Oorah!
This past week, Congress approved a $162 billion spending bill for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It also provides veterans (who have served actively for at least three years) free college educations. That is the least we can do to help these patriots who serve this country so valiantly. We must continue to fight to care for those who have fought for us, particularly those who now are disabled for doing so.
As we approach another Independence Day, I've been thinking a lot about all of the great service members who have served, past and present, to provide and maintain the freedom we experience today. While we complain and murmur about gas prices at home, I call all Americans this week to reconsider the costs our service members continue to pay to fuel freedom — especially those wounded in heart, mind and body. And I encourage you to pause from your Independence Day festivities to send a free postcard (made by American children) to our troops overseas through Xerox. Go to www.LetsSayThanks.com.
Without diminishing the respect we owe to America's hundreds of thousands of service members here and overseas, this week I want to salute in particular two superb examples of patriots — valiant men who have served this country faithfully in times of peace and war and with whom I traveled during my tours of Iraq in 2006 and 2007 to greet roughly 40,000 troops at 30 bases.
In Iraq, Navy Capt. Mike Langston was the force chaplain for the Multi National Force-West in Anbar province. In Kabul, Afghanistan, Capt. Langston also served as the theater chaplain for Combined Forces Command. He just left Iraq as division chaplain for the 2nd Marine Division to assume the position of commanding officer for the Naval Chaplains School in Newport, R.I., where he will be responsible for all the Navy Chaplain Corps training for our chaplain officers and all the religious program specialists training in our Chaplain Corps.
I extend my sincere congratulations and thanks to Capt. Langston, who now serves in a critical and often overlooked area of service: military chaplaincy. He is a gentle and giant warrior who is always ready in season and out of season to serve both God and country. I must admit I'm a little biased here with Mike, as he also leads a multiple-black-belt martial arts family! My wife, Gena, and I wish him, his wife, Kathy, and their family the best in this promoted and patriotic service to our nation.
My second commendation goes to my friend and four-star Marine Gen. Robert Magnus, at whose invitation I twice visited our troops in Iraq. Gen. Magnus is retiring this month as the 18th assistant commandant of the Marine Corps. He has had nothing short of a stellar military career, from Vietnam to Iraq. His personal decorations include: Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Navy Achievement Medal, and National Defense Service Medal with a Bronze Star.
I have known hundreds of officers in every branch of the military through the decades, and Gen. Magnus certainly stands among the most outstanding of even the notables. His amazing leadership gifts and down-to-earth demeanor give him a universal good-will rapport as a man of valor and an exceptional military servant and patriot. My wife, Gena, and I wish him, his wife, Rose, and their family the best as he transitions into retirement, where we know he will continue to serve his country in a host of humanitarian ways.
Often overlooked in our debates about war are the real men and women who serve this country, such as Gen. Magnus and Capt. Langston. These men are examples of the hundreds of thousands of military souls who leave all and put all on the line for our country and freedom. These are the people about whom my friend and fellow actor (who also accompanied me to Iraq in 2006) Marshall Teague is producing the military movie "Last Ounce of Courage." (You can see the trailer at www.LastOunceOfCourage.com.)
On this Independence Day, it is high time every last American drop his partisan politics, post his flag, and commend these patriots for securing and passing the baton of independence and freedom to yet one more generation. They live out the calling and creed once so eloquently stated by President Ronald Reagan: "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."
It is to Gen. Magnus, Capt. Langston and freedom fighters like them around the globe that I, as an Air Force veteran and honorary Marine, commendably shout on this Independence Day that Marine exclamation, "Oorah!" We are grateful for your service and humbled by your ability to remain semper fi .
To find out more about Chuck Norris and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2008 CHUCK NORRIS
DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS SYNDICATE INC. 
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Thanks, Chuck, a fine commemorative article and a fitting salute to those outstanding USMC officers.
Today, July 1st, is a day that ought to be officially commemorated in this country. On July 1st, 1916, about 180,000 British and Empire soldiers (including a battalion of the Newfoundland Regiment) went 'over the top' from their trenches in Picardy, France and advanced against the German lines on the first day of what would become known as the Battle of the Somme. Almost 60,000 became casualties on that day, with a third of them KIA or died of wounds. The losses among the actual assaulting battalions were disproportionately higher; 1st Newfoundlands lost 710 out of about 800. Many of the British battalions lost 400-600 out of 700-800 men.
