The iconic photo by Joe Rosenthal of a flag raising on Iwo Jima during the Second World War has become a patriotic image that often brings a feeling of pride to those that view it. All of the six flag raisers in that photo gave up a small piece of themselves on Iwo Jima, and some gave all of themselves. The oldest flag raiser at the time of the picture taking was known as a “marines marine” (Bradley) and was seen as the ideal American soldier. This statement is more than a little ironic given the fact that this man wasn’t even born in the U.S. What makes up the perfect soldier varies based on time and country, but honor and duty are often crucial features of the ideal soldier. Mike Strank is the ideal American soldier due to his sense of duty, …show more content…
During WWII many American men joined in the military although they weren’t fit for service, Mike had such a sense of duty “He was the only one of the six flag raiders to sign up before America entered the war” (Bradley). This may have been in part due to his Czech origins as eastern Europe was very much involved in the war and in his mind his “brethren [were] already in the field” (Henry). Even though America wasn’t yet involved in the war, Mike was aware of the injustices going on and wanted to protect the U.S. because he was “[a] body of [America’s], breathing [American] air” (Brooke). This sense of duty was what motivated him to enlist in the war even though he was in no way obligated to do …show more content…
Mike Strank was acutely aware of his likely demise and still chose to go into battle. Most other Marines “believed he would be one of the lucky ones to return home” (Bradley) and so were not truly thinking of what possible sacrifices they might make. However, Mike Strank was aware and willing to make those sacrifices because he knew if he died in battle “some corner of a foreign field [would be] for ever [America] (Brooke). He believed so much in the values of the United States that he was the epitome of the iconic phrase “give me liberty or give me death” (Henry). Mike Strank was given death in the end, but he died so that others would be granted
Today’s veterans often come home to find that although they are willing to die for their country, they’re not sure how to live for it. It’s hard to know how to live for a country that regularity tears itself apart along every possible ethnic and demographic boundary… In combat, soldiers all but ignore differences of race, religion,and politics within their platoon. It’s no wonder they get so depressed when they come home. (Junger
The United States Marine Corps are a branch of the United States Armed Forces, accountable for providing rapid power projection. Training is an essential aspect of becoming a Marine and being able to do this, so, Ian Tyson arrived at bootcamp, where there was utter chaos and confusion. No one knew what was happening or why, the drill sergeants looked like monsters, and every individual became nothing but a number, a part of the crowd.
The Vietnam War was a psychological and physical battle for all the young men who were drafted or volunteered. Caputo's own reasons for volunteering illustrate the mentality for some of the men entering into this journey. Those who are inducted into Vietnam face disturbing moral dilemmas that can be expected in an "ethical wilderness." The draft introduced a myriad of young men to the once forgotten moral ambiguity of war. Average American citizens must balance right from wrong in a world without morals or meaning. Caputo himself struggles with the idea that killing in combat is morally justified.
During the Vietnam Conflict, many Americans held a poor view of the military and its political and military leadership. Protestors met returning soldiers at airports, train and bus stations, and in hometowns with open hostility. Following the conflict, and perhaps the maturing of the ‘60s generation, the view towards the military began to change somewhat. The hostility declined, but an appreciation for the military never really re-emerged during the ...
Struggling with the woes of poverty and added responsibilities, Alvin York, discovers himself fleeing from religion with Satan dangling securely to his shirttail. York is a round character that is a rabble-rouser in the beginning, yet evolves into an extraordinary spiritual man. “Sergeant York” is a 1941 film portraying the trials and triumphs of Sergeant Alvin York. Based on real situations, the aforementioned flick depicts the life of a boy who grew up in the Tennessee Hills, then went off to fight in a war that would mold him into an American Hero.
In past history, heroes come in many different facets of life. The military has produced many of these heroes. Chris Kyle a United States Navy SEAL was one of those heroes. Chris grew up in various locations in Texas. His father worked for AT&T as a manager and they moved around frequently. Chris loved to fight as he stated “Somewhere along the way, I started sticking up for younger kids who were being picked on. I felt I had to look out for them. It became my duty. Maybe it began because I was looking for an excuse to fight without getting in trouble” (American Sniper, Chris Kyle, 21).
When the flag was finished and he showed the men, they all saluted it and many began to cry. When the guards came across Mike’s treasure, he was beaten bloody. But remarkably, “He recovered in a couple of weeks and immediately started looking for another piece of cloth,” (Thorsness 109). This event is a clear demonstration of the pride each and every soldier feels for America. It demonstrated their ever growing desire for freedom.
In A Tactical Ethic, Moral Conduct in the Insurgent Battlespace, author Dick Couch addresses what he believes to be an underlying problem, most typical of small units, of wanton ethical and moral behavior partly stemming from the negative “ethical climate and moral culture” of today’s America (Couch, D., 2010, p. 15). In chapter one, he reveals what A Tactical Ethic will hope to accomplish; that is identify the current ethics of today’s military warriors, highlight what is lacking, and make suggestions about what can be done to make better the ethical behavior of those on the battlefield and in garrison. He touches on some historic anecdotes to highlight the need for high ethics amongst today’s military warriors as well as briefly mentions
Even today the two characteristics demonstrated by GI Joe are prevalent. As each day progresses these characteristics are being challenged. Now more than ever the age-old beliefs of what is expected of man and woman are being redefined for a new world.
