A Pure Fight, Not a Fair Fight

Where does honor come from? Who establishes the rules of war and why? If we look only 1,000 years back or so we can find cultures whose hatred was so all encompassing that it would become standard practice that the children and civilian men and women of a conquered land would either be killed or sold into slavery. If we look only 60 years in our own history we can find the Japanese carrying on the same practices in conquered Manchuria. Some of these men purport to be decendent of the Samurai and yet they behave like cruel children burning ants in an anthill.
Honor has nothing to do with genetics though it has every bit to do with the way we are raised. If you come from a family where all members still stand, turn, and face when they hear the Star Spangled Banner you develop a respect for that flag before you even understand why. But sadly some of these ideals become sullied and lost amid popularity and convenience.

And then you have the Few.

Throwbacks to the past, anachronisms, men out of place.......all of these titles can be placed on some people, though there is no denying one title........Warrior!

Those people who are learned insofar as they understand right and wrong more intimately than any other. They fight not for a piece of cloth or for a person simply because of what it is or what they are, but for what their colors represent and the idea that people should live free of wanton terror and hatred. From Thermopylae, to Gettysburg, to Fallujah, to Inchon, to Baghdad hardened peoples have walked and battled and died in pursuit of ideals, not solely ground or profit. These were men who exemplify themselves with feats of valor and honor that go unseen by many or most of popular society. Only those of us who still keep the candle burning often serve as educators.

But in all those cities mentioned we can find a pure fight. A line drawn in the sand, or mud, or rock and warriors on either side driving forward for what they feel is righteous and good. Not the insidious acts or weapons of terror, human shields, IED's, attacking schools and murdering children. No person should ever cave in or give way to peoples who behave in such ways, it only ends up justifying the actions of thugs.

Now I hope to teach of a man named Alford McLaughlin. A Marine Machine Gunner and fellow warrior who received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions in Korea. The Citation reads as follows:

CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Machine Gunner of Company I, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on the night of 4-5 September 1952. Volunteering for his second continuous tour of duty on a strategic combat outpost far in advance of the main line of resistance, Private First Class McLaughlin, although operating under a barrage of enemy artillery and mortar fire, set up plans for the defense of his platoon which proved decisive in the successful defense of the outpost. When hostile forces attacked in battalion strength during the night, he maintained a constant flow of devastating fire upon the enemy, alternating employing two machine guns, a carbine and hand grenades. Although painfully wounded, he bravely fired the machine guns from the hip until his hands became blistered by the extreme heat from the weapons and, placing the guns on the ground to allow them to cool continued to defend the position with his carbine and grenades. Standing up in full view, he shouted words of encouragement to his comrades above the din of battle and, throughout a series of fanatical enemy attacks, sprayed the surrounding area with deadly fire accounting for an estimated one hundred and fifty enemy dead and fifty wounded. By his indomitable courage, superb leadership and valiant fighting spirit in the face of overwhelming odds, Private First Class McLaughlin served to inspire his fellow Marines in their gallant stand against the enemy and was directly instrumental in preventing the vital outpost from falling into the hands of a determined and numerically superior hostile force. His outstanding heroism and unwavering devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon himself and enhance the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Another rough and tumble Machine Gunner....Another story that needs to be told.