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THAT LEXINGTON VETERANS PARTICIPATED IN...                       

WORLD WAR II 

Historians have recalled World War II as one of the most horrific wars of all times. Its seeds began in the early 1930’s in Germany and Japan and by the time it finally ended in 1945, well over a million people perished, including 295,000 Americans.

Allied Forces, under the Pacific command of General MacArthur and the European command of General Eisenhower fought a bloody war to its final conclusion spawning the guts and determination of a generation of men and women to overcome tyranny.

Places stamped in our memories forever: Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, Leyte, El Alamein, Anzio, Normandy. Great battles: D-Day, Dunkirk, Coral Sea, Midway, Battle of the Bulge. Everywhere, great sacrifices were made to finally bring down Hitler, Mussolini, Tojo and Hirohito.

On the home front working in factories and lending support in every possible way; to the military support units; to the hell of combat, people rallied to win the War. It became a defining moment in the history of mankind. It turned the 20th Century from one of darkness into one of light. And for those of us who inherited this light of Freedom, we need to remember those who made up "The Greatest Generation".

 

KOREAN WAR

The Forgotten War

When People talk about the two world wars, Vietnam and Desert Storm; I remember another war:   Korea! Won't you remember, too? The year was 1950; the Cold War between East and West was heating up.  North Korea crossed the 30th parallel, into the free Republic of South Korea.  Communism was the goal.  South Korea turned to the United Nations and the free world was called to arms. Truman mobilized the National Guard; While draftees and volunteers trained in the "ways of war".

Three long years, the U.N. Forces fought their way through the rain, mud, snow, cold and Hell of Korea.  Places like Pork Chop Hill, Chosen, Inchon and Heartbreak Ridge, became front-page news on the home front.  In 1953 a truce was called between North and South Korea.  Thousands of U.N. Forces remain on duty today, guarding the 38th parallel;  While many Korean families continue to be kept apart by the dividing line.  Despite U.S. casualties of 36,760 dead, 103,000 injured, and thousands still listed as MIA's;  Korea was called a conflict, not a war!  America's finest came home to business as usual. The Korean War was seldom remembered and soon forgotten.

Finally, in 1995, The Korean War Memorial was dedicated and in June of 2000, a three-year observance of the war begins.  Korea!  No longer Forgotten!

 

Photo by Milan Zimer

 

VIETNAM WAR

The Vietnam War

The Vietnam War was the longest in our nation's history. It started for those in-country on Feb 28, 1961.  Hostilities began Aug 5, 1964 and lasted until April 30, 1973.  Approximately 2.7 million Americans served in the war zone; 300,000 were wounded, approximately 75,000 permanently disabled, and over 58,000 were killed.

During the war, American servicemen and women served their country with heroism and determination under some of the most difficult circumstances ever encountered by American military personnel. Tragically, upon their return home they received virtually no recognition for their service and sacrifice because of the raging domestic controversy over U.S. policy in conducting the war.

The Vietnam veterans rose up in protest over their treatment and the result was one of the most profound and touching memorials in our nation’s history – The Wall. Visited by millions each year, The Wall symbolizes the supreme sacrifice of war.

Regardless of U.S. policy in conducting the war, we thank these courageous men/women and recognize their sacrifices.

 

Photo by Milan Zimer

 

THE COLD WAR

Following World War II and lasting nearly 46 years, two great ideological powers were locked in a desperate struggle. At some points during the conflict they threatened to wipe out mankind in a firestorm of nuclear destruction. It was called "The Cold War" even though you could perhaps say; "not a shot was fired". It’s primary thrust was an open and sometimes not so open confrontation between the two great super powers of the time – The United States of America and The Soviet Union.

Either side in The Cold War did not declare "War" in its traditional sense. Notable exceptions were Korea and Vietnam. Those were the "hot" wars. Each had its significant impact on the eventual outcome. The Cold War premise was based on MAD – Mutually Assured Destruction. The idea was that the capacity of nuclear weapons to destroy continued to serve as a powerful deterrent in world politics. The USA with its free democratic reforms against the USSR with its intent to spread communism to the rest of the free world fueled a most dangerous time in world history. Major events with which many of us can identify were either of a crisis or confrontational nature: The Separation of Berlin after WWII; The CIA vs. the KGB; The Bay of Pigs; The Cuban Missile Crisis; The Berlin Blockade and subsequent Berlin Airlift; The Space Race involving spy satellites and who will get to the moon first; The Fall of The Berlin Wall; The Reunification of Germany and finally The Fall of the Soviet Union reformed into 15 separate countries.

