing in our nation's leaders today? How much liberty is being established upon tried and true morals and virtue?” The list of national ills and dangers is long but has simple solutions and remedies. (Not simplistic but “simple” as in “reasonable and reliable.”)
US Constitution Coach and American Documents websites:I will be exploring thoughts on new websites being built with some very high powered associates who are fed up with the Constitution of the United States being walked on, disrespected, and generally disregarded as not relevant for today. Our aim is to “enlighten” and guide all, even those who may be sincere in their disagreement with the Founding Father’s vision, as to what “liberty” really means. We will link with other great websites, news sources, and original source documents to give the tools for anyone seeking clarity on what our rights as Americans are, and how to maintain them.
PROCLAIM LIBERTY for Christmas: I will offer you some FREE electronic downloads now and for the next several years as, “We the people” decide to collectively, “Proclaim liberty, throughout all the land and unto all the inhabitants thereof."
Please send this gift to all your friends, post comments on this site below, and watch for the new: www.usconstitutioncoach.com.
I will be inviting everyone I know to become a US Constitution Coach. Our country may be on the skids, and our Constitution hanging by a thread, but we have solutions and tools. The solution is “knowledge” rightly applied by "the people." It involves a revolution of virtue, morals, and sound judgement. The tool is the Internet and email connectivity with a willingness to have courage to share. It does not matter what political party or affiliation a person has. Not to me… and it shouldn't matter to you. Liberty from God invokes the sentiments of kindness and love, but it invokes courage too. We may debate issues with others but we must never debate the need for real and lasting LIBERTY.
Will you “Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land and unto all the inhabitants thereof,” with me? Let’s begin at Christmas and follow up all year long. It doesn't take money. I will give you all the tools needed to learn and share with the hundreds of friends and family members you communicate with. Freely give to them and encourage them to do likewise. We will build a fire that burns as bright as when the Founders first lit it if you accept... I promise.
At the end of the day, "Liberty" is God's call to all of us. What else matters if we can't breathe the exhilarating air of freedom?
Watch for www.usconstitutioncoach.com to go “live” in January. In the meantime, I have FREE offers for you to share with everyone. Offers are found in the “History and Freedom” collection at my website store found at www.powerthink.com. Go there create a “Login Account” and use the code: Constitution (with a capital “C.”) Three documents are FREE with this code:
"US Constitution,” “Federalist Papers,” and “Democracy in America.”
Freedom is a gift to protect. Don't wait to begin to learn and understand how blessed this land has been because of our founding principles. And don't wait to...
“Proclaim liberty throughout all the land and unto all the inhabitants thereof.” Leviticus 25:10.
James
www.powerthink.com
www.jmpratt.com
Inscribed upon THE LIBERTY BELL, at its permanent residence in Philadelphia, PA. are those words from Leviticus of the Old Testament. Wise and enduring words which would bring peace to everyone all year around. Speaking of "peace..."
“Christ’s Mass” is upon us. I love this time of year. It is more joy-filled, light-hearted, and giving. I believe the spirit of Christmas is literally a spiritual manifestation from God of how the world could be all the time if we proclaimed His liberty and freedom to all…
The Christmas season is a perfect occasion to rejoice and celebrate the words “freedom” and “liberty.” Most often associated in the average mind with country and independence, the words come from the God of Israel thousands of years before the United States was established as a free nation. When liberty was spoken of by God it had dual meanings:
Personal Liberty: One was the liberty and freedom from the effects of sin and breaking laws through an atoning Redeemer, thus giving us freedom from the burden, weight, and punishment that is a natural consequence of law-breaking. By simply offering “virtue” as a path, God offers “freedom” to any individual who is willing to try his experiment in "liberty."
National Liberty: The other meaning God had in mind is quite literal; that we should offer the same equality within God’s framework of laws to every man, woman and child. By “proclaiming liberty” to act, according to morals and virtue, God expected people to choose leaders of conscience and virtue to ensure personal freedoms were never trampled or denied.
