Reference your communication dated 03 August 2002 the following is submitted for information and any action you may deem necessary: (This is the way I used to start most of my military communications. It worked great cause it offended no one either in a higher or lower echelon.)
However, here are some thoughts to answer your request for my opinion on "UNDER GOD" (whatever that is means )
In the past I'll admit, although it upset me when added to the Pledge of Allegiance, I really didn't dwell on it a lot. However, when that judge on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeal's declared it unconstitutional, I thoroughly concurred with his opinion. From the day his opinion became public and the hysteria that followed. I feel that "our" country really tumbled into the abyss of no return.
1. For instance the phrase "Separation Of Church and State" I always felt that it simply meant, All religious influence would be checked at the door of any government building. By this, I mean from the Capitol down to, and including any government, be it Federal, State, County, City, Capitals, Court Houses, Universities, or one room schools.
2. When those 99 clowns in the Senate gathered on the steps of the Capitol and en mass shredded an important part of our constitution by invoking their Judo/Christian beliefs on the people of this nation. i.e. giving the pledge and emphasizing "UNDER GOD". THIS NO LONGER IS A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. It now states that we are all subordinate to a mythical deity. Simply, I mean that we have subordinated the Constitution to a book, the Bible, which to this day is interpreted to enhance the stature of its believers. In this, I include the "Book of Mormon, The Koran, the Jewish Bible? and any and all of the thousands of beliefs around the world.
3. Now to expound some on religion and the military. First off, in yours truely's case, I was never administered the oath when enlisting, re-enlisting or formally extending an enlistment to complete a mission or project. I just signed some papers and I was in. So, I was never put in the position of saying "So Help Me God". Most of our friends in the military, due to my position of Senior Non - Commissioned officer, were officers. All of our interactions were with officers which carried off into our social life. I sent them on missions and debriefed them when (and if) they got back. There were only four, who I knew what their religion was. Bob Bell, Catholic. Bob and his wife Jackie, prayed for my recovery, nightly, when I was considered terminal. Frances (Zip) Taillon, Catholic. Zip was one of the Squadron Fighter Pilots that tried to organize a fighter escort for me when we left Guam on an Air Vac plane. He couldn't as they weren't allowed to fly within four miles of a hospital plane. Donald (Dad) Horn, A Mason so know he wasn't Catholic. Masons have been very strong and powerful in the Military. Charles (Charlie) Fair, non-religious. He is who your brother Chuck is named after and was killed when his F-86D disappeared out over the pacific. In the memorial service for him the Chaplain literally condemned him to hell for his lack of religious beliefs. (This is one reason I seldom attend any funerals and insist that there will be no funeral for me upon my death.)
While in Korea there were hundreds of orphans living and dying in the bombed out train station in Seoul. One time a group of us guys scrounged some candy bars and other food and took it to them. MISTAKE!! It nearly started a riot as those kids nearly tore themselves apart trying to get some food and there was not nearly enough to go around. We went to the Chief of Chaplains and asked him, and the other "holy Joes" to organize a program to get clothes and food and shelter for those kids. They didn't have time!!!! They where more interested in hanging around the officers club (all chaplains are commissioned) and working at getting promotions. (So much for living in poverty.)
At this juncture allow me to digress to January 21st, 1946. This was the day I enlisted in the Army. While filling in the information to be entered on my dog tages, I was given the choice of: P - Protestant; C - Catholic; A - Atheist; or O - Other. A benevolent old Sergeant advised me to use "P" rather than any of the others as my chances for advancement were not as good using "C" or "O", but nearly non-existent using "A". ( The Jewish persuasion used "O " because to use "J" was not conclusive to longevity if shot down over or captured by members of the Third Reich.). So you see, a Jew turned Atheist really had a decision to make. Myself, I took the easy way out and carried "P " on my dog tags for nearly 15 years. January 21, 1946 was my 18th birthday, so still just a kid.
6. Your Mother just brought me a 27 August 1987 quote by H.W. Bush when he was Presidential Nominee for the Republican Party::: " No, I DON'T KNOW THAT ATHEISTS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS CITIZENS, NOR SHOULD THEY BE CONSIDERED AS PATRIOTS. THIS IS ONE NATION UNDER GOD."
