Bugles sounded once again at Arlington National Cemetery yesterday as a great American was laid to rest. Jeremiah Denton joined his brothers and sisters at arms in a solemn ceremony at our premier national resting place for Americans who are true heroes. He has served his country and served well. I did not know him but I wish I had. He was an Rear Admiral, US Senator, Naval Aviator, Gentleman, and not necessarily in that order. He was also a Father, Son, Brother, Grandfather, and Patriot.
Our paths never crossed but they might have. I only remember him as a member of our club, Navy fliers. And we had served in our squadron VC/VAW-12 but at different times. We were the eyes of the fleet.
He had an illustrious career and lived in Virginia Beach until his death at age 89 on March 28th of this year. Like many other Navy fliers he epitomized the values of our country and retired to a community where many of our shipmates settled after duty. It was a friendly community where former and retired military folks could feel at home.
He's the one who served his country in battle and as a POW at the Hanoi Hilton He is remembered famously for blinking T-O-R-T-U-R-E during an interview with a Japanese television reporter while at that infamous abode during his imprisonment. Other prominent Naval Aviators there included late Vice Admiral and Naval Aviator James Stockdale who ran for Vice-President and John McCain who also became a US Senator. Admiral Stockdale who spent a incredible four years in solitary and 7 1/2 years as a POW received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his exploits. Senator John keeps watch over the veterans interests now. A daunting task. For that he deserves another medal.
So much is happening in our county now, that we must not forget those who fought for us.
Admiral Denton: Jeremiah Andrew Denton, Jr. was born 15 July 1924 in Mobile to Irene Steele Denton and Jeremiah Andrew Denton Senior. He was the oldest of three boys and I am embarrassed to say I never read his book or know about his parents. They must have been a strongly positive influence in his life. He attended McGill Institute and Spring Hill College in Mobile. It was war time probably the last great one for us, when he went to our Canoe Club, the US Naval Academy. Due to the need for recruits for WW II he had entered the USNA in 1943 and graduated in the accelerated class in 1947. He didn't make that one but did qualify as a blimp and fixed wing pilot. He served in a variety of aircraft including one of the predecessor aircraft to the WF-2 or E-1B where I spent many a hour on aircraft carriers and in the air. He was also a test pilot, flight instructor and commanding officer of an attack squadron and was in his plane, the A-6 Intruder when he was shot down. His area of specialty was Naval Operations and Strategy in the era of the big aircraft carrier. While he was a giant in Naval lore and tactics during the mid fifties, his value today is that he is a patriot and a role model for future Naval Officers. For his service he received the Navy Cross, two Distinguished Service Medals, three Silver Stars, the Distinguished Flying Cross, a Bronze Star for Valor and the Purple Heart. He had other accolades and you can search the web for that as I did.
He wrote a book titled, When Hell Was in Session. It was made into a movie in 1979 with actor Hal Holbrook playing the leading role as the admiral. I intend to find it.
Now, it is not my intent to use this blog to proselytize for any particular point of view or political philosophy, but it just strikes me that a lot is happening in our world around the clock that is interesting to reflect on. Maybe I can get a dialogue on our great land and what we stand for as it is clear the times are a changing.
First of all we must honor those patriots who served so we can enjoy the best quality of life in we have ever seen. Thankfully we won't see another war like the Second World one unless we decided to exterminate life as we know it. Personalty I don't think we will see another Vietnam, but we did see incursions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those who actually served in those wars that I know, don't feel about them like noted TV journalist Tom Brokaw --who who wrote about the greatest generation-- has observed about that generation.
Now we have Bowe Bergdahl and terrorists who blow- up airliners if even a mistake and a horrible one if it was. Sergeant Bergdahl was sick and may still be sick, I don't know and don't intend to use this blog to ply my clinical training as a doctor. I know as a military man, and I still consider myself as one but not a combat veteran, the US Army needs to investigate that debacle and let the public know what happened when he left his post. From this side of the pond, it seems like the US Army had its share of problems in-country Afghanistan, no too dissimilar to those reported out of Vietnam. But then again, we sailors spend most of our time off shore where the conditions are better than in a foxhole or where ever one is bivouacked in these "police actions." We used that term in Korea and it probably applies to the next three or so combat actions.our nation was involved in.
Then we had terrorists killing in cold blood 289 innocent civilians who did nothing more than be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Our sometimes friend and former cold war adversary says, "Who me ?" But social media caught his armored missile carriers slinking back to home. Can't hide anymore.
How about our allies who wage war by shelling the homes of their enemy. Don't know about you, but I feel very uncomfortable about that. Hope Secretary Kerry can broker a cease-fire there, but the whole area is a snake pit. I think ISIS is another word for viper.
Courage, conviction in a set of positive values, an ethical framework, good health practices which leads to resilience and honor to our fore-bearers are paramount to all of us. In a former life I was a Boy Scout and we were taught that we were to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. The Boy Scouts are not as popular as they were forty years ago, but the world is changed. And we need to change with it. Our values shouldn't.
To Admiral Denton. BRAVO ZULU. You have served us well. I for one will tip one for you in a few months at our squadron reunion. I know you will be there in spirit.
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