Monday, May 27, 2013

A Poignant Tribute to Our Veterans Past and Present from a Fellow Conservative Blogger

Today is Memorial Day, a day for reflection and celebration of America's veterans over the course of 259 years of Anglo-American military history dating back to the French and Indian War (1754-1763) that was the North American theater of the Seven Years War that raged in Europe during that time.  The President of the United States of America is also known to the military as the Commander-in-Chief, but did you realize there have been many who served in the military in some capacity?  Below is a list of the presidents who served in the U.S. military in such ways:

US-O12 insignia.svg General of the Armies [edit]

Rank orderHighest rankBranchPresidentCombat experienceService notes
1General of the Armies of the United StatesVirginia militiaContinental Army,United States ArmyGeorge Washington[1][2]French and Indian WarRevolutionary WarServed in the Virginia militia (1752–1758), attaining the rank of colonel; served as commander in chief of the Continental Army (1775–1783) during the Revolutionary War, with the rank of "General and Commander in Chief." Washington was a Lieutenant General in the United States Army at his death. In 1976, then-president Gerald R. Ford posthumously appointed Washington as General of the Armies of the United States and specified that he would forever rank above all officers of the Army, past, present and future. The rank of General of the Armies is considered senior to General of the Army, and has been bestowed on only two officers in history, John J. Pershing, in 1919 for his services in World War I, and George Washington for his service as the first Commanding General of the United States Army. (An equivalent rank, Admiral of the Navy, was given to George Dewey.)

US-O11 insignia.svg General of the Army [edit]

Rank orderHighest rankBranchPresidentCombat experienceService notes
2General of the ArmyUnited States Army (Regular army)Dwight D. EisenhowerSupreme Commander of the Allied Invasion of Europe, primarily the Battles for Normandy, France and GermanyWorld War II.Graduated West Point; served 1915–1952. Served stateside during World War I and as Supreme Allied Commander during World War II.

(O-10) US-O10 insignia.svg General [edit]

Rank orderHighest rankBranchPresidentCombat experienceService notes
3General of the ArmyUnited States Army (Regular Army)Ulysses S. GrantMexican-American War and Civil WarGraduated West Point; first Lieutenant General since Washington, appointed as four-star General of the Army in 1866.

(O-8) US-O8 insignia.svg Major General [edit]

Rank orderHighest rankBranchPresidentCombat experienceService notes
4Major GeneralNorth Carolina militiaTennessee militiaUnited States ArmyAndrew JacksonRevolutionary WarCreek WarWar of 1812First Seminole War.Served at age 13 as a militia messenger during the Revolutionary War; was captured, becoming the only President to have been held as a prisoner of war (Washington had surrendered in the French and Indian War but was immediately paroled); served in the War of 1812, attaining the rank of major general and became a national hero after his success at the Battle of New Orleans.
United States ArmyWilliam H. HarrisonNorthwest Indian WarWar of 1812Dates of service: 1791–1798, 1812–1814. Became national hero after success at the Battle of the Thames.
Zachary TaylorWar of 1812Black Hawk WarSecond Seminole War, and Mexican-American War,Became a national hero because of his achievements in the Mexican-American War.
Brevet Major General of VolunteersUnited States Army (volunteers)Rutherford B. HayesCivil WarSuccessful leadership in Virginia/West Virginia region; wounded at the Battle of South Mountain
Major General of VolunteersJames A. GarfieldHis heroic ride at the Battle of Chickamauga later helped him to be elected President.

(O-7) US-O7 insignia.svg Brigadier General [edit]

Rank orderHighest rankBranchPresidentCombat experienceService notes
9Brigadier General of VolunteersUnited States Army (State militia, New Hampshire)Franklin PierceMexican-American WarEnlisted as Private
9Brigadier General of VolunteersUnited States ArmyAndrew JohnsonAppointed Military Governor of Tennessee during Civil Warwith rank of Brigadier GeneralNone
9Quartermaster GeneralNew York State militiaChester A. ArthurNon-combatant service only during Civil WarQuartermaster’s Corps. Dates of service: 1860–1862. As a state quartermaster, he could not be mustered into Federal service.
9Brevet Brigadier General of VolunteersUnited States Army (State militia, Indiana)Benjamin HarrisonCivil WarBattle of Perryville
Atlanta Campaign
Battle of Nashville

(O-6) US-O6 insignia.svg Colonel [edit]

