Today is Veterans Day. Tomorrow's the day off, but today's the day to take a moment to give thanks to the extraordinary women and men who served us, under fire, so that we may live today in the land of the free, home of the brave.Regardless of our positions on current or past war politics, there's one thing we can agree on...an attitude of humble thankfulness to the women and men who have served our country by placing themselves at risk to to do their duty as members of America's armed forces. When I say, "way of life," I'm referring to the potential that our political and economic system offers to women and men pursuing their destinies limited only by their own talent and drive, operating within the law and guided by strong ethical codes of conduct.
My father , Hugh J. O'Donnell, served in WWII, entering the military with the rest of the Fordham University Class of 1943. He served a full year of combat in Germany with the 104th Division Timberwolves as a machine gun squad leader.
I was privileged to serve in my Dad's unit, the 104th, twenty-some years after he was mustered out. It was the Viet Nam era and the Timberwolves were still a training division. They never called us up. I had to face enemy fire, and to this day I am in total awe of the man or woman who wears the Combat Infantry Badge (CIB -- Kentudky rifle on blue background, above) on their uniform. (Other branches of service have similar badges.)
God bless you, Dad. You put the hard time in so your kids could live free in peace.
Hugh J. O’Donnell, 1920-1987, was a Latin and Language Arts teacher in the Hillsboro High School District who served his students well. He taught “critical thinking” before it became a course name or a buzz word. If you want to know more about my Dad, the teacher, just ask one of his former students.
