...country and to gain honor and glory for his family. He goes through harsh training and learns to fight. Then he finally makes it into the battlefield, ready to destroy the enemy. 3 minutes in, he’s still good. However he misses a step or two, and in 5 seconds flat, he’s shot to death. Is this the honor and glory he wanted to receive? Civilians expected the war to be quick and easy, and that their soldiers would come back fine. War is over-glorified, promising glory and honor to not only to one’s self but your entire country, promising wealth and fame. These expectations for fighting in the war led young soldiers to risk their lives and the lives of others only for the harsh...
Words: 1055 - Pages: 5
...the Revolutionary War, and Oscar Marion, a slave on the South Carolina plantation of war hero General Francis Marion, fought side by side with his master, also serving as "personal assistant, bodyguard, sous-chef, bugler, courier, confidant, and oarsman." When the Medal of Honor—the nation's highest award for military valor—was established in 1861, African Americans were not excluded. In time, however, conferral of the award began to mirror the status of black Americans in general, embodying a tumultuous history that has not always been so honorable. The origins of the award lie with the Civil War. On 21 December 1861—exactly a year and a day after the secession of South Carolina—President Abraham Lincoln signed Senate Bill 82 into law. The measure, created to honor "non-commissioned officers and privates as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action, and other soldier-like qualities," was at first an honor exclusively for Navy sailors, but by the following year was expanded to include the Army. Though originally intended to cover only the length of the Civil War, the Medal of Honor was made a permanent decoration in 1863, and has remained the highest honor of all military branches. Almost immediately after the award's establishment, black Americans—of whom nearly eighteen thousand are estimated to have served with Union forces—became eligible for the honor, at least in principle. During the first forty years or so of the Medal of Honor, African American...
Words: 1382 - Pages: 6
...We have all heard about the Medal of Honor, but how much do you really know about it. Yes it is the nation’s highest military award, but how about when it was established. Did you know that there are three different versions of the award one for the army, one for the air force, and one for the navy marines and coast guard? The history of our nation’s highest medal is deep with honor and self sacrifice. The origin of the Medal of Honor came about during the civil war. Iowa Senator James W. Grimes proposed a medal for individual valor, and was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on December 21, 1861. It was first turned down by Winfield Scott the Commanding General of the United States Army at that time, but it was first used in the Navy. Not far there after a different wording was made and the Army’s version was signed into law on July 12, 1862. The Medal of Honor has changed appearance from the time it was signed into law until now. When it was first created the familiar blue with stars that we see today was not there, in fact it was red white and blue resembling the flag, and nation’s colors. It wasn’t until 1904 for the army and 1912 for the navy that the ribbon was changed to resemble today’s Medal of Honor. The Air Force’s version has never changed from the time that it was created in 1965, and prior to that year airmen were award the army’s version. There are two ways a service member can be put in for the award. The first is by his or her chain of command...
Words: 1475 - Pages: 6
...About 58,000 American soldiers died in the Vietnam War. The reason why the Vietnam War took place is because the North Vietnamese government and the Viet Cong were fighting to unite Vietnam under the communist rule. Around two million Vietnamese civilians and some 1.1 million North Vietnamese and NLF fighters died. In honor of all of the Americans dying, they made a memorial about it. A memorial is something that is usually a structure, and it is there to show honor to a person or an.event. The Memorial is called the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The memorial is a long wall that shows each name of an American soldier who died during the Vietnam War. The names are carved into the wall. There are 58, 286 names listed on the memorial. It took eight...
Words: 832 - Pages: 4
...argument is Poole making about the importance of honoring our men and women in uniform? Poole argues that honoring men and women in uniform is critical, and that the United States, through monuments like the Arlington National Cemetery, is one of the best countries that honors their men and women in uniform. “No other nation goes to the effort the United States does to recover and pay tribute to its war dead, a military tradition older than ancient Athens” (Poole 2). The United States strives to bring home all of its fallen soldiers, not matter if they were an ordinary soldier, or a distinguished sergeant. This policy of treating all soldiers with honor and respect goes all the way to the Civil War. Poole all argues that the most important...
