-Subj: Phillip Murphy Co. D
Date: 8/25/2002 2:29:39 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: AARGoodman
To: MMcmor8391
CC: chrcook@juno.com, Ben517

Calvin Johns of Co D Just called from his home in Illinois to let us know that Phillip Murphy also of Co D passed away July 12. Phillip is from Decatur Ill. Calvin gave me a little of his own background. He is one of our youngest still only 76. He joined us in Oct 44 and was wounded at Trois Pont in Jan. 45 at the same time as Phillip by the same shell !.
   Another note- The Fayetteville offer is for the biennial following the Oklahoma one. I think they are offering to send someone to make a presentation at Oklahoma if we have someone in NC. to host it.
    Our numbers are dwindling but lets all hang in there. My best to all, Al
_____________________________________________________________________
Date: 8/24/2002 1:17:08 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Genesir

Ben,
    You may have previously seen this and it is quite long, however appropriate. If it is feasible and acceptable for publication it would be a worthy tribute to 9/11, before or on the actual date. I agree with the author-I feel many (some) in the world have fulfilled my worst fears-they have forgotten (or ignored) another Holocaust.
    Gene Frice, F Co.


"DO NOT FORGET"


    I sat in a movie theater watching "Schindler's List," asked myself, "Why didn't the Jews fight back?"

    Now I know why.

    I sat in a movie theater, watching "Pearl Harbor" and asked myself, "Why weren't we prepared?"

    Now I know why.

    Civilized people cannot fathom, much less predict, the actions of evil people.

    On September 11, dozens of capable airplane passengers allowed themselves to be overpowered by a handful of poorly armed terrorists because they did not comprehend the depth of hatred that motivated their captors.

    On September 11, thousands of innocent people were murdered because too many Americans naively reject the reality that some nations are dedicated to the dominance of others. Many political pundits, pacifists and media personnel want us to forget the carnage. They say we must focus on the bravery of the rescuers and ignore the cowardice of the killers. They implore us to understand the motivation of the perpetrators. Major television stations have announced they will assist the healing process by not replaying devastating footage of the planes crashing into the Twin Towers.

I will not be manipulated.

I will not pretend to understand.

I will not forget.

I will not forget the liberal media who abused freedom of the press to kick our country when it was vulnerable and hurting.

I will not forget that CBS anchor Dan Rather preceded President Bush's address to the nation with the snide remark, "No matter how you feel about him, he is still our president."

I will not forget that ABC TV anchor Peter Jennings questioned President Bush's motives for not returning immediately to Washington, DC and commented, "We're all pretty skeptical and cynical about Washington."

And I will not forget that ABC's Mark Halperin warned if reporters weren't informed of every little detail of this war, they aren't "likely -- nor should they be expected -- to show deference."

I will not isolate myself from my fellow Americans by pretending an attack on the USS Cole in Yemen was not an attack on the United States of America.

I will not forget the Clinton administration equipped Islamic terrorists and their supporters with the world's most sophisticated telecommunications equipment and encryption technology, thereby compromising America's ability to trace terrorist radio, cell phone, land lines, faxes and modem communications.

I will not be appeased with pointless, quick retaliatory strikes like those perfected by the previous administration.

I will not be comforted by "feel-good, do nothing" regulations like the silly "Have your bags been under your control?" question at the airport.

I will not be influenced by so called, "antiwar demonstrators" who exploit the right of expression to chant anti-American obscenities.

I will not forget the moral victory handed the North Vietnamese by American war protesters who reviled and spat upon the returning soldiers, airmen, sailors and Marines.

I will not be softened by the wishful thinking of pacifists who chose reassurance over reality.

I will embrace the wise words of Prime Minister Tony Blair who told Labor Party conference, "They have no moral inhibition on the slaughter of the innocent. If they could have murdered not 7,000 but 70,000, does anyone doubt they would have done so and rejoiced in it?

There is no compromise possible with such people, no meeting of minds, no point of understanding with such terror. Just a choice: defeat it or be defeated by it. And defeat it we must!"

    I will force myself to:

    hear the weeping

    feel the helplessness

    imagine the terror

  sense the panic

    smell the burning flesh

    experience the loss

    remember the hatred.

    I sat in a movie theater, watching "Private Ryan" and asked myself, "Where did they find the courage?"

    Now I know.

    We have no choice. Living without liberty is not living.


Ed Evans, MGySgt., USMC (Ret.)

Not as lean, Not as mean, But still a Marine.

Keep this going until every living American has read it and memorized it so we don't make the same mistake again.