11/11/2008

Let the children of today not be allowed to forget the sacrifices made by men and women in all wars..this is a poem previously posted on Anzac Day and I would like to share it again for this 90th anniversary of the end of World War 1...the signing of the Armistice.

The Soldier stood and faced his God,

Which must always come to pass.

He hoped his shoes were shining,

Just as brightly as his brass.

"Step forward now, you Soldier,

How shall I deal with you?

Have you always turned the other cheek?

To My Church have you been true?"

The Soldier squared his shoulders and said,

"No, my Lord, I ain't.

Because those of us who carry guns,

Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays,

And at times my talk was tough.

And sometimes I've been violent,

Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a dollar,

That wasn't mine to keep...

Though I worked a lot of overtime,

When the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,

Though at times I shook with fear.

And sometimes, God, forgive me,

I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place,

Among the people here.

They never wanted me around,

Except to calm their fears.

If you've a place for me here, Lord,

It needn't be so grand.

I never expected or had too much,

But if you don't, I'll understand.

There was a silence all around the throne,

Where the Saints had often trod.

As the Soldier waited quietly,

For the judgment of his God.

"Step forward now, you Soldier,

You've borne your burdens well.

Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,

You've done your time in Hell."

~Author Unknown~

MEMORIAL DAY----AMERICA

Memorial day is celebrated as a National Holiday the last Monday of May. It is sometimes called Decoration Day or Poppy Day. It is set aside to honor those Americans who gave their lives for their country. Similar to our Anzac Day and Memorial Day in November. Whether you agree with various troops stationed throughout the world or not, spare a thought for what they are going through and the ultimate sacrifice that thousands have made.

Battle of the Coral Sea....May 4th - 8th 1942 WW II

This story is entirely from Wikipedia The Battle of the Coral Sea.
I don't know much about it myself but it is 66 years since it occured and I learned from reading the following article.

The Battle of the Coral Sea, fought from May 4 – May 8, 1942, with most of the action occurring on May 7 and May 8, was a major naval battle in the Pacific Ocean in World War II between the Imperial Japanese Navy, the United States and Australia. It was the first fleet action in which aircraft carriers engaged each other. It was also the first naval battle in history in which neither side's ships sighted or fired directly upon the other. It is considered a tactical victory for Japan since the United States lost fleet carrier USS Lexington, Japan only the light carrier Shōhō. At the same time, the battle was a strategic victory for the Allies because the Japanese abandoned their attempt to land troops to take Port Moresby, New Guinea. The engagement ended with no clear victor, but the damage suffered and experience gained by both sides set the stage for the Battle of Midway one month later.

An explosion aboard the USS LEXINGTON May 8th 1942 , seen from the cruiser Minneapolis.

In tactical terms the Japanese had achieved a narrow victory; one small carrier lost and a large carrier severely damaged against the Americans’ loss of a large carrier and significant damage to another. But from the Allied point of view, after five months of continuous defeat, a battle that came out almost even was close enough to a victory as not to matter.
Japanese casualties were also heavier as well, due to the quick sinking of Shōhō.
In strategic terms, the Allies had won because the seaborne invasion of Port Moresby was averted. Port Moresby was vital to Allied strategy and could not have been defended by the ground forces stationed there. This was the first time that a Japanese invasion force had been turned back without achieving its objective.

Date May 4 – May 8, 1942 Location Coral Sea, between Australia, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands Result Japanese tactical victory; Allied strategic victory
Belligerents
United States Navy	Imperial Japanese Navy
Commanders
Frank J. Fletcher	Takeo Takagi Kiyohide Shima Sadamichi Kajioka Kuninori Marumo Aritomo Goto
Strength
2 large carriers, 3 cruisers	2 large carriers, 1 light carrier, 4 cruisers
Casualties and losses
1 fleet carrier, 1 destroyer and 1 oil tanker sunk 65 aircraft destroyed[1] 543 killed	1 light carrier and 1 destroyer sunk 69 aircraft destroyed[2] 1,074 killed

There is so much more that can be read at the following link, long story but interesting to read no less.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Coral_Sea

ANZAC DAY

The "Ode of Remembrance" is regularly recited at memorial services held on days commemorating World War I, such as ANZAC Day, Remembrance Day, and Remembrance Sunday. In Australia's Returned and Services Leagues, it is read out nightly at 6 p.m., followed by a minute's silence.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.

Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,

They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

Lest we forget...

AUSSIE PROPS

Was given a fascinating read at WORD AROUND THE NET. They have a post up, AUSSIE PROPS. It has parts of an email there written by a soldier, contains his thought on American soldiers. However the father who is sharing his son's email , his thoughts are not so kind, It is the soldier's email that I am talking about. Think a few people should read this, I hear so much American bashing and it infuriates me no end. This is the best post to explain it. America bashing is a big thing in Australia yet the ones that I have seen and personally heard doing so, they would be the first to put their hands out for help if needed. Many of the so called intellectuals who do the same should pull their heads out of their asses, and stop pointing the finger and blaming America for everything that is wrong in th world. Here is a sample of the post at Word.

The Australians are an outpost of the Judeo-Christian Anglosphere in Southeast Asia, and their presence is well felt. When terrorists struck in Bali, Australia responded. When the Boxing Day Tsunami hit, Australia was first on the scene to help out. While the US fights terrorism elsewhere, Australia handles their region in a way no other country has pitched in on the War on Terror.

...what gets to me is that the Yanks don't walk around with a "we are better than you attitude" and they could because they are, they treat us as equals and as brothers in arms. If nothing else, coming here has taught me that the Americans are a truly great Nation and a truly great bunch of people.