What an eloquent and beautifully written piece. Thank you for this, for fighting for our democracy, and for your service. The 🇺🇸 could use more men of your caliber.
I celebrated our Independence Day at commands in Texas, Maryland, Spain, Scotland, and Turkey when not deployed at sea. In 1976, my shipmates and I celebrated July 4th while boring holes through the Central and Eastern Mediterranean until we docked in and disembarked in La Spezia.
This weekend, I wonder if we will survive as a nation unified under our Constitution.
Thank you sir, for sharing your wisdom and experience of what this special day has meant to you and others in uniform. I spent my entire professional career with the US Army (active duty, contractor and Army civilian) but I still learn something new and worthwhile every time I read one of your columns or see you on The Bulwark or MSNOW. Oddly enough, the last 4th of July I spent in uniform was as a DAC (Department of the Army Civilian) deployed to Bagram Airfield (BAF) in Afghanistan. The only evidence that it was a holiday at BAF was that the DFACs (dining facilities) had holiday decorations; beyond that, it was just an ordinary workday. I did absolutely nothing heroic while I was at BAF, but I was never prouder to serve my country and to be wearing an American flag on my right shoulder. (oh, and please forgive the "sir"; even after all these decades I still cannot bring myself to call retired general officers by their first name).
What an eloquent and beautifully written piece. Thank you for this, for fighting for our democracy, and for your service. The 🇺🇸 could use more men of your caliber.
I celebrated our Independence Day at commands in Texas, Maryland, Spain, Scotland, and Turkey when not deployed at sea. In 1976, my shipmates and I celebrated July 4th while boring holes through the Central and Eastern Mediterranean until we docked in and disembarked in La Spezia.
This weekend, I wonder if we will survive as a nation unified under our Constitution.
Happy Fourth of July sir, and thank you for all you have done for our country.
Thank you sir, for sharing your wisdom and experience of what this special day has meant to you and others in uniform. I spent my entire professional career with the US Army (active duty, contractor and Army civilian) but I still learn something new and worthwhile every time I read one of your columns or see you on The Bulwark or MSNOW. Oddly enough, the last 4th of July I spent in uniform was as a DAC (Department of the Army Civilian) deployed to Bagram Airfield (BAF) in Afghanistan. The only evidence that it was a holiday at BAF was that the DFACs (dining facilities) had holiday decorations; beyond that, it was just an ordinary workday. I did absolutely nothing heroic while I was at BAF, but I was never prouder to serve my country and to be wearing an American flag on my right shoulder. (oh, and please forgive the "sir"; even after all these decades I still cannot bring myself to call retired general officers by their first name).
Thank you for you’re service to our country!
Dear General Hertling:
Just a thought.
IMHO, you would make a great next President of this country. Ike did it well! You could do it too.
Oh, and by the way, you are also a magnificent writer/wordsmith. I learn more about what good writing is, when I read you, and observe how you write.
Thank you so much for this. I appreciate it and am saving it to reread.
thank you for this uplifting account.