Rousing the Troops

Unseen Blogger has upped the ante by posting George C. Scott's speech from Patton, and to I will do my part by posting the St. Crispin's Day speech from Henry V, with apologies to the Bard.

What's he that wishes so?
My cousin McCain? 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 oil,
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 America:
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, McCain, 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 called the feast of Crispian:
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,
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 Crispin'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
George the president, Cheney and Condi,
Rumsfeld and Lieberman, Petreus and Abizaid,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd.

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 remember'd;
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 America now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

Thanksgiving for the Troops

153rd Infantry picture


One of the things that really sticks with me about Thanksgiving in the military, was the meal service on that day. The senior NCOs, First Sergeants, squadron and base commanders, and even flag officers would be serving chow to the troops that afternoon. There's nothing like having a four-star general serve up some turkey and gravy for you, even if it doesn't make up for the two-week base cleanup detail you got put on the week before.

Let's be thankful for our brothers and sisters, sons and daughters that choose to serve EVERY day for our safety and security.

A Glimpse Inside The Liberal Mind..mind..mind..mind

Ok, so John Kerry flatly implied that military service is for proletarian fools. What's new? Really. The liberal elite has ALWAYS felt that military enlistment was for proles without a future. A stint in the officer corps is good for future politicians, but that's as close to a rifle as most liberals want to get.

So, el Presidente calls Kerry on the obvious classist smear, and the best Kerry can come back with is that it was a botched joke, meant to insult the president. For someone lecturing young men and women about studying hard, that was an awfully dumb joke, and even weaker excuse afterward. I'm grateful that the less malicious of these two brain surgeons got elected.

This vet is proud that, though I had other options, I chose to serve my country. It may be a shock to sentators from Massachusetts, but some people study hard, excel, AND join the US Military.

UPDATE:

Sen. John Kerry is heading back to Washington and away from tight congressional races after igniting a firestorm of GOP criticism with a "botched joke" about bad students getting stuck in Iraq. He canceled plans to campaign for fellow Democrats today and one party official said: "I would be surprised if you see him welcomed out there anywhere and certainly not in a race that is meaningful."

Bwah hah hah hah hah. Thank you, John Kerry, for reminding the American public that the Democratic Party is chock-full of condescending demogogues. Just in time for the mid-term elections, I may add.

h/t Unseen Blogger for the pic.