Rank orderHighest rankBranchPresidentCombat experienceService notes
13ColonelVirginia militia, Albemarle CountyThomas JeffersonNoneLike other Virginia gentlemen, he had militia duties, and did administrative work
Virginia militia, Orange CountyJames MadisonNone, served between 1775-1781 during the Revolutionary War. Also see Service Notes.Left militia to enter Virginia legislature. (Some sources claim Madison briefly assumed command of an artillery battery during the British assault on Washington during the War of 1812. If true, he would join Washington (Whiskey Rebellion) as having seen military service as commander-in-chief.)
State militia, TennesseeJames K. PolkUnknownServed 1821
United States Army (State militia, New York National Guard, 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment aka the Rough Riders).Theodore RooseveltSpanish American WarFamous for charge up San Juan Hill. Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. As ex-president, volunteered for service in World War I, but President Wilson declined.
United States Army (National Army)Harry S. TrumanWorld War IServed 1905–1911, then in World War I, 129th Field Artillery (1917–1919), Army Reserves (1919–1953)[3]

(O-5)US Navy O5 insignia.svg Commander [edit]

Rank orderHighest rankBranchPresidentCombat experienceService notes
18CommanderUnited States Navy (U.S. Naval Reserve)Lyndon B. JohnsonWorld War IIAwarded Silver Star medal by General Douglas MacArthur for his role as an observer on a B-26 bomber mission.[4][5] (Controversial.).[6][7]
18CommanderUnited States Navy (U.S. Naval Reserve)Richard NixonWorld War IIServed 1942–1945 on various islands in the South Pacific and Commanded SCAT units in the South Pacific.[8]

(O-4) US-O4 insignia.svg Major / US Navy O4 insignia.svg Lieutenant Commander [edit]

Rank orderHighest rankBranchPresidentCombat experienceService notes
20MajorContinental Army, Virginia State TroopsJames MonroeRevolutionary WarDates of service: 1776–1779. Crossed the Delaware River with Washington (he is holding the flag in the famous painting); wounded in the Battle of Trenton. As Secretary of State during the War of 1812, scouted and deployed troops during the British invasion of Washington.
20Brevet Major of VolunteersUnited States Army (Volunteers)William McKinleyCivil WarServed in the Army of the Potomac, originally with the 23rd Ohio Infantry same as President Rutherford B. Hayes. First major engagement in West Virginia in 1861 and was present at the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia.
20Lieutenant CommanderUnited States Navy (U.S. Naval Reserve)Gerald FordWorld War IIYears of service: 1942–1946. Served on USS Monterey. Earned 10 battle stars.[9][10]
20MajorUnion Continentals (home guard),New York MilitiaMillard FillmoreNone, Mexican-American WarCivil WarYears of service: 1861 (after departure from Presidency) [11]

(O-3) US-O3 insignia.svg Captain / US Navy O3 insignia.svg Lieutenant [edit]

Rank orderHighest rankBranchPresidentCombat experienceService notes
24CaptainState militia, Virginia.John TylerWar of 1812Raised a company for the defense of Richmond in 1813
24LieutenantUnited States Navy (U.S. Naval Reserve)John F. KennedyWorld War IICommanded a PT boat. Earned Purple Heart and Navy and Marine Corps Medal for heroism in the PT-109 Incident.[12]
24LieutenantUnited States Navy (U.S. Naval Reserve)Jimmy Carter[13][14]None, USNA Midshipman during World War II, served during Korean War, but never sent to KoreaYears of service: 1946–1953. Graduated 59th in class of 1946 out of 820, United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Submarine service (Nuclear Specialist)
24CaptainUnited States Army (U.S. Army Reserve)Ronald ReaganNone, served during World War IIServed as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve; served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II, attaining the rank of captain. Was barred from combat because of poor eyesight. Narrated pre-flight training films under the Army Air Forces Motion Picture Unit.

(O-2) US-O2 insignia.svg First Lieutenant / US Navy O2 insignia.svg Lieutenant, Junior Grade [edit]

Rank orderHighest rankBranchPresidentCombat experienceService notes
29Lieutenant, Junior GradeUnited States Navy (U.S. Naval Reserve)George H. W. Bush[15]World War IIYoungest pilot in the United States Navy during World War II (age 19). EarnedDistinguished Flying Cross.
29First LieutenantUnited States Air Force (Texas Air National Guard)George W. BushNoneHe performed Air National Guard duty as an F-102 pilot through April 1972, logging a total of 336 flight hours.

