True Honor, Courage... and LOVE

I often read stories and books on military history. It's not because I like war (Robert E. Lee once said "It is well that war is so terrible, lest we should grow too fond of it."), or am fascinated with death, or anything morbid like that. The stories I love best are the ones that actually tell the events surrounding specific individuals or groups of men; stories like those of Ulysses S. Grant throughout the Civil War, or Easy Company of the 506th in WWII. I was recently reading about Congressional Medal of Honor recipients, and one in particular stood out to me: Sergeant Thomas A. Baker, U.S. Army, 105th Infantry, 27th Infantry Division, A Company. According to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Sgt. Baker received the award posthumously after multiple acts of selflessness and heroism in protection of his fellow soldiers. The full citation for his service specifically from June 19th through July 7th can be read by clicking the link above, but the day he died is most gripping...

On 7 July 1944, the perimeter of which Sgt. Baker was a part was attacked from 3 sides by from 3,000 to 5,000 Japanese. During the early stages of this attack, Sgt. Baker was seriously wounded but he insisted on remaining in the line and fired at the enemy at ranges sometimes as close as 5 yards until his ammunition ran out. Without ammunition and with his own weapon battered to uselessness from hand-to-hand combat, he was carried about 50 yards to the rear by a comrade, who was then himself wounded. At this point Sgt. Baker refused to be moved any farther stating that he preferred to be left to die rather than risk the lives of any more of his friends. A short time later, at his request, he was placed in a sitting position against a small tree . Another comrade, withdrawing, offered assistance. Sgt. Baker refused, insisting that he be left alone and be given a soldier's pistol with its remaining 8 rounds of ammunition. When last seen alive, Sgt. Baker was propped against a tree, pistol in hand, calmly facing the foe. Later Sgt. Baker's body was found in the same position, gun empty, with 8 Japanese lying dead before him. His deeds were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.

It goes without saying that this man was a courageous soldier. He made a hard choice between his own life and the risk he would be putting on the lives of his fellow men should they try to carry him out. Beyond that, by asking for a pistol, he endeavored to delay the enemy's attack as his brothers retreated, fully knowing it would result in his death. He had the option of pretending to be dead, or surrendering to be taken prisoner, or merely accepting that his injuries would probably ultimately claim his life and just sit and do nothing. I don't know why he did it, and would be careful not to romanticize it too much. Was it courage, honor, and brotherhood, or bloodlust and hatred for the enemy? Or could it have been love for the men he served our country with?

Another man I know, love, and respect for sacrificing himself once said: "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." Something that great teacher understood was that the pinnacle act of love is to give your own life so that others may live. No matter Sgt. Baker's reasoning and regardless of his intent, he still displayed such great love for the other men of the 105th Infantry, 27th Infantry Division. I'm thankful we live in a country that honors men such as these, even posthumously, for the sacrifices they make for others. To all soldiers who have once served or still serve our nation, THANK YOU! Even if not everyone can get a Medal of Honor, we should honor all soldiers.

-Scott

P.S. On a side note, I also have to respect Sgt. Baker's remarkable marksmanship skills that, with a short range pistol with an 8-round capacity, he was able to get 8 critically-placed shots off with fatal accuracy while injured and under fire. HOO-RAH!

Strong as hell... kind as Christ

I'm currently reading Stephen E. Ambrose's novel, Band of Brothers. It is his attempt to chronicle the men and the actions of one of the most elite light infantry units of WWII: Easy Company of the 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne.

As I read through the account of the paratroopers' jump into Normandy on June 6, 1944, one soldier's words in particular captivated my attention. This man was the commanding officer of Easy Company as they entered into combat for the first time. His name is 1st Lt. Thomas Meehan...

On May 26, Meehan had written his wife Anne a letter in which he described why he, and all his men, were sitting in the planes, waiting to go into France to liberate it and conquer Nazi Germany. Among other things, he wrote, "We're fortunate in being Americans. At least we don't step on the underdog. I wonder if that's because there are no 'Americans'—only a stew of immigrants—or if it's because the earth from which we exist has been so kind to us and our forefathers; or if it's because the' American' is the offspring of the logical European who hated oppression and loved freedom beyond life? Those great mountains and the tall timber, the cool deep lakes and broad rivers, the green valleys and white farmhouses; the air, the sea and wind; the plains and great cities; the smell of living-all must be the cause of it. And yet, with all that, we can't get away from the rest. For every one of our millions who has that treasure in his hand there's another million crying for that victory of life. And for each of us who wants to live in happiness and give happiness, there's another different sort of person wanting to take it away…

"Those people always manage to have their say, and Mars is always close at hand. We know how to win wars. We must learn now to win peace… If I ever have a son, I don’t want him to go through this again, but I want him powerful enough that no one will be fool enough to touch him. He and America should be strong as hell and kind as Christ. "
-Thomas Meehan, First Lieutenant, Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division

His last sentence specifically was especially poignant. And I think every man deep down can relate to his desires. The warrior inside him wants to be strong... strong enough that he can win any fight. And the father inside him wants the same for his son, a desire borne from love and a need to protect his own. But more than his will to fight, I respect his understanding that strength in arms must be tempered with strength in spirit. I admire that despite the fact that he was trained to kill, his desire for his son and for his country was to be "kind as Christ" so those coming after him would not have to go through what he did.

I can't say it any better than he did, and I dare not try, for his words are perfectly inspirational just as he wrote them so many years ago. Our country, our military, our churches, and our homes could use more men like Lt. Meehan. Unfortunately for his generation, his plane was shot down before he could jump and show the Germans how strong he was. However, the words that he wrote still carry his strength and I know he has instilled a desire within me for myself and for my future son if I have one... to be strong as hell and kind as Christ.