These men were mostly volunteers. They had trained for 2 years while the British Regular Army and Territorials (British equivalent of the US National Guard) did the fighting. After July 1st, the shattered battalions closed ranks and filled up with drafts of reinforcements. And they fought on - and won. This should never be forgotten.
This year is one of particular commemorative significance for you folks over there as well. 90 years ago, the 'Doughboys' were fighting in France and winning victories, e.g. St Mihiel. But they too suffered the harsh realities of modern war.
In his book 1918, The Last Act, British military historian Barrie Pitt writes, "At the end of every battle, [the Americans] lay on the ground in evenly spaced, regular lines, like fallen bean-poles, or corn-stooks blown over by the wind. Or like the British dead on the Somme, in the hot, summer sunlight of July 1st, 1916."
Regardless of the cynics (or the politicians), I think there is a special relationship between these English-speaking peoples on opposite sides of the Atlantic. That too should not be forgotten.
Comment: #1
Posted by: Alan O'Reilly
Tue Jul 1, 2008 8:56 AM
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Mr. Norris; It is too bad for reactionary journalist and spin masters that they can't keep the flag bound around every citizen's head all the time so that their rights can be robbed and their pockets picked. These are Americans sent over to destroy private property, and terrorize the population. Do I think we will be successful in stealing their oil and making their government ineffective for or against us? Well, yes. And the same oil our children have bought withtheir blood we will buy from our private oil companies at a significant profit. So why don't you tell the world why I should support the military at all. If the military has crawled into bed with evangelical Christianity for an unholy union; why should I support them? Of course; they do need my support. They are both big enough to take what is mine. I don't have the means to resist them, and I must pay my taxes even when I see the government pursues an illegal war. But I will never like it. And I will never support it; and though many of my people have fought for this country, the flag is only a remider of how they have all been robbed. I am not flying it. I am not ashamed of it. It is just that all the asses who have drained the meaning out of that rag to put themselves in power, or to keep themselves in power, who spew patriotism to drive hotheads into acts of stupidity have taken the glory of the flag and left only the gore. It is a terrible shame. Thanks, Sweeney
Comment: #2
Posted by: James A, Sweeney
Wed Jul 2, 2008 4:30 AM
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Mr. Norris, this piece is pure celebration of war. The name of the holiday is Independence Day, not Glorious Soldier Day. We celebrated our soldiers last May. ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
I wouldn't have a problem with celebrating certain wars if you had it in you to be a little more selective, but you just want to celebrate the whole darn thing. Take World War II, for example. Before we got in, our Congress was a little too cozy with big business in Nazi Germany to want to make any waves, and President Roosevelt had to resort to outright trickery to get those lazy boys to offer any help at all to lonely Great Britain. But after the blood of our soldiers was spilled in Pearl Harbor, Congress finally found its spine. Better late than never. At least we were on the right side in that one. .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Then there was the war the Vietnamese fought to bring about their own Independence Day. That's the one where Viet Nam was trying to get out from under the domination of the west and we basically said “Independence is okay for us but not for you.” That war was marketed to the American public as the one to stop the stack of dominoes from falling into the hands of the “communist block.” .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
It was a great gimmick, and it sure fooled a lot of the feebleminded. People like you still go for it to this day. However, the stubborn fact is that neither the Soviets nor the Chinese, who hated each other and were no more of a “block” then than they are now, took over after the Vietnamese kicked us out. Viet Nam finally got its independence. A lot of folks died over that one, and it was a pretty good example of how we sometimes get it dead wrong. .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Then there was the war in Kosovo in the 90's, to which we sent troops to stop genocide. That was an example of doing the right thing in the tradition of World War II. It was a time for a brief moment to be proud once again of American military might. ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
And, of course, there is the disgraceful destruction we have wrought in Iraq. Not something we should ever want to celebrate, and what a stain on the American soul that will always be. ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
The above are just examples of how we sometimes get it right and sometimes get it wrong. The point is, when feel-good word-sellers like you beat the drum and crow about the glory of war in general, too many in the mob, including presidents and vice presidents from time to time, start thinking it's a great thing all around and we should keep on doing it over and over again just cause it's a thrilling way to spend our time and money. You ask us to see patriotism as a matter of supporting war no matter what the reason. That is really a crime.
