Remembered In Silence

Nine years ago I was asked to the be the keynote speaker at a Memorial Day Ceremony. It was not the first time, nor was it at the largest gathering I have addressed, but each time I have been given the privilege of speaking on this somber day I deem it an honor.

The words I spoke then are just as relevant today. Let us all remember, honor and silently give thanks for those who, over the past 235 years, have died and continue to die for our great country and our freedom.

Remembered In Silence

This is a day you will hear many speakers. Each impassioned with a common cause ... to remember those who are silent. And those whose voices cannot be heard, for their fate is unknown ... they are listed as POW/MIA. Prisoners of War or Missing in Action. The Department of Defense has added yet three more initials ... BNR. Body Not Recovered. 

More than half a century ago we struggled remembering those who died in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Pacific. Over five decades past we found ourselves again remembering those who breathe their final breaths in lands halfway around the world ... Korea. And, Vietnam 20 years later. Then came the Middle East, parts of Europe, Iraq and Afghanistan. 

This is not a history of the dead ... or a litany of the missing. I refuse to speak with an emotional voice. To recall the times of holding a dying man in my arms. To have tears course down my face with memories of friends I don't know where they may be. 

I simply refuse to speak.

Listen.

The silence is deafening ... the silence is powerful. 

In silence I look to the sky and salute you my brothers and sisters. Let the silence remind us all of the absence of their voices ... and let the power of their silence energize us. 

Let us not simply come together once a year to remember and honor those who gave their lives. Each time we hear the sound of silence ... let each of us, in our own way, remember and pray.

Thoughts of a Warrior

This weekend is special. For many it is a time to get away to the lake, or a beach, or fire up the grill, to share time with friends and family. But as you enjoy the holiday set aside just a moment or two to remember what Monday means. It is a time to remember and honor all those military men and women who died for our great nation.

Eleven days ago (May 17th), in Jacksonville, Alabama a young warrior was laid to rest. His name is Kyle A. Comfort.  He was killed approximately two weeks before in combat in Afghanistan. Captain Comfort is survived by his wife of five years and their six month old daughter. When he was killed he was serving with D Company 3rd/75th Ranger Regiment.

What follows is a blog read at his eulogy and was written by him as a young 2LT in the 2nd BDE of the 101st Airborne in Iraq about two years ago. It is one of the most profound descriptions of our soldierly bonds I've ever seen.

Blog of CPT Kyle A. Comfort:

Thursday, January 31, 2008 Distance means nothing Current mood: grateful to all. I'm not really a blog kind of person but I figured I would give it a shot. There are a few things that run across my mind regularly while serving in Iraq, and oddly enough I just happen to have a way to put it down in "writing."

You can read it in books, you can see it on TV, you can see it in the newspapers, but unless you have actually been here to watch these few, these happy few, who day after day put themselves at risk to complete the mission then you could never truly understand their sacrifices. Some don't know what the mission is in the grand scheme, some don't even care, but regardless they will complete it with honor. Everyday I wake up to see these men of Bravo company take another step closer to freedom.

Not just freedom for themselves, for you or for me, but for the people of Iraq.

They have left it all behind, some for a 2nd and 3rd time, and they conduct each day with nothing more than a guarantee that tomorrow is one day closer to home. They complain not about being here, not about why we're here, not even about how many times they have been here. Their complaints are usually that the water they shaved with this morning was cold, assuming they were given the opportunity to shave.

I can stare any one of these men in the face and read the story of what it is to serve honorably. 

Missing my incredibly supportive wife I can handle waking up each day to see these heroes driving on as if this day was the greatest day. They ask nothing of their leaders except the truth. Listening to encouraging words will no longer be necessary for me when it gets hard in life for I have the experiences of Bravo company to help drive me on. I did not KNOW honor until I served with these soldiers. I am truly a blessed man who has been given all that I have ever asked. My reward is to have this opportunity to serve along side them.

Some of these men are no more than 17 or 18 years of age but make no mistake for they are as much a man as any one person you know. Words can never convey what these men do each day. 

I did not know what to expect when I came to Iraq. I did not understand my place on the battlefield in the current fight and I certainly did not understand entirely what it would mean to serve along side America's finest. I believe I now know my role and it is a role I take very seriously. I will do whatever it takes to get all these men home safely and back to their families. Every time I leave the wire I know they are watching out for me. Sometimes I can tell they are watching out for me more so than they are for themselves. At first I thought it was because I was a Lieutenant, and maybe so at first, but not anymore. Now they do it because I am one of them ..... Bravo company. 

