(06-06-2018 07:23 PM)olliebaba Wrote: Three of my uncles served in the war. One came back with PTSD problems, one lived a long life and one died in the Rio Rapido campaign. I was named for him, drat, I wish he hadn't died I would have had another name. JK, but I've never liked my name. I asked my mother why I was named that and she told me that her brother was killed in WWII and it was to honor him. I told her that I didn't have anything to do with him dying. Oh well, I was young. I still don't like my name but I'm proud of his service, he gave all.
The people who protest in our country have the right to do so in part because of the sacrifice of these men and others who fought and died against tyranny and threats to our liberty and security. We will never forget the high cost of freedom. A shame others will. Hallowed ground indeed...
When in England at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of empire building by George Bush.
He answered by saying that, “Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those that did not return.”
It became very quiet in the room. You could have heard a pin drop.
One that stands out the most to me:
Merchant Ship Production (in tons)
Year United States Japan
1939 376,419 320,466
1940 528,697 293,612
1941 1,031,974 210,373
1942 5,479,766 260,059
1943 11,448,360 769,085
1944 9,288,156 1,699,203
1945 5,839,858 599,563
Total 33,993,230 4,152,361