Posted by
Glenn Flowers on Sunday, April 20, 2008 11:33:02 PM
There Came a Time...
…when a generation was called upon to save the world. And they did. That generation was the men and women of the United States Armed Forces that served in and, in alliance with brothers from like minded nations, won World War II. They were the parents of the baby-boomers, my dad, and my aunts and uncles, their cousins and friends, all of whom saw the need and dedicated themselves to the preservation of freedom and liberty in the world.
Just as dedicated as those in uniform were those who, for thousands of reasons, could not join their loved ones overseas but were just as zealous in the cause as those doing the dying. In a bigger than life way, these homeland soldiers played as big a part, even though not as direct nor costly, as the marines, sailors, grunts, and pilots did each day. They produced, and then produced some more, then produced ten times that much in half as much time. They produced enough, not just for our war needs, but for the needs of British bombing victims, which was the entire population of Great Britain, and the British forces via the Lend/Lease program. These patriots farmed wheat, corn, potatoes and other foods. They bred cattle, milked cows, made cheese, manufactured tanks, airplanes, jeeps, rifles, ammunition, cannon, bombs, submarines, radios, tents, cots, uniforms, medical supplies, gasoline and diesel fuels, tires, parachutes, cameras, blimps, portable bridges, ships, and every other conceivable necessity of war, and a lot of the comforts of home. They produced enough of it all that the combined industrial efforts of Japan, Italy, and Germany could not come close to matching it.
US soldiers marching into French villages after driving the Vermacht out did not go begging from the residents for the comforts of their homes, rather they went their way passing out American chocolate, cigarettes, cakes, clothing, and other "luxuries" to the people of the village. Many a German commander was demoralized when they realized that the Americans had the means not only to provide every soldier with all necessities of the war, but also every letter written to him from the States, and were even able to deliver his birthday cake, Christmas gifts, pictures of homelife, and the latest Hollywood productions with ease and little or no thought as to the cost. There was just no way on Earth that any force was going to best the Americans, not when they brought the entire industrial might of America with them to war. It was just overwhelming. Overwhelming is what it was. In their own, absolutely necessary way, the army of stateside workers played as big a part in the victory over the Axis powers as the armed forces. Without the goods and materials produced by them our forces would not, could not have been victorious.
Sadly though, that was then, and this is now. Sure, the nation pulled together and unified back then, and again against our enemy of today when our World Trade Center towers became the Pearl Harbor of 2001. We were all together united in the cause when the Taliban was defeated in Afghanistan and a new democracy was born. We were even cheering the armored infantry in their valiant dash across Iraq and seemingly effortless defeat of the elite Iraqi Palace Guard.
But the resolve faded when, after the easy work was done, the real nitty gritty of a guerilla war ensued. Helped along by press reports only of US casualties and shortcomings, the homeland populace grew weary and their zeal paled. When it didn’t become an instantaneous, overwhelming success at nation building, the support and patriotic fervor diminished, and then died completely. No homeland heroes this bunch. Our enemies in the struggle, seeing the lack of resolve in the spoiled citizens at home, gained moral strength that, if they could just cause another year of trouble, casualties, and struggle for the American soldiers, the cry would become louder to "Bring Our Troops Home!" And it has done them well to do so, because that sentiment has become the dominant voice of "the people", deceived and spurred on by many of our congressional leaders. They are cowards and traitors these liberal fat cats in congress. With superhuman restraint I will only say shame on them. SHAME ON THEM !! They, alone, will be held responsible if they succeed in fomenting failure in this struggle.