The New York Times Bestseller We Were Soldiers Once... And Young was authored by Lt. General Harold G. Moore and Joseph L. Galloway. In November 1965, Lt. Colonel Harold Moore commanded the 1st Battalion, 7th cavalry at the Ia Drang Valley-one of the bloodiest battles of Vietnam. He eventually retired from the Army in 1977 after thirty-two years of service. After his military career, Lieutenant General Moore resided as executive vice president for four years at a Colorado ski resort before founding a computer software company. Harold Moore currently lives in Auburn, Alabama and Crested Butte, Colorado.
During the Vietnam War, the first platoon (approximately forty men) was lead by a young officer named William Calley. Young Calley was drafted into the US Army after high school, but it did not take long for him to adjust to being in the army, with a quick transition to the lifestyle of the military, he wanted to make it his career. In high school, Calley was a kind, likable and “regular” high school student, he seemed to be a normal teenager, having interest in things that other boys his age typically had. He was never observed acting in a cruel or brutal way. In Vietnam, Calley was under direct order of company commander, Captain Ernest Medina, whom he saw as a role model, he looked up to Medina. (Detzer 127).
...played an excellent model of military ethics. Finally, I showed how my leadership decisions, although not combat related, bear some similarity in vision and ethics to Chesty’s standard, as set seven decades earlier. I can think of no better leader for today’s officers, both commissioned and noncommissioned, to emulate than the most decorated and idolized marine in history.
“Why would you want to interview me when there are plenty of people back home that would be easier to interview in person?” asks John Stout. He is about 5’11, has dark black hair and his eyes are a rich chocolaty brown. He is tan and has a strong muscular body. John is currently deployed in Bagram Afghanistan. He departed on July 7th, 2016 and will not return until April of 2017. He grew up in Fort Ripley, MN and graduated from Brainerd High School in 2014. John is very close with his Mother, Father, Brother and Sister. He grew up with a wrench in his hand and always helped his Father work on project cars and fixing things around the house. To John, family is everything. His family always took vacations and every summer, he gets to travel around the United States for Army training. John grew up in a military family. His Father works as a Warrant Officer in the Minnesota National Guard and his Brother, Curtis, is in the Marine Corps and is also deployed right now.John has always wanted to serve his country
What is a soldier? What makes a good soldier? Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary defines a soldier as one who “engages in military service”, a “skilled warrior”, and a “militant leader or follower”. The characteristics of a soldier vary in the different military branches but ultimately a soldier is loyal to his or her country, willing to fight and die. In an article by B.R. Burg, the author states “The complete officer must be the complete man, they believed, and to measure up each had to possess an amalgam of qualities that included patriotism, courage, honor, loyalty, absolute honesty, and elevated standards of morality” (439). The epitomes of a good soldier are characters such as Sergeant Elias (Platoon), Captain John Miller (Saving Private Ryan), and any number of the main characters from war novels such as With the Old Breed, The Bridges at Toko-Ri, and Black Hawk Down. These good soldiers fight for their country and brotherhood. Those that are the levelheaded father figures are praised while characters such as Sergeant Barnes (Platoon) are criticized for their aggressive and sometimes violent behavior. Is this type of character much different than the “good soldier”? When does this type of change come over a soldier? The movie Platoon offers a good insight into the making of a man into a soldier during the Vietnam War.
Forgotten Heroes They were the best of times; they were the worst of times. The effects on a man’s soul are limitless; when it comes to a bloody game we call war. Whether it is from a movie, novel, or personal testimony, the entire account can never be retold. There will always be facts missing, exaggerated points, or skewed visions. You can never tell when a war story is real or completely made up. You can only close your eyes and pray to god it wasn’t ever that bad. During the Vietnam War, or the ‘unpopular war’, many men faced things unimaginable today. Soldiers kept quiet to avoid the pain and humiliation that American citizens put them through upon coming home. Often times the soldiers discarded their uniforms to avoid public humiliation. They faced rejection and verbal, sometimes physical assault. Needless to say the war was not a welcomed topic. Just as in Tim O’Brien’s short story of ‘How to Tell a True War Story’, the American people were not so supportive. Just after Bob Kiley lost his best friend, Curt Lemon, he decided to write his sister and speak of how great of a brother she had had. He went on how they became brothers and how he was one of the best men he knew. He told her how he had made the war almost fun, and what a great sense of humor he carried. (pg.543) His letter was never given a response. Just as quickly as curt had died; Bob’s letter would be forgotten. There’s a story of two Vietnam Vets from the state of Massachuses who had always felt as if they were forgotten heroes. They heard mention of a war memorial in Washington that would consist of a wall with the names of every lost soul engraved into its granite. As soon as they heard of its release date they hit the open road. In some way they felt as if it were to be a homecoming long denied for the veterans in a black period in our nation’s history. They had hoped their participation in the war would be put into a better perspective, that even though the war was bad, the soldiers were not. To them it was as if the memorial brought the Vietnam War out of the closet, and into the public consciousness.