This is about an hour. Admiral, great to see you again. We are two days after veterans day and that was the occasion for this event. Publicre plenty of issues right now that i want to ask you about, but i want to defer that for a moment and talk about service itself. With how yourt came by service. You came by it naturally, you grew up in a family of service. Tell me about your dad, who was an interesting person. Thank you forn the invitation to join you today, this is terrific. I enjoy spending time with you and your students. I came by it naturally, my ii fireas a world war pilot and fighter flew spitfires, a british plane. We entered the war, we did not have planes so the british loaned us spitfires. My grandfather also served in world war i and in world war ii, he was an army surgeon. My dad, later in life as i was getting ready to join the service, he said i remember what got me in the service. When i was a young boy, i saw the soldiers heading off to france in world war i, board
Quite an interesting person. Adm. Mcraven thank you for the invitation to join you today, this is terrific. I certainly enjoy spending time with you and the students of the iop. You are right, i came by it naturally. My father was a world war ii Fighter Pilot. Flew spitfires, actually, which was a british airplane. Because at the time when we entered the war, we did not have plans to take on the german messersmith, so the british loaned us spitfires. But my grandfather also served in world war i and in world war ii. He was an army surgeon. My dad, later in life as i was getting ready to join the service, he said i remember what got me in the service. It was when i was a young boy, i saw the soldiers heading off to france in world war i board the trains in his small town. He said there was such a sense of pride, there was son such a sense of duty and patriotism that it was infectious. In addition to obviously watching his father, that really spurred him to join the military and then i g
Also the actions of individuals. A number testified to the great sacrifice, death and combat. The National Cemetery in arlington, virginia is the resting place of more than 400,000 people, including nearly 5,000 unknown soldiers. In 1921, a single unknown soldier was chosen to represent all of those who have died without being identified. The soldier of world war 1 was laid to rest with so many lemm ceremony attended by those of the highest ranks. On Film Documents the progress of that soldiers remains from france to the United States. And the newly built tomb of the unknown soldier. As the ceremonies at the u. S. Capitol where the unknown lay, general pershing stood to fill the role of the nearest relative. Along the way, eight men personally selected by general pershing accompanied the body of the unknown. So well hear from Patrick Odonnell and learn the story of those eight bearers and their hair rheroism on the battlefiel. He is an expert on elite units. Author of 11 books includin
Oh beautiful many of us felt like we would never really get a chance to fight. I didnt realize at the time it was because of the color of my skin. America the story of africanamericans in world war ii is indeed a legacy of patriotism and valor. In 1941, americans looked at their world and saw war everywhere. Across the atlantic, german troops occupied nearly every inch of europe, from france to russia, to the baltic sea to africa. In the pacific, the Japanese Army has captured many areas. Pearl harbor would stun the United States into war. The first thing i did was go down to the Army Recruiting station and enlist in the service of my country. I was told there was no quarter for black troops. You got to remember that this country was very discriminatory, d segregated and there was no change. First of all, black sailors as sailors per se werent permitted into the navy. Given the fact that i was in the segregated army, that made no difference. I joined the army to fight for the country.
Readiness of our u. S. Armed forces. Today we are joined by nearly 1000 who have registered for this very important event. Despite our attention being focused on other things in the lead up to the election there may be no more vital of a topic for our country then this. Americans have had the good fortune of living in unparalleled freedom and prosperity for nearly 250 years and these gifts are maintained by a powerful and ready military that prevents our adversaries from destroying what so many of us as americans have had the opportunity to experience. President Ronald Reagan said that a truly successful military is one that because of its strength and ability and dedication wouldnt be called because no one would dare provoke it. He calls it peace through strength and that is how we won the cold war against the biggest enemy in history. Yet, in a time when those nations are reeling from a deadly disease outbreak, racial unrest and economic upheaval to many citizens and lawmakers argue