Words: 949 - Pages: 4
...When looking at poems about war a lot of thoughts might be conjured up for some people. When reading poems about war there are many themes and feelings that get stirred up. Many start to gain feelings of nostalgia, pain and strength. Reading poems about war become moments that help paint a picture for the reader that may or may not understand them. One of the major themes and ideas of poems about war that comes up a lot is the idea of honor. In most poems about war readers read a lot about how honorable it is to be one of the brave people to fight for the country and how much of an admirable deed it is. Two poems come to mind when it comes to the idea and theme of honor. These poems are "To Lucasta, Going to the Wars" by Richard Lovelace and "Dulce et Decorum Est" by...
Words: 632 - Pages: 3
...Aquinas makes very compelling arguments on his study of the relationship between honor and happiness, and why honor won’t bring eternal happiness. To understand the relationship between honor and happiness, it’s important to first...
Words: 1074 - Pages: 5
...This includes political, religious, economic and personal freedom etc., and many Americans regard their society as the best and freest society in the world. Freedom is a value that is deeply rooted in the history of the country, as it goes back to the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and later also the U.S. Constitution and its Bill of Rights. The ideal in these is that liberty and equality go hand in hand, but this is not always the case. The American Civil War is one the greatest examples on this. The war had its roots in the question about slavery, and it ended up costing the lives of more Americans than all of the U.S.’s subsequent wars together. On the afternoon of November 19 1863, four months after one of the Civil Wars bloody fights, the president at that time, Abraham Lincoln, holds a speech in which he encourages the people of America to end the war. Furthermore, he reminds the audience of the ideals on which America was founded, and how the Civil War is threatening them. Last but not least, Lincoln honors the fallen and encourages people to finish their unfinished work. Abraham Lincoln frames his speech in a historical perspective and introduces two of the most important American values already in his first sentence of his speech. “Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” (P. 1, ll. 1-2). With this introduction to his speech, Abraham...
Words: 897 - Pages: 4
...187th Infantry The Regimental Motto: “Ne Desit Virtus” ---- “ Let Valor Not Fail” 187th Infantry Regiment is a regiment that has fought in many wars and conflicts. Originating out of Fort Mackall in North Carolina the 187th Infantry Regiment was activated on the twenty-fifth day of February, 1943. The 187th is a highly decorated regiment. They have been involved in wars such as World War ll, The Korean War, and The Vietnam War are three of the wars that the unit has been a part of. The unit has also deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan under its belt. The unit has three Medals of Honor recipients. The 187th is currently based out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The 187th Infantry Regiment was activated during World War ll. The Regiment arrived in New Guinea on the twenty-ninth day of May, 1944. On the eighteenth day of November, 1944. The unit joined the Leyete Campaign; soon after the unit left The Leyete Campaign they joined The Luzon Campaign by assaulting the Nasugbu Point Luzon in late January. From late January to April the unit fought its way through many hotspots such as the Nichols Field, Fort William McKinley, Mount Macikid, and Malipunyo. After fighting these through these hot spots the unit moved inside Lipa as part of Operation Downfall. The...
Words: 1148 - Pages: 5
...Deloach Arlington Essay Ms. Ward You may think to yourself... How significant do you have to get to be buried at Arlington? What is the highest honor given at the Cemetery? These are questions we ask ourselves. If you choose me to represent our school I could do the best of my ability to get these questions answered. First, here are some facts about The Arlington National Cemetery. The Arlington Cemetery is a 624 acre burial land on the Potomac River. The cemetery first opened in June 28, 1864. It was not yet considered an honor to be buried there when it was first built. Only those who could not afford obituaries were put to rest in peace at Arlington. No one knew it would be a luxury and an honor to be buried at Arlington today. Back then it was a dishonor basically! Though, in the time of the revolutionary war, several soldiers were buried here. This was not an honor, yet. Although when the civil war began till today 330,000+ soldiers were buried in Arlington. It soon became a very high award on your life to be buried there. Not everyone buried there was infamous. There were several famous people buried there. Such as: Abner Doubleday (Civil war general), Alan Eggers (Medal of Honor recipient), and Alfred Richmond (Commandant of U.S coast guard). These people have all done something significant in history to be awarded the honor of being buried at Arlington. Who to choose should be very clear by now. Obviously I am the best candidate to be chosen to represent our school...