(E-2) Private Army-USA-OR-02.svg [edit]

Rank orderHighest rankBranchPresidentCombat experienceService notes
31PrivateUnited States Army (State militia, Pennsylvania)James BuchananWar of 1812Only future President who enlisted without going on to become an officer
31PrivateState militia, Illinois.Abraham LincolnDid not experience combat but served during Black Hawk War burying the dead shortly after battles ended.Initially elected to the officer rank of Captain, but was mustered in and out of service during the Black Hawk War, going from Captain to the enlisted rank of Private and finishing his service in an independent spy company commanded by Captain Jacob Early. Honorably discharged without seeing combat. Also served in Stillman's Run and Battle of Kellogg's Grove
It is these brave men who were dedicated to preserving our liberties that no doubt influenced many of the decisions they made when they became president.

On a blog to which I subscribed run by conservatives titled Conservative Blogs Central, the author of today's article, dedicated to Memorial Day, spoke so eloquently and yet in such simple terms that I could not  possibly better express my sentiments toward the occasion.  Below is his article, including a sharp admonition toward President Obama, who is no patriot and, as you might have heard or read in the news, recently did not return a U.S. Marine's salute when approaching his helicopter:
MONDAY, MAY 27
'Sentinel' Memorial Day: May 27, 2013
This Memorial day is one where I find myself deeply conflicted. Today is not about me in any way shape or form. Do NOT read that into this at all. Memorial day is not about picnics, barbeques, having a great big party nor is it a day to get drunk, wasted, stoned, wired, you know what I mean. The meaning of Memorial day has gotten lost. In my opinion I feel that it has become somewhat perverted and the true meaning of honoring those who gave their all, paid the ultimate price, contaminated by statist, progressive, regressive re-writing and definitions. I look at who, what is the so called POTUS of our once fine Republic and he who shall not be named in this post, is not the commander and chief. He is not a leader, but a coward, who is an insult to those who have paid such a high price to keep us free.
Those who sacrificed it all, have served, are currently serving, deserve our honor and respect. They do not need the hollow words of a manufactured traitor, one who would all but spit on the tomb of the unknown soldier and stab our military men and women in their collective backs.
This image of a lone Eagle, seeming to be on guard duty in a cemetery is one of the most powerful images I have ever looked upon. I love Eagles and always have. A sentinel is what came to my mind right away. I know many of you have seen this image, maybe a few times too many if that is possible. For me, it is not.
Thank you to all who have paid the highest price, who answered the call of our Republic when our country needed you. Thank you to all to are currently serving. I stand in your shadow, offering my respect, honor, prayers for your service and dedication. This seems like such a small offering from my heart for those who have served, are serving and who deserve the best we can give them and their respective families.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. 
May HE watch over each and every one of you, for eternity. May those who have been called home be washed in the bright sunlight of His truth.
PatriotUSA
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                                                                         SENTINEL

Isaiah 40:31 


Yet those who wait for the Lord
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.



From the NASB Bible which is what I read and study.

These are the words of the contributor to the blog known only as PatriotUSA.  I do not think I could have expressed my feelings of gratitude toward past and present members of U.S. military without having to endeavor in a very long, drawn out piece, whereas this individual, who is no doubt wise and intelligent, was able to convey his message in a simple, concise manner.  My dad, who reads each and every one of my posts and is my biggest critic, claims that my articles are complex in how they are written (i.e. diction, syntax) and in the points I analyze and how much rigorous research I conduct in forming and basing my theses and hypotheses in each piece.  My interest in conservative-libertarian politics is such that only individuals who hold my values and beliefs that is our sacred duty to be what Thomas Jefferson called "an informed citizenry"  in a non-casual manner would appreciate what I have to say. Sometimes, I wish this was not a trait I have, but be that as it may, I make no apologies for my very nature.  

On that note, I want to wish everyone a very happy Memorial Day.  Be safe, drink in moderation, and most importantly, remember the troops from the past 260 years who fought for and maintained our liberties with their blood.  Also, be mindful of the fact that the old cliche "Freedom does not come free" is true in every since of the word.  After all, we did not become the "land of the free" without bloodshed, and that, therefore, is the one, the only, and the greatest reason to venerate our troops from all eras.

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