To all who know me, you know that I love my wife, my family, and my soldiers more than anything. If you have never had the opportunity to serve along side them I implore you speak to them. He is not a robot anymore than anyone else, but if you attack him, his instincts will seem almost reflexive in nature. America, sleep sound tonight. The soldiers of Bravo company will tuck you in with the power of freedom and all that it offers. They will ask nothing of you and it is likely they never will.

When you see these few, these happy few, tell them you love them for their sacrifice and that you slept well tonight. 

Kyle A. Comfort, 2LT FA Bravo Co. FSO 2-502D IN REGT

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED  Caveats: NONE

C

CPT Kyle A. Comfort

ARRIVE ALIVE

Many years ago the State of Florida instituted a campaign tied to the state's speed limits and it was called "Arrive Alive."

One of the busiest holiday weekends is almost upon us and now there are other categories to add the "Arrive Alive" philosophy.

It is not just speed and alcohol that kills when driving but cell phones. Talking and texting claims tens of thousands of lives each year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) last year more than 34,000 people were killed on the highways in cell phone related accidents.

While no state currently bans the use of cell phones while driving many have enacted laws limiting their usage. Seven states now prohibit the use of handheld cell phones when driving and 26 others have outlawed text messaging for all drivers. Driving in Texas I have seen signs prohibiting the use of cell phones in school zones.

Reputable studies have reported the following:

• Distraction from cell phone use while driving (hand held or hands free) extends a drivers reaction time as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent. (University of Utah)
• The number one source of driver inattention is the use of a wireless device. (Virginia Tech/NHTSA)
• Drivers that use cell phones are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. (NHTSA/Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• Ten percent of drivers aged 16 to 24 years old are on their phone at any one time.
• Driving while distracted is a factor in 25 percent of police reported crashes.
• Driving while using a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37 percent. (Carnegie Mellon)

Many countries have outright banned the use of cell phones, in any form, while driving. Among them are: Australia, China, France, Denmark, Japan, Russia and the United Kingdom. Either a total ban or the restricted use of cell phones while behind the wheel has been enacted in 52 countries.

This holiday weekend don't become a statistic. Use your cell phone smartly, off the road. If you must be on the phone, don't do it in traffic, pull into a safe place and stop.

ARRIVE ALIVE !

The other day I saw an attractive young lady wearing a T-shirt that exclaimed: "Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder" and it sparked a few thoughts. The coming weekend is considered by many as the official start of summer. Summer, for many, is the official drinking season. Cold beers at the ball park, cocktails by the pool and kegs at the cook-out.

Humorist Brian O'Rourke offers a simplistic view of drinking. He once said: "When we drink, we get drunk. When we get drunk, we fall asleep. When we fall asleep, we commit no sin. When we commit no sin, we go to heaven. So, let's all get drunk and go to heaven!"

On the same note, Benjamin Franklin is quoted as saying: "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."

While I am not advocating over indulging, the subject of drinking alcohol does provoke some thoughts. Among them is The Buffalo Theory. That scientific treatise offers the following explanation:

A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, we we know, kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, alcohol consumption eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. That's why you always feel smarter after a few drinks.

While on the subject of over indulging, I wondered if a few more warnings should be added to the labels of such beverages. A few examples might be:

•  WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause you to think you can sing.
• WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may leave you wondering what the hell happened to your underwear.

Recently I read an article on achieving inner peace. It said: "The way to achieve inner peace is to finish all the things you have started." I thought this may be a great way to start the summer, so tomorrow I plan on finishing a bottle of Scotch, a bottle of red wine, a bottle of gin and the open box of chocolates. I'm beginning to feel better all ready.

Just one more reminder. Last week I saw a local Taxi with this lettering in the back window: "Average cost of a ride in our back seat $12. Average cost of a ride in their back seat $1,200 - DWI."

Enjoy the summer but as the ads state: "Drink Responsibly." And above all, DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE!

Integrity ... A Disappearing Quality ?

The dictionary defines integrity as: "Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code."

In today's world of assigning blame, evasion, greed or just plain lying, it seems integrity is becoming a thing of the past. Banking, financial, energy (including oil and gas companies), and retail giants and, of course, politicians are just a few examples where the word integrity is just that ... a word.

On Wall Street the institutions American taxpayers bailed out passed out individual bonuses that would feed a family of four for years.

Religious leaders for decades have preached the value of integrity while blatantly thumbing their nose at its practice; from the tent evangelists of the early 1920s to the Pope today.

Last week the heads of three major corporations appeared before Congressional hearings. All three disavowed any blame for the recent disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, each pointing a finger at the other.

It seems every election held in the United States uncovers some politician's disregard for this quality.