This nation was established by men and women who believed it would take a high degree of individual morals and virtue to “self-govern;” an experiment seldom tried in past history. I will be sharing their written words upon this subject in coming months. Know this; most nations had always been governed by “rulers” who set the “policy,” created the laws, and expected compliance.
Our Founding Fathers offered, “We the People” the governing role through the vote, trusting us to pick wise and morally virtuous people who understood that “self-government” also meant “self-control.” A “balance of power” was also inspired so that no “single person” could be the total “policy” maker or “ruler.”
Without going into today's headlines, allow me to ask:“How much self-control as individuals and as governing parties are you seeing in our nation's leaders today? How much liberty is being established upon tried and true morals and virtue?” The list of national ills and dangers is long but has simple solutions and remedies. (Not simplistic but “simple” as in “reasonable and reliable.”)
US Constitution Coach and American Documents websites:I will be exploring thoughts on new websites being built with some very high powered associates who are fed up with the Constitution of the United States being walked on, disrespected, and generally disregarded as not relevant for today. Our aim is to “enlighten” and guide all, even those who may be sincere in their disagreement with the Founding Father’s vision, as to what “liberty” really means. We will link with other great websites, news sources, and original source documents to give the tools for anyone seeking clarity on what our rights as Americans are, and how to maintain them.
PROCLAIM LIBERTY for Christmas: I will offer you some FREE electronic downloads now and for the next several years as, “We the people” decide to collectively, “Proclaim liberty, throughout all the land and unto all the inhabitants thereof."
Please send this gift to all your friends, post comments on this site below, and watch for the new: www.usconstitutioncoach.com.
I will be inviting everyone I know to become a US Constitution Coach. Our country may be on the skids, and our Constitution hanging by a thread, but we have solutions and tools. The solution is “knowledge” rightly applied by "the people." It involves a revolution of virtue, morals, and sound judgement. The tool is the Internet and email connectivity with a willingness to have courage to share. It does not matter what political party or affiliation a person has. Not to me… and it shouldn't matter to you. Liberty from God invokes the sentiments of kindness and love, but it invokes courage too. We may debate issues with others but we must never debate the need for real and lasting LIBERTY.
Will you “Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land and unto all the inhabitants thereof,” with me? Let’s begin at Christmas and follow up all year long. It doesn't take money. I will give you all the tools needed to learn and share with the hundreds of friends and family members you communicate with. Freely give to them and encourage them to do likewise. We will build a fire that burns as bright as when the Founders first lit it if you accept... I promise.
At the end of the day, "Liberty" is God's call to all of us. What else matters if we can't breathe the exhilarating air of freedom?
Watch for www.usconstitutioncoach.com to go “live” in January. In the meantime, I have FREE offers for you to share with everyone. Offers are found in the “History and Freedom” collection at my website store found at www.powerthink.com. Go there create a “Login Account” and use the code: Constitution (with a capital “C.”) Three documents are FREE with this code:
"US Constitution,” “Federalist Papers,” and “Democracy in America.”
Freedom is a gift to protect. Don't wait to begin to learn and understand how blessed this land has been because of our founding principles. And don't wait to...
“Proclaim liberty throughout all the land and unto all the inhabitants thereof.” Leviticus 25:10.
James
www.powerthink.com
www.jmpratt.com
Saturday, November 1, 2008
SUPER POWERs & WHO WE TRUST
SUPER POWERS, POLITICOS and ELECTIONS
The political machines of two dominate parties in high gear, we are days from electing our "future." The candidates are all making promises, thick enough if spread beneath their feet over the average lake in your neck of the woods, they could literally walk on water. Politicians are asking for power and would have you and I trust them. They offer “God bless America,” just enough to make you feel they really mean it. Some do, of course. But that’s not the point.
Much is made of the United States, Russia, and China as “Super Powers.” The difference lies in which country honors the real “Super Power.” Other countries such as Iran, North Korea, seek weapons in order to “join the club.” “Joining the club” of political Super Powers through political and military might isn’t the way it works. It's about people, their will, and what they grant in the way of power that makes a nation great.
