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The Band of Brothers and the Apology That is Owed

By: nessa (Diary)  |  February 9th, 2010 at 03:28 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

It is now the day after the passing of Pennsylvania Congressman Jack Murtha. I have chewed through my lips biting them to wait this long, it’s long enough. More than he deserved. These are my opinions and do not reflect the opinions of The Minority Report or RedState. But I must speak them aloud.

There is a “Brotherhood of Arms” in the United States Military, as there has been in the best military units since the dawn of time. If Soldiers cannot be loyal to their brothers, how can they be loyal to the Nation, or in our instance, the Constitution, that they serve?

King Henry explains it well, perhaps the best. For those of you not familiar with Agincourt, a British force of roughly 5000 stood before a French force of 4 or 5 times that. And won, but Henry’s words below were delivered before the battle began. Henry knew the impossible odds, but his loyalty to his men, his respect and love for his men led him to say :

If we are mark’d to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God’s will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires:
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England:
God’s peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one man more, methinks, would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made
And crowns for convoy put into his purse:
We would not die in that man’s company
That fears his fellowship to die with us. !
This day is called the feast of Crispian:
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say ‘To-morrow is Saint Crispian:’
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.
And say ‘These wounds I had on Crispin’s day.’
Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,
But he’ll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day: then shall our names.
Familiar in his mouth as household words
Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remember’d.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember’d;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.

William Shakespeare: Henry V Act IV Scene III

When St. Crispians Day came about for USMC veteran, Jack Murtha, there were no names “freshly remembered”, only curses for his brothers in arms. He was always more than happy to “strip his sleeves and show his scars” but he never said “I earned these on Crispian’s Day”, he said “I was a warrior but you are rapists and murderers.”

I had the inestimable privilege of Leading American Soldiers in battle; I will never forget that privilege, or the Soldiers I was privileged to lead. As King Henry said, through Shakespeare, we truly are “brothers, he who sheds his blood with me shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile”, those days we shared gentled their condition, those Soldiers have earned my undying loyalty and I will not forsake that honor. Not for earmarks, not for a position or a job and not ever for political favor, “from this day to the ending of the world.”

Representative Murtha’s family should issue the apology to the USMC that the Corps (pronounced “Kor” for those of you using teleprompters) deserves, if they are not the selfish, corrupt, despicable human beings that Jack Murtha was.

Saint Crispin and his brother Saint Crispinian’s Day is the 25th of October. Feel free to add this little known holiday to Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day and further honor those who gave their lives fighting for us and our way of life. And take a moment to reflect upon Loyalty, Loyalty to those who serve you and those whom you serve, may you all fare better than the selfish and corrupt among us.

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  • mbecker908
  • penguin2

    as the Shakespeare you quoted. This line stands out for me:

    Let him depart; his passport shall be made
    And crowns for convoy put into his purse:
    We would not die in that man

  • http://andrightlyso.com/ civil_truth

    Highly recommended

  • nessa

    Thanks.

  • http://stixblog.com Black River Wolf

    But both my dad and grandpa were doctors in the army. So, I can understand your anger.

    Loyalty is the one and only thing that keeps the military a cohesive unit, and if you betray that trust, then all fails.

    And thanks for reminding me of Saint Crispinian

  • http://itsaboutfreedom.proboards.com/index.cgi IronDioPriest

    a “veteran’s advocate” and a “champion of veteran’s rights” makes me feel sick to my stomach.

    In my mind, his baseless charges against the Haditha Marines for political gain was unforgivable. But for him to compound that by refusing to offer apologies or even acknowledgment when they were exonerated goes beyond unforgivable into territory that brings out the darkest part of my being.

    I wished him ill and prayed for retribution against this enemy of decency every time I saw his fat mug on television or heard his despicable name on the radio.

    As God is my witness, it gives me no great satisfaction to say that I got my wish, and that worthless traitor is in the ground where he belongs.

  • nessa

    …to send him on his way. Jeff Emanuel reminds us of his Slow Bleed strategy on the front page and Caleb exploded some heads over on Media Matters last night with nothing more than a tweet or two. I must warn you, the link is decidedly NOT work safe.

