I won't name names, but I will say, even the bravest of the brave, break.
He enlisted on 29 April 1939 and by 1942 was with one of the Raider Battalions and was wounded at Guadalcanal, his actions there garnered him the Bronze Star.
He continued service and by January 1952 he was in Korea. Once again, he was wounded and awarded another Bronze Star.
July 1952 he reenlisted for another six year hitch. On 16 May 1954 he was dead from a heart attack;final rank Master Sergeant (then the highest enlisted rank).
We can only push our service members just so hard before something has to give--their mental health, their physical health, their family's health. Thus it remains imperative for us as a Nation to continue to care for those who wore the uniform.
Master Sergeant, your service is remembered!
There are numerous examples of men- proven in battle-beaking under sustained combat stresses. Studies on why; why not and when are most probably the subject of numerous doctoral projects.
ReplyDeleteBut to my point; I am thinking of Maj Robert E. Messersmith on 4 Oct 1918. Pre-WWI hero and proven leader in WWI combat who broke at Blanc Mont and Maj George W. Hamilton who fought bravely in every major 4th Marine Brigade battle in he Great War, standing
Firm, unyielding. Messersmith served on but never recovering from the accusations of failure. He died at age 44. If his combat career had ended in Sept, after The Battle of Saint Mihiel, his story would be one of triumph under great stress.