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JULY 4th: WE NEED TO DO MORE THEN REMEMBER
Why We Need to Serve the
Members of Our Military
by
Joseph Kerry
During all of the celebrating that
will be taking place this Fourth of July weekend we must take the
time to reflect on the many military men and women who have answered
their country’s call to service. I want to tell you about two such
individuals--one who answered the call of his country over five
decades ago and another who has been enlisted for slightly more than
two years.
Fred Mitchell enlisted in the United States Navy on May 20, 1944. At
the time of his enlistment defeating the military forces of Nazi
Germany and Imperial Japan was not guaranteed and Fred was all of
eighteen years old and proud to be part of the very first crew
assigned to the newly commissioned USS Drexler. He was one of the
357 sailors assigned to the destroyer and quickly adopted to his
duties as radio fleet operator. Slightly over a year later, on May
28, 1945, the USS Drexler, while carrying out its duties in the
Pacific Ocean during the Okinawa Campaign, came under kamikaze
attack by six Japanese suicide pilots. Four of the six planes never
found there mark but the two that did caused enough damage to
silence the mighty destroyer and send her to the bottom of the
Pacific Ocean.
Fred Mitchell was part of the battle-station crew that operated a
40mm quad machine gun on the starboard side of the ship. One of the
suicide planes crashed into this station and instantly vaporized 14
young sailors, all in the prime of their life. Fred somehow survived
that direct hit and soon found himself in the salty water of the
Pacific Ocean. He recalled bobbing up-and-down in the waves with no
life vest and wearing his navy uniform and navy boots. Fred told me
that treading water in such gear was ‘one of the hardest things you
can do in your life.’ Add to this that there was 10 inches of
flaming oil coating the ocean surface from the sinking ship and you
begin to quickly realize that the eighteen-year-olds of today really
do not have anything to complain about!
After being in the water for what seemed like an eternity Fred told
me that he was exhausted. He was physically at the end of his
strength and he just wanted to stop treading water and slip under
the waves. During this time he could see the flames and hear the
shouts and screams of other survivors but could not see anyone else
due to the waves and smoke. He eventually came across an officer who
was wearing a life vest and together they found a life raft that was
so overcrowded that they could not climb aboard. Fred held onto the
side of the raft and for the next four hours Fred was constantly
being splashed and swallowing ocean water full of salt and oil.
I should tell you that just six days before the Drexler was attacked
Fred celebrated his 19th birthday. Who knew that less than a week
later he would be fighting for his life? I asked Fred why he did
it--why did he enlist? Why give up the comforts of home and family?
His answer, like that of so many of the men and women from his
generation, was simple and direct: "If I didn’t go and if everyone
refused to serve, the Germans and Japanese would be here threatening
and harming my family." He enlisted, not to be a hero, but to serve
his country and protect his family and friends. I do not think that
any of you would be surprised to learn that when I asked him if he
had any regrets about enlisting in the navy his answer was simply
"no".
I recently had the privilege of introducing Fred Mitchell to an 18
year old young man, Richard Martinez, who recently enlisted in the
United States Navy. He could have continued on in school, worked in
his computer programming job or just decided to see the world and
find himself. But Richard voluntarily decided to enlist in the navy
during a time of war. Why? He told me that he wanted to serve as a
way to show his thanks for the abundance and blessings in his own
life.
Richard and Fred spoke most of the afternoon about the good, the bad
and the ugly of navy service. Neither was a teacher nor a student.
Over fifty years separate their years of respective service but they
conversed like old friends.
Let us take at the very minimum a few moments this Fourth of July
weekend to not only remember those who served long ago or those who
selflessly serve today. During this time of war, however, we must do
more than merely remember those who serve. We must act and actively
show our gratefulness, not only to those currently serving but also
to their families who sacrifice so much everyday. President Bush has
suggested one way to do this is to visit
www.americasupportsyou.mil and accept one of the challenges to
serve.
May I also suggest that when we see men and women in uniform that we
approach them, shake their hand and thank them for their service. If
we see them in uniform in the grocery store, gas station or eating
out, let’s approach and offer to pick-up the tab. A few months ago I
was at a local convenience store and it was humbling to see three
customers approach the cashier and volunteer to pay for the handful
of items a young man in uniform was set to purchase. The young
soldier thanked the three unknown customers who all responded that
they were the thankful ones. Finally, let us remember that each of
these brave soldiers has a family that also may need our help and
certainly needs to know that we recognize their sacrifice.
A great president once rhetorically asked "if not us then who and if
not now then when?" Now is the time for each of us to step forward
and show our love, respect and support for those among us who are
truly doing the heavy lifting of protecting our freedom.
(If you have taken the time to do something for those in uniform or
their families I would like to
hear from you as to
what you did and the reaction it received).
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