to live, to love, to learn, to leave a legacy… and to laugh along the way
For those of you who haven’t seen the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, it is the largest American military cemetery outside of continental USA. Within its 152-acres of well-maintained and properly manicured rolling terrain, a total of 16,859 dead servicemen are buried, while the memorial walls read 36,286 more missing in action. It is a must-see for history lovers, particularly those who have special personal interest in World War II.
GP is an old blogger-friend who’s been writing mostly about World War II. You should visit his blog if you want to learn more about common soldier stuff during the great war. Here, he gives us a different side of the soldier, especially the old fun-loving, irreverent vets.
It is not enough that we recognize the need for a strong and credible defense posture. What is equally important is that we invest in the development of the local defense industry, so that we are never again hostaged by the non-availability of foreign stocks.
I had the rare privilege of knowing one of the these “Fighting Filipinos” when I joined the Scout Rangers back in 1978. MSgt Vic “Fatal Blow” Galvan was then the Sgt Major of the newly-revived Scout Ranger Group (SRG). He was such a stickler for hard training, always stressing that famous line: “The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in combat”. He would regale us with stories of the big war in Korea; of the dangers, the difficulties, and the pain of losing close comrades.
Originally posted on Color My World :
We, the members of Philippine Military Academy ‘Makatarungan’ Class of 1978 (PMA ’78), celebrated Remembrance Day last April 11,…
Life has been good to us. And it’s all because of the Academy. It’s all about the character-building, the ‘Courage, Integrity and Loyalty’ motto it has inculcated in us, it’s about the maturity, the love-of-country – all these and more – that I am so thankful for. And even as I reach the twilight of my years, I shall forever cherish – and remain forever indebted – to the Academy.
Color My World 