Boy, that gives me a lift and lets me know how much my service was appreciated.
7. A. While at the doings we used to go to at Minot ND all programs were started with "God Bless America", not the Star Spangled Banner. Everyone stood up. We questioned if the people no longer knew or recognized their own National Anthem and thought" God Bless America" was it. . (This really confused the Canadians who attended in droves - as well as us.)
B. Although I have more service time, combat time and decorations than probably 90% of members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, I am not eligible for membership because I will not sign their oath that states in the last sentence "I CERTIFY THAT I BELIEVE IN GOD."
C. Although I am a Life Member of the Disabled American veterans, I cannot attain any position of leadership as step 3 in the hierarchy is Post Chaplain. Can't you see me giving the opening prayer and saying "God Bless This Group"??
8. Although I could go on in perpetuity, I guess I'll conclude thusly. I am thoroughly disgusted with this travesty that has been force fed to "My Country." As far as "sacrificing" so much for my country, I never consider my military career as such. Protecting "Our Country" was my vocation. I was proud to have been in Intelligence. Guardian of some of our highest military secrets, from Confidential, Secret and Top Secret. Now material is considered secure only as long as it takes some jerk (congressman, staff member and yes, many senior members, both civilian and Military) to get before a camera and microphone.
I don't know if you have heard of, or remember Jack Anderson, an investigative reporter, during the 40's, 50's and 60's. Anyhow he gained access to my office (Counter Intelligence/Counter Espionage ) in Triest, Free Territory of Triest. I was warned that this clown was heading my way by one of our British Operatives. I was working with some highly classified material and didn't have time to secure it, so I sat on it until he left. We were a joint section with British Intelligence and he got by their security people. Suggest you look up TRIEST US TROOPS ( TRUST ). Also Miramare Castle, our headquarters, and the cities of Triest, Gorizia, Duino, and Monfalconi. Our Intelligence units were in all of these places. Also, 88th (Blue Devil Dissuasion) 1946.
Thank you, Alonzo, for asking.
Love Dad
Letter from my Mon
On Veteran's Day, 2005, 10 months after my father died, my mother send me the following:
I thought that you might like to hear more of why your Dad was decorated in Korea, as I am not sure how much Dad told you.
It was the day they recovered the parts to the first found and downed Mig. It was deep behind enemy lines. He never was on the ground, his job was to watch out of the top turret for enemy aircraft while the helicopters went in.
They received a message that there were four down pilots up in the area of the Yalu River. They were asked to find them, cover them until a rescue chopper could be sent in. They did find them and flew cover until these men were rescued. Because of him, and the others involved four men's lives were saved. Four men came home to their families. No one asked what color they were, or what their religion was or wasn't, or how rich or poor. They were four men that needed rescued. Dad never talked much about it. He had a job to do, and someone needed help. That was it.
These weren't the only men he helped get out from behind enemy lines. He did join crews, on occasion, that flew back in and picked up pilots. He also instructed pilots on the skills needed in evasion and escape. He helped write the manual used and it was still being use in Viet Nam. Part of his job was getting those pilots out. How many lives he helped save, I don't know. If someone was a downed pilot during 1950 -1951 in Korea and got out, your Dad could have been a part of the reason why. He worked to set up safe houses, contacts, communications.
The orphans he mentioned haunted him all of his life. He never could get the picture of those starving children out of his mind nor understand how the Chaplains could do nothing and still sleep at night. Later, when we were in Japan, we found an orphanage of Japanese - American children disowned by the Japanese because of their mixed blood. Victims of the occupation. The people caring for these children had run out of resources and the children were in rags and hungry. Your Dad and I organized our squadron to take on the support of this orphanage. We contacted families at home and boxes of clothes and bedding, and other needed things came pouring in from our home towns. We raised enough money for a washer and drier and I'll never forget the day it was installed.
I'm sure you must remember the pictures of these kids from our slides from Japan. Even though Japan was not a Christian country, these kids learned Christmas carols in English and put on a wonderful and touching Christmas program for our squadron.
Your Dad did make a difference in his life time and should be honored for his contribution.
And he loved you so very much, as I do
Mom