Release by Arthur R. Salyer Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good night. Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go gentle into that good night. Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light. - Dylan Thomas When speaking with various groups about WWII, I have been asked the question, “Why do WWII GI’s cry when telling about the war?” I am not sure if I can explain it or not, but I do know what many have told me. GI’s in WWII were told to put their emotions on hold until war’s end. We walked away from homes, families, wives, sweethearts and children. We went through very tough training where they told us, “We are going to train you to kill. Believe it or not, you will be killing young me you don’t know; and you will feel you did a good thing and won’t feel too bad about it.” Now after months of this type of training, we were ready to be the tough guys they wanted us to be. Yes, we were ready to kill…. Not happy about it, but ready. This is what it takes to win a war. We saw death, suffering, starvation, many things that were difficult to dismiss from your mind. A marine friend of mine spent a night in a foxhole with his best buddy who had taken a shot in the head and at once fell across my friend’s arms. WWII GI’s became like brothers while serving overseas. We had no family to lean on, so we found buddies and shared “K” rations, a two percent beer, a tent and even letters from home. I once had to stay close to a buddy of mine who had written a letter to his brother, who was serving in the army in Germany. My buddy’s letter was returned to him stamped “DECEASED” in large black letters, which is the first news he had of his brother’s death. We came home after four years of things like this that many GI’s didn’t want to talk about, because we were tough guys, you know. Then we began to get old and the tough guy image began to soften. And now we are no longer ashamed to cry from those bad memories. Yes, we have grown old and become softies. Now we look back over those events and we cry and it feels good to cry and gives us release from those sad days long ago. I have cried lately watching the GI’s relate their stories on the PBS series, “The War” and also hearing Norah Jones’ song “American Anthem” which is dedicated to the WWII GI’s. Ashamed to cry? Not now! No longer ashamed to cry, Arthur R. Salyer RM2/c U.S. Navy 7th Fleet Two Years in the South Pacific Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely. - General Dwight Eisenhower (June 1944) Suggested Listening: American Anthem by Norah Jones
Posted on: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:05:26 +0000
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