    Mrs Nessa is a Former Marine, she didn’t stay for a career as I did, but she is to this day the epitome of The Few and the Proud. Lets face it, who else could possibly put up with the swollen ego and constant braggadocio of a Paratrooper? Ask the poor foolish recruiter who decided to leave his headgear in his car as he walked to our door to speak with our daughter. I’ve never before seen a Staff Sergeant snap to a rigid position of Parade Rest while his a$$ was handed to him by a 4 foot 11 inch civilian woman. We danced a little jig around the kitchen when we heard the news, this diary was for her as much as for myself.

    Thanks for the link, you’re right, outstanding!

  • Scope

    his body was not even cold and his corruption, scandals and his denegration of the Haditha Marines was what was portrayed as a part of his life, when his passing was reported on Fox. He wrote his own obituary when he chose to live his life as a traitor to his country, for a few pieces of silver. He died with shame, and that will be his legacy in the history books.

  • E Pluribus Unum
  • nessa

    You probably know how my urge to say this warred with the desire to wait at least a marginally appropriate amount of time. It needed to be said, he violated a sacred trust. Sometimes its a shame that Aaron Burr ruined the whole dueling thing for everyone, someone would have called Murtha out the day he opened his piehole. I’m saving one more like this for the Winter Soldier…

  • E Pluribus Unum

    Only a traitor.

    Good riddance.

  • nessa

    Loyalty to your family, your employees or employer, if the crap weasels in DC had a thimblefull of loyalty to their constituents we wouldn’t be in the dire straits we are now. They wouldn’t be forcing bills down our throats, doing things for our own good because we’re not smart enough to know what we need. If they demonstrated that kind of loyalty to us, and maybe threw in a smidgen of selfless service we might return it. They might find themselves defended more often on the pages of RS and other places, rather than attacked and reviled. A very few of them do, hopefully more will after November.

  • nessa
  • nessa
  • nessa

    for my Winter Soldier diary.

  • nessa

    High praise indeed, thank you.

  • http://thesandsinstitute.org Vassar Bushmills

    As I said in an earlier comment, those who say there’s no such things as an ex-Marine didn’t know Murtha, for no Marine I know, through 5 wars, will claim him.

    I do wish that he could have marched to the gallows down here first, but you know, God does move in mysterious ways, for I think a lot of people are looking over their shoulders, hearing footsteps. First VA, then NJ, then Mass, then Murtha…kinda spooky, huh? If Barney Frank comes down with the pillow-biters clap…Charles Schumer may covert to Catholicism.

    Think about it.

    Oh, my favorite St Crispin’s Day speech is from the Kenneth Branaogh version, if you don’t have it…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAvmLDkAgAM…I keep it around for pep talks

    Cheers

  • http://itsaboutfreedom.proboards.com/index.cgi IronDioPriest

    … for joining my little forum nessa. What you’ve stumbled into is a regrouping of some of the core contributors to the now defunct powerlineblog forum. Hinderaker and the boys shut it down a little over a year ago (I don’t think they anticipated the lack of control they’d have over the message), and some of us decided to remain together, and we’re now trying to expand.

    Thanks again for following my breadcrumbs. I’ve bookmarked “The Minority Report” as well.

  • nessa

    As penguin noted above, we have another “Band of Brothers” here, conservative activists. There have been other bands of brothers in America outside the military, one group once pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor, in the pursuit of their ideals. Can we afford to do any less?

  • vrwcnut

    Early in my time in the Corps, I marveled at numerous Staff NCO’s who would discuss unacceptable behavior with that term. Eventually I came to understand that there were Marines and those who were not “Always Faithful” even if they wore the uniform for a time.
    In today’s terms perhaps the mest description would be Mino’s.

    Semper Fi is more than a recruiting slogan.

  • nessa

    I currently work with several Former Marines, from my informal polling the feeling is unanimous. I am willing to bet there will be some unscheduled Surf and Turf being served in the Mess Halls in Kandahar tonight.

  • vrwcnut

    of what my pastor used to say many years ago.

    “God doesn’t settle His accounts every day. But He does settle His accounts.”

