On Memorial Day, especially, patriotic Americans pause to remember the service and sacrifice of all those who have so proudly worn the uniform of our nation, and then, or later, have risen to join the ranks of Heaven's Honor Guard, whether suddenly, while oceans away in battle, or peacefully, here at home, as the grains of time drain, inevitably, from each hourglass.
For those courageous veterans who gave their lives in combat, we're reminded this day of Navy Lieutenant Michael Murphy, a Navy SEAL, who choose to serve his country among our special operations elite. June 28, 2005, LT Murphy and his small team were pinned down, high-up on an Afghan mountain, fired upon by a large, heavily-armed Taliban force. With his men being hit, including himself, to save them, he called for air assist, using a satellite phone, which meant forsaking cover. Murphy was shot again, this time fatally. He was 29. For his valor, at the cost of his life, LT Murphy was awarded the Medal of Honor. And , now, to perpetuate his memory, the Navy has christened its newest fleet destroyer, the USS Michael Murphy.
And for those veterans who've left us, well after their service, we're reminded, this day, of Savannahian Jack Gatch, who passed away here, earlier this month, at age 86. An Army NCO during World War II, Sergeant Gatch landed at Normandy, then fought his way across Europe. Once inside Germany, on one of his reconnaissance missions, moving at great risk, from one foxhole to another, he single-handedly killed nine enemy soldiers, then called in air-attack to destroy several German tanks. For his valor, Sergeant Jack Gatch was awarded the Silver Star. This day, and always, remember and treasure those of our magnificent veterans, now deceased. To those selfless American patriots, we, the fortunate, owe our liberty and our lives.
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