St Crispin's Day

[garyedolan]

Tuesday, October 25 is St Crispin's Day. The theme of fellowship in battle runs deep. The great point is that the fellowship is a blessing, and something that veterans rely upon. When a Ranger Brother dies suddenly, I find the grief eased by fellowship with my Brothers in Arms. I am thankful to our Country for the privilege.

Echoes of the theme:

KENNETH BRANAGH IN "HENRY V"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-yZNMWFqvM

FILM, "GLORY"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBBk0q6AK-0

FILM, "12 O'CLOCK HIGH"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVbnDBBtg3I

"LET'S HEAR SOME SHAKESPEARE, PRIVATE"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApcrdI-X ... re=related

A COMBAT GENERAL SPEAKS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB2zujCJYYY

WOMAN SIOUX WARRIOR AS BROTHER
http://truewest.ning.com/profiles/blogs ... an-warrior

THE FIGHT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzKr_uP6 ... 1&index=44

I cannot help but ponder our recent loss: Two U.S. Army Rangers and one Cultural Support Team member were killed in action Oct. 22, during combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

1st Lt. Ashley White, 24, was assigned to the 230th Brigade Support Battalion, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, North Carolina National Guard, Goldsboro, N.C., and attached to a joint special operations task force as a Cultural Support Team member.

Sgt. 1st Class Kristoffer B. Domeij, 29, was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Co., 2nd Bn., 75th Ranger Regiment, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

Pvt. 1st Class Christopher A. Horns, 20, was assigned to Co. C, 2nd Bn., 75th Ranger Regiment, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

For consideration in the context of Fellowship: We are at a time in our Country's wars where valor and sacrifice are vastly underrecognized, for complex reasons. The current gap compared to the Vietnam War is 145, so certainly women are overlooked. America seems to be saying that our sons and daughters are not as brave as their fathers and grandfathers. Officials and citizens, led by Bud Bucha West Point '65, are working to correct this.
http://www.sldinfo.com/?p=6455

At the click: the figure 145 comes from taking the troop combat days of 179 million for Iraq and Afghanistan, divided by 286 million troop combat days in Vietnam, which is 63%. 63% times 246 Medals of Honor in Vietnam is 155.
Allowing for up to ten Medals of Honor awarded, 155  minus 10 is 145. The figuring of troop combat days is careful, allowing for tooth to tail (T3), and based on analysis of each war. Adjustments are intended to make the wars comparable.

Finding just one, two or three overlooked women is significant; only one has received the Medal of Honor. American women have joined ranks at the rate of some 20% of the force. The 10,000th woman graduated from the five federal military academies in 2005; in 2010 the total nears 14,000.  Henry V as portrayed by Shakespeare would surely say:

"For she today that sheds her blood with me shall be my brother."

[Ranger Ron]

Thanks Gary, one of my favorite topics

THE BAND OF BROTHERS

St. Crispen's Day Speech
William Shakespeare, 1599
Enter the KING
WESTMORELAND. O that we now had here
But one ten thousand of those men in England
That do no work to-day!

KING. What's he that wishes so?
My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin;
If we are mark'd to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England.
God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one man more methinks would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse;
We would not die in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is call'd the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian.'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispian's day.'
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, WE BAND OF BROTHERS;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

[rgrwest]

Gary good read. How did you come up with the troop combat days? Vietnam is listed on most accounts as 8 years and 5 months, and Afghanistan is listed now as 10 years 1 month. Wouldn't that be more combat days? Just curious.

[garyedolan]

Gary good read. How did you come up with the troop combat days? Vietnam is listed on most accounts as 8 years and 5 months, and Afghanistan is listed now as 10 years 1 month. Wouldn't that be more combat days? Just curious.

This was actually written last year on Monday, 24 Oct and the figures were good as of then...sorry--the intent is the same

[rgrwest]

Gary good read. How did you come up with the troop combat days? Vietnam is listed on most accounts as 8 years and 5 months, and Afghanistan is listed now as 10 years 1 month. Wouldn't that be more combat days? Just curious.

This was actually written last year on Monday, 24 Oct and the figures were good as of then...sorry--the intent is the same

No disrespect intended, just curious. Thanks.

[Jim]

Excellent, Gary!