From Dot Day to D-Day…
So I finally shake off some of the webs from Sunday and Mark from Dead Friends posts the recent news on the dbag from Savin Hill who doesn’t want Vets living in her apartment because of her opposition to the wars.
I figured today would be most appropriate to write on this because I’m thinking of my uncle Eddie who passed away a few years back. You see Eddie was a Dot Rat who served with the 82nd Airborne. There wasn’t many options around Dorchester near the end of the depression so this was a natural evolution for Eddie and many of his time. He was a tough SOB and had reputation for speaking his mind. Aside from his tough exterior he had a soft spot for his family, especially his younger brother Joe, my father. My dad always looked up to his older brother. When the word finally reached Magnolia street a few weeks after June 6th 1944 that uncle Eddie had jumped behind the lines at Normandy in the hours before the beach assault not a soul was surprised. My grandmother was to have said on many occasions “I know my Eddie will be home”. Even his mother knew he was tough. Eventually word got through the Eddie was doing fine as a guard and driver for some Army brass. He was advancing with Patton’s 3rd Army and felt nothing but admiration for his commander “old blood and guts”. He even sent back a photo of his Jeep to my 5 year old father with “Little Joey” painted on the side of the hood….my pops has the photo to this day.
Eddie finally came home to Dorchester after the war to a hero’s welcome. My father can still remember him marching in a victory parade that he watched from my great grandmother’s doorstep on Bowdoin street. Everywhere he went around the neighborhood he was offered free meals, beers at the local watering holes and a job was waiting for him at the Fore River Ship Yard (Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation).
Everyone knew he served and wanted to thank him for his service….it was the way it should be. He was part of the greatest generation this country had known.
Should it be any different for Sgt. Joel Morgan?
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt4Zl0UmxCI]
Here’s the oath :
I, Dot Rat, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.
Joel Morgan took this oath to protect that landlady in Savin Hill. He didn’t start the war…he was commanded to finish it along with his brothers and sisters in uniform….and he did. Regardless of the politics, he did his job for his country….for us. He is part of a generation that was not expected to do better than the last one but have proven their salt and performed in the finest traditions of those who came before them.
If my Uncle Eddie was alive he would certainly salute SGT Joel Morgan. After the formalities and maybe few beers later….knowing how Eddie was…he would probably say…”I hope that bitch in Savin Hill falls down a flight of stairs”.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VgaqOXUCJA]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgdjhmjLzpI]
When you really think about it….who would disagree with uncle Eddie?