Re: [MV] No Firestorm here, but
steve shaw (gyrene37@webtv.net)
Wed, 29 Sep 1999 06:32:24 -0500 (EST)
Thanks, Mike, for your thoughtful post. I couldn't have said it better
myself. I belong to an organization of former Marine Bandsmen whose
membership includes 7 (declining each year now) former 4th Regiment
(China) Marines
who left Shanghai in the fall of '41, served as infantrymen on
Corregidor, and survived the Bataan Death March. They saw numerous of
their comrades perish on that infamous march, in the horrible prison
conditions that followed, on the "Hell Ships" transporting them to the
Japanese mainland and in one case after serving nearly 4 years in as
prisoners of the Japanese was captured again in North Korea
in 1951 and served about 2 more years as guests of the Communists there.
I, for one, cannot "forgive and forget" these and other atrocities by
Japanese, Germans, and others alike enacted upon my Marine brothers and
cannot countenance our government apologizing (and paying) for bombings
and retaliations we made during that time of War. While I know that the
average citizen of these countries today is not at fault for these acts,
I still distrust a nation, government or people that would allow it to
happen - I would like to think it could not happen here and if it did
that I, along with you would stand against it.
Having said that, I must temper my statements with the belief that
history has it's place and if presented in that light, reenactment,
wearing of uniforms and display of equiment and vehicles is a good
thing. I attended the Iola, WI MV rally this year and there was a
German contingent there. A small "battle" was staged with the Germans
entrenched, and the U.S. troops moving across open ground with a
Half-Track and Jeep. In a few minutes, the battle was won and the enemy
knocked out. How many events like this take place in this country each
year reenacting the War Between the States with participants dressing in
the uniforms of one side or the other from this conflict that tore our
country apart - pitting brother against brother?
Preservation of history and historical items is a good thing whether or
not one agrees with the politics and beliefs - even the acts and deeds -
of the people who used these items.
In closing, and to keep from being flamed, let me say that it would be a
shame for any of the marvelous German WWII MV's still in existance to be
lost and that there certainly is a place for their restoration and
preservation along with these items from all countries.
SEMPER FI!
Steve
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