Comment: #3
Posted by: Masako
Wed Jul 2, 2008 9:45 AM
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Re: Masako
Sir; I would not mind much of anything in this country if those who bendfit from it paid for it. And war; the expense of war is born only by the working people. The rich absolutly refuse to spend their money to defend this land. Sure, there are more private police than public police, but that is because the rich find it cheaper to have the best of public protection and their own extra cushion of private protection. If it were their money on the line, and their future wealth on the line you can be certain they would look long and hard at the situation before druming this country into war. Look at our infrastructure. Is it only those who drive to work that have to pay for the roads, the bridges, and the sewers? Don't the rich like the poor all profit from infrastructure? Yet, when the infrastructure becomes difficult to maintain, the rich pack up their companies and move, and if you don't like them moving down South, or out West; then they will move to China. They are loyal only to their money, which ultimately is our money since every one should support the country and the country should support everyone. We are slipping into socialism for the poor. Long lines and poor service for anything necessary, while public property is privatized for the rich to exploit. I think the rich ought to be concerned that they do not teach people that they can actually live with socialism better than they can live with their class of good for nothing, disloyal, thieving rich people. This is our country too. This country has been bought with the blood and labor of many generations, and if the rich are rich out of not paying their fair share; then kick them out. Thanks, Sweeney
Comment: #4
Posted by: James A, Sweeney
Wed Jul 2, 2008 3:09 PM
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Re-reading Chuck's article, I believe that he makes 4 main points; 1. Urging support for veterans, especially disabled veterans (at least the US Gov't is doing something here, (lack of) care for UK disabled veterans is a national disgrace, among many), 2. Commemoration of veterans' efforts, past and present, 3. Admiration for two outstanding military men, 4. Support for currently serving military personnel. Point 4, overlapping with Point 2 is no doubt contentious. That said, I would reckon that Chuck's article is about 70-75% non-contentious, which I sugeest is not bad for any columnist these days. The current Mid-East conflicts must raise concern, however, because there seems to be no foreseeable end to them and Allied lives (not to mention those of Iraqi and Afghan nationals) continue to be lost.
For an 'in-depth' biblical (as opposed to the looser term 'evangelical') analysis on war and the current interventionist policy of the US Government, I therefore suggest read the article Christianity and War, by Dr Laurence M. Vance, to be found on LewRockwell.com and delivered as a talk on June 8th, 2008. Whether or not you agree with Dr Vance's analysis, he has researched his subject in some depth.
I believe that his essential thesis is summed up by Crimean veteran Sergeant, later Sergeant-Major Timothy Gowing, Royal Fusiliers. He saw action in all the major battles of the Crimea, including Inkerman, where he was severely wounded in close-quarter fighting. He was about 20-21 years of age at the time.
"Though a soldier, and fully embued with the spirit of patriotism, I would say with all my heart, ‘From war good Lord deliver us!' The man who delights in war is a madman - I would put him in the thick of it for just one day, and he would then know a little what war to the knife means!…A soldier - it matters not what his rank - must not for one moment, when engaged, think what the consequences are or may be. It is his duty to destroy all he can belonging to the enemy; in fact he is often worked up to such a pitch that he becomes a perfect fiend, or, as the Russians called the Highlanders at the Alma, ‘red devils in petticoats'. None but men who are mad could do in cold blood the deeds that were performed by some of our men."
From Gowing's book, Voice From The Ranks.
The military machine is clearly one which must be used with great caution. Sadly, in recent times, the US and the UK appear to be throwing that caution to the winds. Especially in view of the availability of the book War Is A Racket, by Major General Smedley Butler, who died in 1940, after 34 years service in the USMC. Commemoration is one thing but the US and the UK certainly have no excuse for misguided patriotism.
Comment: #5
Posted by: Alan O'Reilly
Thu Jul 3, 2008 2:28 PM
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