Words: 402 - Pages: 2
...Zeus—no fear of man or god, nothing—a powerful rabid frenzy has him in its grip!”(9.286-289) Achilles prior to this war was seen as Hector’s equal. Both are the best fighters in their nation. Odysseus brings up Hector as a man who is unstoppable, unless someone who is his equal steps up. He hints at Achilles that his honor is greatly increased because of the threat Hector imposes currently. This is very persuasive because it portrays the need for Achilles, and it describes how...
Words: 424 - Pages: 2
...left but still they came on. We had to retreat," wrote Sgt. William Burns of the 71st. (Medal of Honor) Garnett's men moved forward capturing the wall. The 72nd began firing back, their volley hitting Garnett who fell dead. Webb sprinted over to the 72nd and gave the order "charge bayonets". But the noises of war were so loud, that his orders were not heard and later said "couldn't be herd, I don't suppose ten feet away." (Medal of Honor) Because he knew his orders were not heard and convinced the 72nd would not move, Webb took off towards the 69th who were still engaging the Confederates at the wall. The Confederates targeted Webb once they saw him because they recognized officer brass. Webb survived the flurry of bullets with the only injury being a graze to the thigh. (Medal of Honor)...
Words: 500 - Pages: 2
...For Cause and Comrades A war is a state of open, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried nations, states, or parties. The civil war was not a war between two countries fighting for land or control. The civil was within America, where citizens were dividing in their ideals and motivations. Northern states and the southern states differing ideals lead to fighting which separated them. Every war has its reasons whether it is a good and acceptable reason or a bad reason. People are killed in the heat of battle and the country itself can be damaged because of war; people want a reason for why their fighting. Some wars are inevitable and some are not, it all depends on what they are fighting for. In James M. McPherson’s book “For Cause and Comrades” he discusses the reasons why men fought in the civil war. 1. What are the primary sources used by McPherson to explain the motives of the 3 million soldiers who fought in the Civil war? What are the advantages and drawbacks to this approach? In the book, For Cause & Comrades—Why Men Fought in the Civil war, James M. McPherson uses collected diary entries and letters written by soldiers that were fighting for either the Confederate or Union army as his primary resources for this book. McPherson gives us these primary sources to give us insights into the life of soldiers fighting in the civil war. He explains that the “evidence consists of the personal letters written by soldiers during the war to family members, sweethearts...
Words: 1677 - Pages: 7
...She wants to show how she is completely open for their relationship, and that she does not have any untold secrets hidden from Frederic. Catherine’s hair not only provides protection for her, but also Frederic. As told in the novel, Frederic imagines Catherine’s hair as the tents he stayed in the war. (Hemingway 98). When in the war, Frederic’s only safe place or shelter was in the tents. Even though Frederic chose to not remember the war, he did want to remember the one safe place he had during the bombs and the killing. The tents gave him a time and a place to think about Catherine, and as long as Catherine is in his thoughts then he is the happiest man on Earth. The hair is a protective layer for Catherine and Frederic from the outside...
Words: 1379 - Pages: 6
...leader. A century later in the aftermath of the 30 years’ war, German author Hans Jakob Christoffel von Grimmelshausen penned The Adventures of Simplicius Simplicissimus which told the education of an innocent who by his experiences in the 30 years’ war. In his work Erasmus would for call for the education a prince in some specific way the main, three being Christianity, honor and nobility and philosophy in order to be virtuous. Simplicius...
Words: 1339 - Pages: 6
