Veterans Day Reflections (November 11th)

One of my favorite guns magazines is entitled, "Guns Magazine" and one of my favorite contributors is John Connor who heads a column called "Odd Angry Shot."

In the latest issue, John reflected on some unique real life stories of veterans. The first one..........." During the Revolutionary War, when 4000 British-led Hessian's besieged the 600 patriot defenders of Fort Washington. 25 year old Margaret "Molly" Corbin saw her husband killed at his cannon. She immediately leaped in, loading and firing that cannon until the first enemy grapeshot ripped into her chest and shoulder, then later shot away part of her jaw. Gravely disabled, she became the first woman awarded a disabled veteran's pension. Today Molly rest in honor in the chapel courtyard at West Point."

Another one that caught my attention ..............."In February 1943, the Army transport ship Dorchester, pitched through the icy North Atlantic bound for Greenland. Just hours from making port, a German U-boat torpedoed her and she began sinking fast. Army chaplains calmly guided panicked soldiers to lifeboats and handed out life jackets from a crate they had broken open. They were left with four fearful troops without life jackets. Hardly a word passed between them. The padres just nodded to each other, stripped off their life preserver's and gave them to the soldiers.

Of 905 men aboard the Dorchester, more than 600 were killed. All four of those soldiers survived. None of the chaplains lived. They were George Fox, Protestant; Alexander Goode, Jewish; John Washington, Roman Catholic, and Clark Poling, Protestant. Just before sailing on the Dorchester, Clark told his family, "Do not pray for my safe return, but that I do my duty"

Lest we forget, Don't you forget to shake a Veteran's hand the next time you see one. Tell them you appreciate their service and their sacrifice for America.

Dan

Excerpt from the 91st Psalm:  " He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God in whom I will trust. Surely He will deliver thee from the snare of the Fowler and from the noisome pestilence"