Honoring The Fallen

This Memorial Day, the thoughts of most Americans turn to those who have been lost defending our freedoms. I honor all these brave men and women, from the beginnings of the Republic until now, as new heroes are falling even today protecting us overseas.

The Milblog Ring HQ should be a good place to stop by today to see how the milbloggers around the world are honoring their brothers and sisters this Memorial Day. Being a submariner, my thoughts turn mostly to the submariners still on eternal patrol -- those who showed us the way. Here's what I wrote last year, which remains true today:

"On Memorial Day, submariner's thoughts always turn to those of us still on eternal patrol -- the crews of the diesel boats lost during peacetime accidents, the 52 boats lost fighting for freedom during WWII, the USS Thresher, and the USS Scorpion...

I mourn, and celebrate, men like CDR Howard Gilmore of USS Growler, who gave the order "Take her down" so that his shipmates could survive to fight another day... Captain John Cromwell, who rode the USS Sculpin to the bottom to save others he didn't even know... and LCDR Dudley "Mush" Morton, who taught the Submarine Force to fight as CO of USS Wahoo.

About halfway between SUBASE New London and Electric Boat shipyard in Groton is the National Submarine Memorial. Whenever I drove between the two places, I always saluted the men and boats honored there; their sacrifice provided the glue that binds submariners together."

Thanks to all who have served, and all who honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.