In this one person's view's,integrity goes hand-in-hand with responsibility.

Standing up for what is right and accepting responsibility for your actions, as well as, the responsibility for those who are your subordinates. The response: "I wasn't aware" is unacceptable. As a leader, executives should be aware of what is going on.

From the 11th through the 20th centuries duels have taken place to redress a perceived wrong. It was a matter of honor.

Integrity and honor are solidly linked. One definition of honor is: "Principled uprightness of character; personal integrity."

If, for a thousand years honor and integrity were worth fighting for, even to the death, doesn't it make you think this quality is so precious that we should practice, demand and yes, fight for it today?

A Woman of Firsts

It was 57 years ago yesterday that Jackie Cochran became the first woman to ever break the sound barrier. In a Canadair F-86 Sabre jet borrowed from the Royal Canadian Air Force she flew at an average speed of 652.337 miles per hour (mph).

But this was not her first "first." She was also the first woman to fly in the Bendix Trans-Continental race, which she won in 1938. Jackie was also the first woman to fly a bomber across the Atlantic ocean and the first female to fly a jet across the ocean. She won five Harmon Trophies as the outstanding woman pilot in the world.

Sometimes called the "Speed Queen" at the time of her death on August 9, 1980, no pilot, man or woman, held more speed, distance or altitude records in aviation history than Jackie Cochran.

Born May 11, 1906 near Mobile, Alabama, she began her working life as a hairdresser in Pensacola, Florida. But in the early 1930s she discovered flying.

Before the United States joined World War II, she was part of "Wings for Britain" that delivered American built aircraft to Britain. It was then she became the first woman to fly a bomber (a Lockheed Hudson V) across the Atlantic.

In 1940 she wrote a letter suggesting that women pilots be employed to fly noncombat missions in the American armed forces. Following America's entry into the war, in 1942 she was made director of women's flight training for the United States. As head of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) she supervised the training of more than 1,000 women pilots. For her war efforts she received the Distinguished Service Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

At war's end, she was hired by a magazine to report on global postwar events. In this role, she witnessed Japanese General Tomoyuki Yamashita's surrender in the Philippines, then was the first (non-Japanese) woman to enter Japan after the war. She also attended the Nuremberg Trials in Germany.

Jackie was the the first woman to land and take off from an aircraft carrier, the first woman to reach Mach 2, or twice the speed of sound, about 1,500 mph.

Despite her lack of formal education, Ms. Cochran had a quick mind as evidenced by more "firsts." The first pilot to make a blind (instrument) landing, the ONLY woman to ever be president of the Federation Aeronautique Int'l (1958-1961), the first pilot to fly above 20,000 feet with an oxygen mask.

Although her aviation accomplishments never gained the media attention given to Amelia Earhart, she is remembered and honored for her place in history.

And all this before women's lib. What a great lady!

What Is An American?

Several years ago, it was reported, a newspaper in Pakistan published an offer of a reward to anyone who killed an American, any American. To let everyone know what an American is, Peter Ferrara, associate professor of law at Virgina's George Mason University School of Law, wrote the following that was published in the National Review.

An American is English, or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek. An American may also be Canadian, Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani, or Afghan. An American may also be a Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navajo, Apache, Seminole or one of the many other tribes known as Native Americans.

An American is Christian, or he could be Jewish, or Buddhist, or Muslim. In fact, there are more Muslims in American than in Afghanistan. The only difference is that in America they are free to worship as each of them chooses. An American is also free to believe in no religion. For that he will answer only to God, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming to speak for the government and for God.

An American is from the most prosperous land in the history of the world.

The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of Independence, which recognizes the God given right of each person the pursuit of happiness.

An American is generous. Americans have helped out just about every other nation in the world in their time of need. When Afghanistan was overrun by the Soviet army 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to enable the people to win back their country. As of the morning of September 11, 2001, Americans had given more than any other nation to the poor in Afghanistan.

Americans welcome the best. The best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the best athletes. But they also welcome the least. A national symbol of America, the Statue of Liberty, welcomes your tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, the homeless, tempest tossed. These in fact are the people who built America. Some of them were working in the Twin Towers the morning of September 11 earning a better life for their families. I've been told that the World Trade Center victims were from at least 30 other countries, cultures and first languages, including those that aided and abetted the terrorists.

So you can try to kill an American if you must. Hitler did, so did General Tojo, and Stalin, and Mao Tse-Tung, and every bloodthirsty tyrant in the last 200 years of history of the world. But in doing so you would just be killing yourself. Because Americans are not a particular people from a particular place. They are the embodiment of the human spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds that spirit, everywhere, is an American.