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 Greetings! You are reading an article from The Mudville Gazette. To reach the front page, with all the latest news and views, click the logo above or "main" below. Thanks for stopping by! May 24, 2009 The Warrior CasteBy GreyhawkNote: this entry, originally from November 2003, is re-posted as part of Mudville's Memorial Day 2009 salute to the fallen. Soldier, rest! thy warfare o'er,
I have been thinking about the American Warrior Caste for a long time, now. The Warrior Caste is made up of families that serve in the military for generations.That post, coupled with the fact that my own son will turn 18 next month, has had me pondering the issue for the past week. It's one of those things we're all aware of, but the realization that the next generation of my family will soon be able to make his own decision (hopefully not without some input from me) about service was at the forefront of my mind when I read this story from Stars and Stripes, regarding a son of a Command Sergeant Major (the highest Enlisted rank in a unit) serving in Iraq with his father: GIESSEN, Germany - When Jonathan Falaniko was training to be a combat engineer at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., several sergeants made a point of stopping by to see the 20-year-old recruit.There's more, and the more you read the more proud you may be to be an American. Then please take a minute and pray for strength and recovery for the Falaniko family, if you would. And re-read Blackfive's words on the topic of how such families can persevere: The Warrior Caste serves for generations because it has deep faith. Faith that your leaders won't send you to the far corners of the earth to do wrong. Faith that your fellow citizens will care for your well-being, keeping you equipped and fed. Faith that our Founding Fathers were right in that fighting for freedom is worth dying for. Faith in your fellow soldiers.I'll not even pretend to compare my thoughts and feelings to those experienced by CSM Falaniko. But sometime in the next few weeks my son, who has already spent his entire life in and around military installations, will register for the selective service. He turns a corner in life and begins to enter a world where he is his own man, a man of free will, responsible ultimately for himself. A world far from peaceful, with unfortunate need for a warrior caste. "Faith that your fellow citizens will care..." indeed. We will see this thing through to it's conclusion together, won't we America? "We talked about it," the father said of dying in combat, recalling one of the last conversations the two had. "I knew the danger of our mission. I told him, "Don't lose focus of why we are here...""And the rest of us should strive to do no less. (Original post 2003-11-22 11:48:08) Posted by Greyhawk / May 24, 2009 4:05 PM | Permalink 8 TrackBacksGreyhawk at the Mudville Gazette further discusses my post on the Warrior Caste and includes some real life and heart breaking examples of what I was trying to get at. As usual, he has another must read post. Thanks, Greyhawk. Read More MILBLOGGER BLACKFIVE has sparked an interesting discussion about “The Warrior Caste.” (Hat tip: Watt) So why did I serve? Why... Read More The Mudville Gazette has a piece (from a few weeks ago but I only found it now) about families which serve in the military generation after generation. It's a great read and I highly recommend it. Toward the end I... Read More While running through the woods eating snakes and probing for mines I found some time to give thought to a posting of Blackfive's a few weeks back. He talked about the Warrior Caste, that is those who serve in the military generation after generation, ... Read More I recently stumbled across an article about the Lamb family who are selflessly serving this great nation of ours. Six family members wear the uniform of our military, and four of them will be deployed to Afghanistan simultaneously this year. The articl... Read More This is a terrific post. The story of Jonathan Falaniko made my teary. Read it.... Read More I want to send out my appreciation, admiration, and gratitude for our nation's men and women of the military, active duty and veteran alike. You make it possible for a man to sit down at his computer and talk about... Read More MBRI's have been a growing, and important, community of the Blogosphere since the Liberation of Afghanistan and Iraq began, and it's important, this Memorial Day, that I finally add a Blogroll of them to the sidebar. This Memorial Weekend post Read More 19 CommentsLeave a comment |
November 26, 2010America@war [Greyhawk]
I think anyone who's ever pondered the "comment" option - once only available on blogs and bulletin boards, now ubiquitous on almost any web site - will appreciate this:
The so-called faculty of writing is not so much a faculty of writing as it is a faculty of thinking. When a man says, "I have an idea but I can't express it"; that man hasn't an idea but merely a vague feeling. If a man has a feeling of that kind, and will sit down for a half an hour and persistently try to put into writing what he feels, the probabilities are at least 90 percent that he will either be able to record it, or else realize that he has no idea at all. In either case, he will do himself a benefit. That's wisdom from the past, captured for posterity at the US Naval Institute, shared via the web on the institute's 137th anniversary. From their about page:
"The Naval Institute has three core activities," among them, History and Preservation: The Naval Institute also has recently introduced Americans at War, a living history of Americans at war in their own words and from their own experiences. These 90-second vignettes convey powerful stories of inspiration, pride, and patriotism. Take a look at the collection, and you'll see it's not limited to accounts from those who served on ships at sea, members of the other branches are well-represented. I'm fortunate to have met USNI's Mary Ripley, she's responsible for the institute's oral history program (and she's the daughter of the late John Ripley, whose story is told here). She also deserves much credit for their blog. ("We're not the Navy nor any government agency. Blog and comment freely.") We met at a milblog conference - Mary knew (and I would come to realize) that milbloggers are the 21st-century version of exactly what the US Naval Institute is all about. Once that light bulb came on in my head, I mentioned a vague idea for a project to her - milblogs