ON THE OCCASION OF THEIR ANNUAL REUNION
September 18, 1999
(These men fought under Patton. They landed at Omaha Beach on D-Day. Those who survived saw 333 consecutive days of combat. One of them, Carl Miller, is my friend.)
You might wonder why somebody like me would be here. It's not because I'm a Shelby County Commissioner--the Millers can do a lot better in the way of this evening's entertainment than to have a local politician up here!
Actually, my being here is only indirectly related to the fact that I'm a County Commissioner. But for that, I might never have gotten to know your colleague and host for the weekend, Carl Miller. County Commissioners get invited to lots things like fish fries, and I think it was at such an event where I first met Carl. I know it was at a fish fry that I heard the story which lead to my being here tonight.
It was last fall. Carl and I sat down with our plates of food next to each other. The folks at our table to my right were engaged in animated conversation about the movie they had seen--"Saving Private Ryan". I had not seen the movie and was interested in what these folks had to say, but Carl was awfully quiet. So I asked if everything was alright, and he just said that he didn't think he would see that movie. I had no idea at that point what the movie was about, and I sure didn't know that this man landed at Omaha Beach on D-Day. I asked him why he would not see the movie and, after a thoughtful pause, he told me "?cause I was there."
I know you gentlemen don't talk about it much, but Carl told me just enough that I went home and rented that movie the next weekend. As I watched the first twenty minutes of that incredible film, I kept hearing Carl's narrative at the same time--absolutely identical to what was unfolding on the screen, and I was awestruck by its accuracy. The movie could have been titled "Saving Private Miller" or, probably, any one of you, and I realized that I had broken bread with a hero that night just like we have the privilege of doing again here with each of you this night.
So I invited myself to this reunion, and I am here by the grace of God and Carl Miller and all of you because you each made it possible, and I want to tell you "thanks". I simply want to thank you for what you did for this country and for me and for my family for none of us might be here tonight but for the sacrifices you made.
My father was Army Air Corps. He flew Liberators over Europe. Unlike me, he was so thin in January of 1942 that the United States wouldn't take him. So he enlisted in the RCAF and flew Lancasters, Oxfords and Ansons out of England until the United States decided they needed every man they could get regardless of their size. He was shot down three times and missing in action twice as I understand it. My Dad passed away when I was only eight, so I never really got to talk with him like I've been able to talk with you tonight about all you have done for us. I never got to thank him, or my Uncle who was killed in action in Borneo, so I cherish this opportunity tonight to pay tribute to you men and to your spouses and families who gave so much.
Thank God we have gotten back to the point in this country where my generation, the "Baby Boomers", have the opportunity to tell you how thankful we are; that Tom Brokaw could write his book and give the tribute you deserve without anyone disagreeing that you are, indeed, "The Greatest Generation;" that we are on the verge of erecting a national memorial to your service.
Stephen Ambrose has just written another great book entitled Comrades. He writes about male friendships and how difficult they can be for men to define or practice. He writes about the friendships between Custer and his brothers, Eisenhower and Patton, and the men of Easy Company 506th Parachute Infantry Company, 101st Airborne. He writes about D-Day, and he writes about the years since then in a powerful way. He writes about one man who, in one of the last newsletters to his Company before he died, wrote: "In thinking back on the days of Easy Company, I'm treasuring my remark to a grandson who asked, "Grandpa, were you a hero in the war?"
"No," I answered, "but I served in a company of heroes."
So did each of you. May God continue to bless you and this great country.