    May all those who love His liberty receive the ultimate FitRep: Well done good and faithful servant.

  • http://hillbillypolitics.com Steph C

    While it may have been the last in elections, Kennedy’s death started the “sea change.” Coalitions started falling apart without the Kennedy shadow providing shelter.

    God helps those who help themselves. Every set back is sure to have those left looking over their shoulders. The worst part is that many of them will fade back into the shadows only to come forward again when they see a chance to cause more grief with their “benign” intentions.

  • izoneguy

    Great Diary – nessa!
    As the son of a military man and a
    brother in-law who was just
    promoted to a Lt. Colonel in the Army,
    I will let Murtha speak for himself:

    http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/iraq/2005/11/iraq-051117-murtha01.htm

    The war in Iraq is not going as advertised. It is a flawed policy wrapped in illusion. The American public is way ahead of us. The United States and coalition troops have done all they can in Iraq, but it is time for a change in direction. Our military is suffering. The future of our country is at risk. We can not continue on the present course. It is evident that continued military action in Iraq is not in the best interest of the United States of America, the Iraqi people or the Persian Gulf Region.

    Well. thank God someone like Obama was not President when this windbag was spouting off such crap. Just remember the leftists TODAY that are supporting Obama’s non-sense from Crap & Raid to ObummerCare and Global Warming……remember….remember

    This story shall the good man teach his son

  • nessa

    Its not easy to get LTC.

    I shall never forget the domocrats crimes against the military. i had a very unpleasant few minutes with one of my Soldiers and a dem crap weasel from his state in Afghanistan. The CODELS always wanted justification by talking to the troops. When she started telling him it was the dem party who had always supported the troops I lost my mind. That was a wonderful place to be, already approved for retirement but still on active duty. i did my job but I took many liberties I would not have without the approved retirement. i can’t remember her name or state but if I ever see her again she will sh!t herself. Then I’ll know.

  • ocleverone
  • nessa

    … I’m glad you enjoyed it. The things that ignite a fire in my belly seem to be the ones that get recco’d. Lord knows Murtha and his ilk light that fire.

    We will all need a lit fire in our belly’s to bring about the change we need in November, I’ll do everything I can to keep those fires lit!!

  • ocleverone

    By the way, thank you for your service. I have never expressed my gratitude to you.

    My husband is active duty and our twin sons served in theater in OIF and OEF and I know that it is a selfless person that serves with honor – thank you.

  • nessa

    …I can tell already, it takes much more to be the parent of a Soldier than it does to be the Soldier. God Bless you and your family for their service and sacrifice.

  • ocleverone

    I know how proud you must be of her. I will keep her in my prayers.

  • nessa
  • mikerazar

    my admiration and respect for you grows ever greater. Thank you and may God protect your little girl. She may be a soldier to us, but she will always be your baby.

  • http://stixblog.com Black River Wolf

    The idiots in DC need to start listening to the people instead of their handlers.

    And Loyalty is everything, without it you have nothing. Friends, family, and soldiers.

  • nessa

    nt

  • strategerist

    This is what I keep hearing when people dare bring this up for discussion.

    All men die and the event ought not be a defense against the discussion of the very real wrongs committed by the departed.

    This man did not respect liberty, he did not respect the people and he did not respect those that lay their lives down every day for this most precious gift.

    To not discuss his actions in real terms is to dishonor those whom he harmed in his life – many of whom are still living with the effects of his treachery.

    Good riddance to bad rubbish and God Bless the Unites States Marines.

  • nessa
  • edintexas

    Nothing more need be said.

    CW3, USA, Ret
    RVN Dec 65-Aug 66

  • magnacarta

    You said it so well that nothing further is necessary but, I guarantee that murtha would not have. He was a despicable, dishonest man. Good riddance.

  • nessa

    For your praise and your service! Were you a pilot?

  • nessa

    There are fundamental differences between us and them.

    Your comment reminded me of a scene from The Outlaw Josey Wales, after they had killed the hillbillies who were going to turn them in for the reward, the young kid with Josey asked if they were going to bury “them fellers.” Josey’s reply, an all time classic, was, “Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms.” My dignity is intact, I can’t say the same thing about his.