Memorial Day 2003

[billr]

With Memorial Day coming up I thought I'd post this for all to see the sacrifices made throughout our history by the men and women who have answered the call.
I'll be attending services in 2 different cities here in my county. Regardless of where you may be or what you may be doing on Monday, 26 May, I hope all will take a moment and remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

A TIME TO HONOR? A TIME TO REMEMBER

In 1868, General John A. Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, proclaimed May 30 as Memorial Day. Decoration Day, as it was originally known, was designated as a day to remember those who died during the Civil War. Until World War I, the South did not recognize May 30 and honored Confederate dead on separate days throughout the year. Today, millions honor the Nation?s war dead on the last Monday in May, designated as the Memorial Day federal holiday.

Revolutionary War ? 1775-1783
Est. total who served: 184,000 to 250,000
Total deaths: 4,435

War of 1812 ? 1812-1815
Total who served: 286,730
Total deaths: 2,260

Mexican War ? 1846-1848
Total who served: 78,718
Total deaths: 13,283

Civil War ? 1861-1865
Total Union forces ? 2,213,363
Total Union deaths ? 364,511
Est. Confederate forces ? 600,000 to 1,500,000
Est. Confederate deaths ? 133,321 to 164,820

Spanish-American War ? 1898
Total who served: 306,760
Total deaths: 2,446

World War I ? 1917-18
Total who served: 4,734,991
Total deaths (including those killed in the Russian intervention August 1919 ? April 1920): 11,516

World War II ? 1941-1946
Total who served: 16,112,566
Total deaths: 405,399

Korean War ? 1950-1953
Total who serve: 5,720,000
Total deaths: 36,568 (final list still being compiled)

Vietnam War ? 1964-1973
Total who served: 8,744,000
Total deaths: 58,203 (casualty records still being compiled)

Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm ? 1990-1991
Est. total who served: 467,939 to 665,476
Total deaths: 382

Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan and the Philippines) ? 2002-2003
Total deaths (unofficial): 80

Operation Iraqi Freedom -- 2003
Total deaths (unofficial): 133

Approximately 362 armed service members have died in operations other than these major conflicts. These include the Iranian hostage rescue mission, Lebanon peacekeeping, Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada, Operation Just Cause in Panama, Operation Restore Hope in Somalia and Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti.

[SuperScout]

Every year, the local chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Hart, (chapter 1919 in Austin) is the leader and chief organizer of a Memorial Day ceremony. This year it will be held at the Capital Park Cemetery, just north of Austin. I plan on being in attendance, proudly wearing my uniform that still fits! Naturally, I would encourage all my brothers and sisters to pause just a moment, to attend a ceremony if at all possible, and to offer praise and thanksgiving to Our Almighty for the magficient blessings of this great land!

[1IDVET]

Thank you.

[WastelandWarior]

Korea?

[1IDVET]

The Department of Defense reports that 54,246 American service men and women lost their lives during the Korean War. This includes all losses world wide. Since the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC honors all U.S. Military who lost their lives during the War, it has tried to obtain the names of those who died in other areas besides Korea during the period June 27, 1950 to July 27, 1954, one year after the Korean Armistice. At the memorial is a Honor Roll database where all 54,246 should be listed.

[1IDVET]

May take a bit of time to load (5 minutes), but it is worth it.


Press-a-Print

[MORTARDUDE]

listed above for Korea ( 36,568 ) are just combat related on the Korean Peninsula for 3 years..what were the other 18,000+ deaths related to ? Sorry..just cornfused...

Larry

[1IDVET]

I am not certain of the reasoning behind the count.
They are counting all service deaths in the period mentioned.

[1IDVET]

Halfway down the road to hell
in a shady meadow green
are the souls of all dead troopers camped
near a good old-time canteen.
And this eternal resting place
is known as Fiddlers Green.
Marching past, straight through to hell,
the Infantry are seen
accompanied by the Engineers, Artillery and Marines.
For none but the shades of Cavalrymen
dismount at fiddler's green
Though some go curving down the trail
to seek a warmer scene,
no trooper ever gets to hell
ere he's emptied his canteen,
and so rides back to drink again
with friends at Fiddler's Green.
And so when man and horse go down
beneath a saber keen,
or in a roaring charge or fierce melee
you stop a bullet clean,
and the hostiles come to get your scalp,
just empty your canteen,
and put your pistol to your head
and go to Fiddlers Green.