On Sun, 11 Jul 2004 14:37:44 -0500, "D. Strang"
wrote:

"Ed Rasimus" wrote
"D. Strang" wrote:
"ArtKramr" wrote

I can't speak for a generation, but in 1942 my greatest fear was that the war
would end before I got there and I would miss the adventure of a lifetime.

War is attractive to youth. Americans love war. Most veterans will tell you they
were scared, wouldn't do it again, but deep down--their lives were nothing before,
or after the war.

Few veterans will tell you they were scared. They certainly won't tell
you that before the fight and few will confess to it during the fight.
Some will admit it years after the war.


General Yeager tells a story in his book, where one time he was scared to
fly. I'm probably not describing it correctly, as he wasn't scared, he was
sure he was going to die. That's more what I mean. In combat, there are
times when you are sure you are going to die, and maybe scared isn't the
right word, but worrying about your family or fellow soldiers, who will now
have to deal with that.

You have a much better writing skill than I, and agree with everything you've
said here.


If you would like to read about scared, then I can (he said
blushingly) recommend that you take a look at When Thunder Rolled. I
deal with scared.

And, if Walt wants a Silver Star story, he'll find several about a
number of recipients although they aren't identified as such. One
comes at the end of Chapter 15, "Hits & Misses."....sort of a Colin
Kelly meets "magic and mirrors."


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN #1-58834-103-8