"We watch intently as the body, entirely covered, is removed on a stretcher and put in the waiting ambulance. The general salutes as the ambulance passes. Some follow suit. Others, lost in prayer, deep thoughts, tears, salute in their own private way."
The story that I read about was from a Lieutenant Colonel in combat. He tells about his vivid memories while in combat and all of the injuries and deaths taking place around him. He uses all of the battle terms that are used in the war to describe how terrible the war was. He also talked about how lucky you were if you came out of the war alive or unharmed. He would see his crew members and close friends die during the war and he was very appreciative that he was never killed. The deaths of his fellow soldiers really impacted him and everyone around them. They had great respect for those who died in the war.
I thought that Lieutenant Colonel Stephen McAllister's journal entry was very sad but it was so honest and true. It was a real veteran's memory of the war. It opened my eyes to how real the war is and how scary it can be. The story also made me think about how scary it would be not knowing how much longer you would live while in the war. You really can not take any moment for granted while in the war because you could die at any moment. It was nice to see how much the soldiers cared about those who died in combat. I wasn't sure if they would just move on quickly because they had to be strong for the war, but they didn't. They were respectful to the deceased and paid their respect in their own way.
I think this entry has to do with the book, Fallen Angels because the soldiers, like Perry and Peewee, are very sensitive to deaths in the crew. They really grow to love and care about their crewmates and it really hits them hard when they die. In this entry, he talks about how respectful everyone is when someone dies in combat. The soldiers in these two stories are both loved and respected by everyone.
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6 comments:
Did you ever wonder how much these experiences meant to the soldier, especially ones with this much horror to them? It kind of makes me wonder how they walk down the road without looking over their shoulders.
Sarah, it really is great that all of the stories are real-life. I think it's a great thing for the soldiers to be able to share their stories with the world to make some people more aware of what goes on. Although they are all sad, I'm sure that the soldiers who are sharing their thoughts get a lot from doing so.
Yes Casey, I understand how much these experiences mean to the soldiers. And Andrea, I also appreciate their willingness to share their personal stories. It must be so hard for them to do so but it's great that they do.
I don't know if I would call it great that they share the stories. I would choose good because we need to know but there is also the fact that they actually were there. It makes it seem a little unreal.
It may seem unreal, but everything is true. I think that in some ways, sharing the stories may help the soldiers vent. For some, however, it may hurt to bring back the memories of the war zone.
I agree with Andrea, I think it's definitely their decision whether they share their stories or not, but if they choose to do so it's great for them. Because like Andrea said, they probably don't talk to much about it with other people, so telling their stories in a book is a good way to spread their stories.
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