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Sixty-Five Years Ago, A Corpsman Snaps His Forceps

Jul 3, 2009
By .
History

He is working to repair damage caused by a piece of metal, lodged in the intestines of a wounded Marine, near the slopes of Mount Tapotchau, on the tiny island of Saipan.

And sixty-five years later, here I am, writing from the comfort of a hotel in a world whose marvels, luxuries, and horrors neither of those men would have imagined.  But both of them, my wounded grandfather and the Navy medical corpsman who stabilized him to a point where he could be shipped home, made the world in which I write this possible.  Made me possible.

It's a day early for patriotic appeals, but it's a personally significant one so I'll make it anyway.  I donated to Disabled American Veterans today, in memory of my grandfather for soldiers and marines whose wounds, unlike his, may never heal.

At the very least, tomorrow while you're at the beach or the barbecue or enjoying the holiday, think of the people who made it possible, and are still making it possible here and now.

Last 5 posts by Patrick

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4 Comments

  1. mbrandon8026  •  Jul 3, 2009 @12:00 pm

    Bravo. My Father flew Spitfires in the Big War. Fortunately he came home, so I could write this comment. Many were not so fortunate. They fought for us to have free speech, and the rights that we have today.

    God Bless Them All

  2. Ken  •  Jul 3, 2009 @1:27 pm

    Yep. I will be thinking of my grandfather (Navy supply officer on a seaplane tender in the Pacific; not in combat, but lost his best friend and his cabin to a Kamikaze while off-ship picking up supplies) — as well as my father (still with us), who did an unglamorous job with quiet competence in postwar Korea.

  3. Charles  •  Jul 3, 2009 @8:34 pm

    And my short hat tip to Dad got buried in an old post that I'll probably never see again. Happy 4th, Dad.

  4. John M. Hochfelder, Esq.  •  Jul 4, 2009 @5:54 am

    Semper Fi, Patrick. As you know, my Dad was a Marine and served on Iwo Jima. You were kind enough to mention my Blawg Reivew of April 27th which was dedicated to his memory on his birthday. Thanks to him, your grandfather and all who have served this Nation, we are here today.