The point is this. The people of a nation must govern their leaders and insure that those elected officials remember who is the REAL Super Power. When that check and balance of people governing elected officials, and God acknowledged in public and private freely, along with freedoms established by a Constitution guaranteeing such rights, the term “Super Power” begins to have real muscle.
It’s simple really. The United States of America was the only place on earth, when first established, where the RIGHT to worship God according to the individual dictates of the conscious was a primary protection. The founders, including my ancestor Lt. William Pratt who settled in Massachusetts and then Connecticut in the 1640's, came to this land for religious and economic reasons; in a word "Freedom."
Every other country on the planet was either secular in nature or ruled by a strong central figure coupled with a “State” authorized religion. Belief in “super powers” was often highly controlled. Not much has changed unless…
You consider the great debates resulting in the Constitutional Convention (1787) and the resulting document deemed sacred to Americans for over 200 years. Every time I look at a US minted coin and see, “In God we trust…” I hear a prophetic Isaiah of Israel (Isa. 42:1-3) who must have foreseen our day. We know what happens when faith is persecuted and prosecuted. My paternal ancestors fled England in search of “Freedom of Faith” – to be who they wanted to be, worship as they wanted to worship, build a society in the fashion of their ideals based upon individual effort in collaboration with others of the same desire.
More moral freedom always encourages personal and community growth and greatness. Openness to faith and the promotion of the moral compass inherently found in faith creates not only individual character, but the character of an entire nation; resulting in “Super Power” status.
Mantras of Change: Beware of those who find it necessary to change a successful formula, or tweak it with ideals and social experimenting that has a track record of failure and oppression. All one needs to know is found in the reading of history, and where failure is concerned, a study of political change in the 20th Century.
Take God out of the ‘Super Power” and you have a hollow inside with an outer shell of bellicose rhetoric, some angry men and women guiding a nation on their own, mixed with intercontinental ballistic missiles, and self-worshipping ego-centric “follow me” attitudes the size of the title “Super Power.”
The Autocrats: Chairman Maos, the Castros, the Stalins, Hitlers, Pol Pots, dictators small and large come and go. While tens of millions have died under their power faith lives, and their memory is one of contempt. Heaven forbid we ever elect one...
China, Russia, and other supposed “Super Powers” will never rise to the level of greatness that their people as individuals aspire to until they learn the lesson of faith in a power beyond themselves, and power beyond theirs to control. As long as the human spirit yearns for faith, the bands of political control may never contain it.
To remain a SUPER POWER we in the United States must rule the leaders. We grant them the “power” to manage the greatest nation ever conceived in mortal history. The sacred document organizing our United States was agonized over by a group of wise men who began their deliberations with prayer each day during the summer of 1787. The Founding Fathers looking beyond their day and into ours, knew that absolute power corrupts absolutely. If we get back to the genius inspired principles of balance of power, free market economics, (Adam Smith, author Wealth of Nations, was the Founder's hero...available at my website www.powerthink.com)along with freedoms of faith and others guaranteed by their concensus in the US Constitution, our position as a people and a country will remain blessed and secure.
“In God We Trust” and “God Bless America” are located on coinage and through the written and spoken word. To the degree they are genuine and heartfelt we will remain a free nation and Super Power.
James Michael Pratt
www.jmpratt.com
The political machines of two dominate parties in high gear, we are days from electing our "future." The candidates are all making promises, thick enough if spread beneath their feet over the average lake in your neck of the woods, they could literally walk on water. Politicians are asking for power and would have you and I trust them. They offer “God bless America,” just enough to make you feel they really mean it. Some do, of course. But that’s not the point.
Much is made of the United States, Russia, and China as “Super Powers.” The difference lies in which country honors the real “Super Power.” Other countries such as Iran, North Korea, seek weapons in order to “join the club.” “Joining the club” of political Super Powers through political and military might isn’t the way it works. It's about people, their will, and what they grant in the way of power that makes a nation great.
The point is this. The people of a nation must govern their leaders and insure that those elected officials remember who is the REAL Super Power. When that check and balance of people governing elected officials, and God acknowledged in public and private freely, along with freedoms established by a Constitution guaranteeing such rights, the term “Super Power” begins to have real muscle.
