Dear Mildred,

It was 6:30AM and just about to land between Point-du-Hoc and Vierville-sur-Mer on the beaches of Normandie… In the far away distance I could hear the rumble of the artillery and the brrrp-brrrp of machine gun fire.  The elements were at their worst and our landing craft was half filled with water.  We used our helmuts to throw it overboard and I never thought we would make it.  Some of the boats never reached shore.  It was a horrible sight.  Finally, the word came—Let’s go—and there we were in combat, something new in my life.  But oh, what an experience.  We didn’t have the chance to fight back, as we were dropped in water over our heads.  No one’s fault as the entire beach was strewn with mines.  With a stream of lead coming towards us, we were at the mercy of the Germans and we had all to do to reach shore and recuperate… Got to the beach half frozen and almost unable to move and then I passed out.  How long I remained there, I don’t recall, but when I came to, the fighting was at a climax.  Pulled myself together and sought a rifle and around I went trying to locate my outfit.  It didn’t take long to spot them and was I glad.  But gracious Lord, what was left of them, just a handful, about 25 out of 160.  The battalion was almost wiped out, 800 casualties out of 1000 men.  Our position was desperate, but with sheer will, fear and luck we overcame all obstacles and pushed inland to capture Vierville-sur-Mer, our first town.  The price was high but covered ourselves with glory and for that we received the Presidential Citation… Yes. Darling, our outfit can be proud for the part it has played in helping to win this war…Today was declared a holiday by Eisenhower and church services were held for all , in memoriam of the boys who paid the supreme sacrifice on D-Day and hereafter.  It was a simple requiem but with plenty of meaning behind it.

Bye Sweet, until tomorrow.

Love and Kisses,

Dom

Dom is just one of thousands who were willing to sacrifice their lives for the freedoms that we hold dear.  D-Day was a turning point in the War that freed an enslaved Europe and shaped the world as we know it.  The brave Marines and soldiers that fought in World War II and every war since deserve to be honored and revered.  Americans everywhere should be thankful for their sacrifice and proud of their rich history. 

And that sadly brings us to the left-wing loonies on the City Council of Berkeley California.  They recently voted to ask the U.S. Marine Corps to vacate their recruiting office in town and informed them that if they chose to stay they would do so as “uninvited and unwelcome intruders.”   One council member called the Marines: “the President’s own gangsters” and “trained killers”.  They drafted a document that said: “Military recruiters are salespeople known to lie to and seduce minors and young adults into contracting themselves into military service with false promises regarding jobs, job training, education and other benefits.”   Then to add insult to injury, the Council voted to give the radical, left-wing, military protest group, Code Pink, a reserved parking space in front of the recruiting station.  They also gave Code Pink a permit to protest in front of the building.  Keep in mind that Code Pink is famous for demonstrating in front of wounded soldiers outside of Walter Reed Medical Center by holding signs that read: “Maimed for a lie.”  Code Pink proceeded to deface the Marine Recruitment Office by painting the word “Assassination” in front the word “office” on the window.   They also painted bloody handprints on the windows and chained themselves to the door blocking any entry.  

The Council’s resolution states that they: “encourage all people to avoid cooperation with the Marine Corps recruiting station” and to “applaud” Code Pink for working to “impede, passively or actively” the work of the Marines Corps in Berkeley.   

This lack of respect and appreciation for those who readily sacrifice their lives for our future is appalling.  Thankfully, Senator Jim DeMint (R:SC) is doing something about it.  The City of Berkeley has more than $2 million worth of wasteful pork-barrel earmarks tucked in the 2008 Omnibus Appropriations Bill.   One of the earmarks provides gourmet organic lunches to schools in the Berkeley School District.  Another gives $975,000 for the Matsui Center for Politics and Public Service at the University of Cal Berkeley (UCal Berekeley is sitting on a $3.5 billion endowment by the way).  Maybe the City of Berkeley should have thought about these precious wastes of our taxpayer money before insulting our brave Marines.  Senator DeMint is introducing legislation to revoke the funding.

“Actions have consequences.” DeMint said: “When the Berkeley City Council decided to insult the Marines in a time of war, it was a $2 million decision.”  He has named his bill the “Semper Fi” bill.  “Semper Fi” is a Marine motto.  It is short for the latin term: “Sempre Fidelis” which means “always faithful”.

...more columns by Todd A. Carges