A Better Thanksgiving "Prayer"
Today, before you dig into that turkey and stuffing, instead of the usual futile plea to an invisible sky wizard, bless your family and your meal by reading this story aloud:
Sleeping in an Army tent near the Pakistani border, Maj. Kenny Harryman awoke when the mortar rounds started exploding.
A suicide bomber had breached the gates, and machine gun fire was raging, but the Air Force nurse donned body armor and ran to the Army hospital operating room to help save critically wounded soldiers.
It was among the examples of valor during a 2008 tour in Afghanistan that recently earned the 53-year-old grandmother from Louisville the Bronze Star for exceptionally meritorious service, one of the military's top combat awards.
Harryman, now based in Germany, will receive the award early next year, most likely in Washington D.C.
But as she prepared to return to Louisville on Thanksgiving Day, she said her thoughts would not be on that honor but on the joy of being home, as she joins hundreds of Kentucky veteran's families sharing a grateful holiday with loved ones.
“I have many things to be thankful for,” Harryman said in a phone interview. “Most of the people at my base will not be going home for the holidays.”
Read the whole thing.
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2 comments:
A happy Thanksgiving day, and every day, to you, YD, and all your readers (of whom there are considerably more than this time last year).
I miss you terribly, and hope we'll be able to see each other some time soon. You are one of my favorite friends. In fact, you may be my FAVORITE friend. In FACT....
Oh, never mind. You get the point.
Rich
May I?
Without rancour make a point of military priviledge?
If an award reads Meritorious Service, it is not for valor or heroism. If it reads Valorous acts or action it is for heroism. Awards for heroism are also for valor and some awards are for both or either. The Bronze Star & Service Commendation Medals are both good examples. If a Bronze Star is for valor or heroism, it is awarded with "V Device". Some are purely awared for valor: Soldiers Medal, Silver Star, Navy or Marine Cross, Distiguished Service Star; Medal of Honor. Some are never awared for valor: Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit. The medals are worn in order of merit: top left to bottom right with certain 'badges' surmounted or subordinated. The Combat Infantry Badge is worn above all others; then performance badges such as parachutist or medic. Below the ribbons are Marksmanship awards and on the left pocket are enlisted classification awards, like Drill Sergeant Badge. Officers wear these on the right pocket of the blouse, below the flap. On the right above the pocket flap are unit awards; they are distinguished by color and a border of brass.
As for the Major; I'm impressed daily by the contributions of the 'over 50 crowd'. Especially by 'working' officers. Most of my contemporaries were Generals well before 53; most of us by 48, some as late as 52 - but to be a working officer at her age is truely impressive. Most majors are 28,29 to 37,38 at the oldest. My son was an O-5 at 35 & daughter an O-5 at 37.
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