It’s simple really. The United States of America was the only place on earth, when first established, where the RIGHT to worship God according to the individual dictates of the conscious was a primary protection. The founders, including my ancestor Lt. William Pratt who settled in Massachusetts and then Connecticut in the 1640's, came to this land for religious and economic reasons; in a word "Freedom."
Every other country on the planet was either secular in nature or ruled by a strong central figure coupled with a “State” authorized religion. Belief in “super powers” was often highly controlled. Not much has changed unless…
You consider the great debates resulting in the Constitutional Convention (1787) and the resulting document deemed sacred to Americans for over 200 years. Every time I look at a US minted coin and see, “In God we trust…” I hear a prophetic Isaiah of Israel (Isa. 42:1-3) who must have foreseen our day. We know what happens when faith is persecuted and prosecuted. My paternal ancestors fled England in search of “Freedom of Faith” – to be who they wanted to be, worship as they wanted to worship, build a society in the fashion of their ideals based upon individual effort in collaboration with others of the same desire.
More moral freedom always encourages personal and community growth and greatness. Openness to faith and the promotion of the moral compass inherently found in faith creates not only individual character, but the character of an entire nation; resulting in “Super Power” status.
Mantras of Change: Beware of those who find it necessary to change a successful formula, or tweak it with ideals and social experimenting that has a track record of failure and oppression. All one needs to know is found in the reading of history, and where failure is concerned, a study of political change in the 20th Century.
Take God out of the ‘Super Power” and you have a hollow inside with an outer shell of bellicose rhetoric, some angry men and women guiding a nation on their own, mixed with intercontinental ballistic missiles, and self-worshipping ego-centric “follow me” attitudes the size of the title “Super Power.”
The Autocrats: Chairman Maos, the Castros, the Stalins, Hitlers, Pol Pots, dictators small and large come and go. While tens of millions have died under their power faith lives, and their memory is one of contempt. Heaven forbid we ever elect one...
China, Russia, and other supposed “Super Powers” will never rise to the level of greatness that their people as individuals aspire to until they learn the lesson of faith in a power beyond themselves, and power beyond theirs to control. As long as the human spirit yearns for faith, the bands of political control may never contain it.
To remain a SUPER POWER we in the United States must rule the leaders. We grant them the “power” to manage the greatest nation ever conceived in mortal history. The sacred document organizing our United States was agonized over by a group of wise men who began their deliberations with prayer each day during the summer of 1787. The Founding Fathers looking beyond their day and into ours, knew that absolute power corrupts absolutely. If we get back to the genius inspired principles of balance of power, free market economics, (Adam Smith, author Wealth of Nations, was the Founder's hero...available at my website www.powerthink.com)along with freedoms of faith and others guaranteed by their concensus in the US Constitution, our position as a people and a country will remain blessed and secure.
“In God We Trust” and “God Bless America” are located on coinage and through the written and spoken word. To the degree they are genuine and heartfelt we will remain a free nation and Super Power.
James Michael Pratt
www.jmpratt.com
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
"Bury My Heart in the United States"
An Iraqi, a tired American Soldier and...A MUST READ!
A Letter Home by Sergeant Grant L. Pratt III, 1st Cav. Baghdad, Sept. 2007
Sergeant Grant Pratt, III is on his second tour of duty in Iraq. He is a Platoon Sergeant with the 1s Cavalry and supervises 23 other medics and an aid station in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods of Baghdad. This letter home was sent September 11, 2007. In his own words he describes how one Iraqi has given him hope:
I wanted to take this opportunity to let everyone know of an experience I had here that really affected me.
I have wondered over the last seven months of my deployment if this war can be won militarily, or if there is any hope that this country can embrace a democratic government. In my eyes the people seem more intent on themselves and their contempt for other each other than making things work here.
With the things I have seen, experiences, and watching friends die I kind of believe that our endeavor here is pointless. I did not believe that there was a single Iraqi in this country that really cared if the violence stopped or that there were any that did not want to kill every American they see. Then I had something happen the other day that (did not change my mind necessarily) gave me some hope.