The Soviet collapse was hailed by the west as a victory for freedom, a triumph of democracy over totalitarianism, and evidence of the superiority of capitalism over socialism. In reality, the end of The Cold War and dissolution of the Soviet Union resulted in increases in some areas, decreases in some areas of national security for all nations.  The era dates from 9/2/1945 to 12/26/1991.

 

 

 

 

 

 

PERSIAN GULF WAR

Operation Desert Shield/Storm

On Jan 16, 1991, U.S. General Norman Schwarzkopf: "Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines of the United States Central Command. This morning at 0300 ... we launched Operation Desert Storm, an offensive campaign that will enforce United Nations Resolutions that Iraq must cease its rape and pillage of its weaker neighbor and withdraw its forces from Kuwait. The President, the Congress, the American people, and indeed the world, stand united in their support of your actions. You are a member of the most powerful force our country in coalition with our allies has ever assembled in a single theatre to face such an aggressor. You have trained hard for this battle and you are ready. During my visits with you, I have seen in your eyes a fire of determination to get this job done, and done quickly, so that we may return to the shores of our great nation. My confidence in you is total. Our cause is just. Now, you must be the thunder and lightning of Desert Storm. May God be with you, our loved ones at home, and our country."

And with that declaration came one of the most awesome displays of modern warfare culminating in a devastating air war launched from the ground and the sea followed by the shortest major ground war in U.S. and World History. It started with the Iraqi Dictator, Saddam Hussein, invading helpless Kuwait on August 2, 1990, and threatening the entire Persian Gulf including U.S. major ally – Saudi Arabia. That nation requested U.S. Military assistance. With that request began Operation Desert Shield and a coalition of some 28 nations led by the U.S. political and military machine to forge an effective Strategic Military Plan for driving Saddam out of Kuwait. On January 17, 1991 Operation Desert Storm began with 696,628 Americans involved. What the Allied Forces did transformed the nature of modern warfare. On February 28, 1991, a cease-fire was announced and a surrender and peace accord was signed at Safwan, Iraq, after only 42 days of fighting. Casualties were 146 Americans killed and 47 wounded. Estimated Iraqi casualties were 100,000 killed and 300,000 wounded.

However, nearly ten years later we discover that more than 100,000 Allied troops were exposed to low level Chemical Warfare Agents including Sarin, Cyclosarin and Mustard Gas resulting in symptoms of neurophysical disorders in ten of thousands of American veterans and the death of several thousand more.

IRAQ & AFGHANISTAN WARS

In the fall of 2001 the U.S. invaded Afghanistan as a direct result of the tragedy of 9/11 to destroy the Taliban and hunt down Osama bin Laden, the head of the terrorist group known as Al Qaeda.   After some initial success especially against the Taliban, the U.S. decided to invade Iraq and did so in March 2003.  This decision was made by the President of the U.S. George W. Bush and his administration when it was thought that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and posed a major threat to the U.S.  Such weapons were never found.  The war in Afghanistan is still going on and is longer than that of WWII.  Soon Iraq will be longer than WWII with no end in sight.  A large segment of Americans believe the war in Iraq is a disaster and that the Bush Administration has  mismanaged that war and taken their eye off the real target in Afghanistan in name of Bin Laden.  The real question in mid 2006 is "what can be done to change the course of events in Iraq that brings real stability to the region and brings our troops home in a reasonable time frame?"

The Lexington Veterans Association members are divided on the war in Iraq.  However, all support our troops. This begs the question: Can you support our troops but be in disagreement with the war itself?  The answer is Yes.  The U.S. casualty rate in Afghanistan as of  killed June 29, 2009 is 1,257and 4,255 wounded.  The casualty rate in Iraq as of same date is 4,318 killed and over 100,000 wounded, of which 31,368  have been severely wounded.  Overall, over 1 million lives have been lost in that region as a direct result of the two conflicts.  As Americans, we must do all that we can to support, honor and pray for our troops.  Our support of the Intrepid Fallen Heroes fund for those troops who lost limbs and are in rehabilitation is a concrete example of that support. 

Regardless of U.S. policy in conducting the war, we thank these courageous men/women and recognize their sacrifices.

"United in this determination and with unshakable faith in the cause for which we fight, we will, with God's help, go forward to our greatest victory." ~ Dwight D. Eisenhower

       

  Music: Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops - "The Longest Day"

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