In memory of those who have sacrificed so much so that we might be free.
We think often of those who have served their country with honor and some who still remember the Oath they gave when they entered the service and We the People HONOR them.
My thoughts go through ever so many “pages” of memory and we think of those who paid such a high price that we might be free. I remember those who lost their lives and some who died at the hands of the oppressors and were treated so ignominiously and we grieve.
I remember my uncle who fell into the hands of the Nazis in Norway during WWII and how they made an example of him by binding him, taking him to the city square where they had gathered the people from that area and then they systematically hacked chunks from him with a trenching shovel until he died. He was but one of many who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we might be free.
Few know their names and even fewer bother to Honor their sacrifice.
I often think of my friend Juel who did not die in battle, but suffered terribly from the memories and the wounds he carried.
In honor of those whose names few remember I submit the Memorial I wrote for Juel, which in truth fits far too many of our troops who to this day carry such deep wounds.
An Unsung Hero
Few realize what was done by some of our troops in Vietnam because they were sworn to secrecy by the government. If they were to speak out and tell others what their assignments were in Vietnam, they would face court martial and would be denied any benefits due them for their service. Many were so deep in enemy territory that even the pilots who laid down heavy blankets of the defoliant Agent Orange had no idea that some of those very special troops were there. Colonel Bo Gritz, who is the most highly decorated Marine officer in the history of the Marines, wrote about some of the assignments our troops accepted in his book “Called To Serve” and the series of Rambo movies were based on those exploits.
Juel has gone home now and some of the secrets he kept need to come out. His parents and family did not even know what Juel and his squad did. They were so deep into enemy territory that they were hunted tirelessly by the Vietcong. They were able to cause so much trouble to the war effort of the Vietcong that it is difficult to even estimate how many thousands or even tens of thousands of lives were saved by their actions.
Juel came home from Vietnam with many deep scars and was placed on 100% disability but that was poor compensation for the nightmares he had to endure as he relived carrying out the bodies of his dead or wounded colleagues as the Vietcong pursued them tirelessly. Numerous trips to the VA Hospital were required to remove huge cancerous masses from his body and to tend the deeper emotional wounds. Juel found that the doctors had determined that those cancerous masses were a result of the Agent Orange he had been exposed to. Juel had literally given his life to help stop the spread of Communism. As if the wounds he suffered in Vietnam were not deep enough, when he arrived State Side, some Biblically illiterate individual told him that he “could never enter the kingdom of Heaven because of his deeds in Vietnam” and other ignoramuses such as Jane Fonda labeled Juel and his colleagues “Baby Killers” in spite of the fact they had never killed a single child.
Just how much must some bear and never utter a word?
One of the few pleasures he had in his post Vietnam “life” was to tend his gardens and share the bounty with family and friends. I do wish that all knew the Juel I knew and that they, too would recognize his great service to this country. Colonel Bo Gritz knew what a Hero he was and sent him a copy of the book “Called To Serve” with a special hand written message to Juel.
YES, We do remember those who serve with Honor and we Honor you and express our deep gratitude.
John Brogger can be reached at: ajb645@rconnect.com