About a month ago an Iraqi came to my aid station; he is one of the Iraqis that works with us as an interpreter. His name is Sam and he is 20 years old. He came to my aid station with a severely broken and lacerated finger after it was shut in the 300 pound door of an armored vehicle. I spent about two hours cleaning his finger and suturing it, all the while making small talk. He continually told me how he wanted to come to America and join our Army so he could come back and do more for Iraq. He told me of how he loved Americans and all he wants is to become one.
I listened and talked with him until I was finished with my procedure and wished him well, and in my mind dismissed most of what he said as just words and never thought much else of it.
On September 9th it came across the radio that one of our vehicles had been hit by an explosion and we had one soldier killed, two wounded, as well as the interpreter that was with them. I put my gear on and went with the squadron commander to the hospital to check on our injured men.
It was quite a gruesome sight. First I saw my medic, who had minor wounds, then went to the young man who had served as the gunner. He had received blast wounds to the leg which had torn away a majority of his outer thigh. I then went to view the body of our fallen brother who died due to a head injury. We helped console the other members of the platoon as this was the second Soldier they had lost in five days. Overwhelmed by the experience, we walked in to see the interpreter, which turned out to be Sam.
Sam had suffered severe lacerations to the head, resulting in over 40 sutures and staples. He had a small skull fracture and a small brain hemorrhage. Despite his severe injuries he would only ask how the others were doing. He was covered in blood and in extreme pain and just wanted to be sure that the soldiers he was with were okay.
Once satisfied they would be taken care of, he took my commanders hand and said, "If I die please take my heart to the United States and bury it there." We assured him his injuries were not mortal and left him in the care of the doctors at the hospital and told him we would be back the next day to see him.
The next morning I received a call from the hospital telling me that Sam was going to be released to an Iraqi hospital, but that he did not want to go. He feared that because of his ethnic background that he would be denied treatment and sent away. I told them I would call back in a few minutes and that we would come and get him and continue his care at my aid station. After 20 minutes of talking to the commander and making arrangements, I called the hospital and told them we would be there shortly to pick him up when they informed me that they had already released him, and had given him money to get to the Iraqi hospital. Needless to say, we were a little upset.
We began searching the area around the hospital and could not locate Sam. We were worried that he would fall into the wrong hands as any Iraqi that works with the Americans are often killed because they are aiding the enemy.
Three hours later we got a call from the gate to our base that Sam was there. He had walked from the hospital to our base, about seven miles in flip flops and pajamas, despite fairly significant injuries. My medics brought him to the aid station and as we laid him on the bed I looked at him and said "You are a pretty tough guy." He grabbed my hand and looked me in the eyes and said, "I knew if I got here you would take care of me, Sergeant."
Tears filled the corner of my eyes and I replied "You bet I will." He then said, "I had to get back here for two reasons. First the memorial service for Johnson (the soldier we had lost a few days prior) is tonight and I cannot miss that. We also have an important mission tomorrow and they need me." I informed him he would make it to the service, but would not be going on patrol anytime soon. He argued for a short time then agreed that it would be in his best interest to relax for a couple of weeks before going outside the wire, but still insisted his guys (the U.S. Soldiers from his platoon) needed him.
Later that night I sat two rows behind Sam as we paid tribute to our fallen brother and watched as he mourned and cried with the rest of us. I realized he is as committed as the rest of us and is considered a brother to us.
I just got done rechecking his wounds and talking with him. He still insists on going back out with his guys because they need him. He talked about his dreams of living in California some day. I have to say I admire this guy. He displays courage like no other Iraqi I have seen and in some ways made me think again of my views.
Despite what you see and hear on the news, there are Iraqis like Sam that are dedicated to seeing their country succeed. There may not be many, but some sacrifice along side us with a simple dream of their country being better off, or like Sam of being an American citizen. It gives me some hope that things will eventually work out here, and that someday Sam will be an American citizen, because he has earned that right.
Grant
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