as the 21st century oral history that they are. "Put that in writing," she said (of course - see first paragraph above!) - and here's part of the result. Shortly after the first tent was pitched by the American military in Iraq a wire was connected to a computer therein, and the internet was available to a generation of Americans at war - many of whom had grown up online. From that point on, at any given moment, somewhere in Iraq a Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine was at a keyboard sharing the events of his or her day with the folks back home. While most would simply fire off an email, others took advantage of the (then) relatively new online blogging platforms to post their thoughts and experiences for the entire world to see. The milblog was born - and from that moment to this stories detailing everything from the most mundane aspects of camp life to intense combat action (often described within hours of the event) have been available on the web... And et cetera - but since you're reading this on a milblog, you probably knew that. And you know that milblogs aren't just blogs written by troops at war, that many friends, family members, and supporters likewise documented their story of America at war online in near-real time, as those stories developed. The diversity in membership of that group is broad, the one thing we all have in common is the impulse to make sense of the seemingly senseless, and communicate the tale - for each of us that impulse was strong enough to overcome whatever barriers prevent the vast majority of people from doing the same. Everyone at some point has some vague idea they believe should be shared - we were the people who, from some combination of internal and external urging, found and spent those many half hours persistently trying to write it down. But where will all that be in another 137 years? Or five or ten, for that matter. That's something I've asked myself since at least 2004 - when I wrote this:
Membership in the ghost battalion has grown in the years since, and an ever growing majority of those abandoned-but-still-standing sites are vanishing. Have you checked out Lt Smash's site lately? How about Sgt Hook's? If you're a long-time milblog reader you know the first widely-read milblog from Operation Iraq Freedom and the first widely-read milblog from Afghanistan are both gone from the web. If you're a relative newcomer to this world you may never even have heard of them - or the dozens upon dozens of others who carried forth the standard they set down. If you have a vague notion that something should be done about that, (a notion I've heard expressed more than once...) then you and I and the good folks at the US Naval Institute are in agreement. Preserving the history documented by the milbloggers is just one of the goals of the milblog project, the once-vague idea that we're now making real. And it's a big idea, if I say so myself - too big to explain in one simple blog post, so stand by for more. Likewise, it's too big a task to be accomplished by just one person. So if you're a milblogger (and exactly what is a milblogger? is a topic for much further discussion on its own) I'm asking for your help. All I'll really need is just a little bit (maybe just one or two of those half hours...) of your time, and your willingness to tell the tale. We've already made history, it's time to save it. (More to follow...) Posted 4:02 PM | Permalink |
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The Mudville Gazette is the on-line voice of an American warrior and his wife who stands by him. They prefer to see peaceful change render force of arms unnecessary. Until that day they stand fast with those who struggle for freedom, strike for reason, and pray for a better tomorrow.
 
 
 Furthermore, I will occasionally use satire or parody herein. The bottom line: it's my house. I like having visitors to my house. I hope you are entertained. I fight for your right to free speech, and am thrilled when you exercise said rights here. Comments and e-mails are welcome, but all such communication is to be assumed to be 1)the original work of any who initiate said communication and 2)the property of the Mudville Gazette, with free use granted thereto for publication in electronic or written form. If you do NOT wish to have your message posted, write "CONFIDENTIAL" in the subject line of your email. Original content copyright © 2003 - 2011 by Greyhawk. Fair, not-for-profit use of said material by others is encouraged, as long as acknowledgement and credit is given, to include the url of the original source post. Other arrangements can be made as needed. Contact: greyhawk at mudvillegazette dot com  Tending Distant Far from hearth and home, watching What tales we'll tell When things grim Some distant sunset, vision fading Saluting fallen friends whose names - Greyhawk, Baghdad, December 2004 |
He has my prayers, and what a good young man he was. Didn't shirk his duty, and his father WAS there for him, all the way. What a sad, but uplifting story.
There is a world of people out there that won't understand this, unfortunately. Very good post.
I got here from Blackfive. I just wanted to say thanks for posting this.
Some years ago, a friend of mine (ex-USAF) remarked to me (ex Infantry) that, at a party, it takes about fourteen seconds to spot the veterans, and who not to bother with.
What is it?
I went to a military funeral for Lt. James G. Aubrey USAF and eighteen of his brothers. The attendees were seated in two blocks of chairs, next of kin in the front rows. I noted five other uniforms in the front row of each block. That's almost one-third of the Fallen who had immediate kin serving. My father was not in uniform, having gotten out in 1946. Ditto my uncle.
What is it?
It's different when it's your child. Your own flesh and blood! It's one thing when it is you that is the one taking the risks, quite another when it is your offspring!
I found myself besieged by questions. Will he make the grade? Can he pass muster? Will he stand tall and walk the walk? Did he receive enough moral character and fibre from his Mother and I? Did we raise him to make his own way through his own merit and strength well enough? Does he have the strength of mind to make the quick decisions and remain focussed to keep himself and his buddies alive? And on and on!
Then you see them at their graduation from Boot and all the self-doubt of THEIR decision evaporates in an intense feeling of pride. You notice that first meritorious stripe and half your fears go away in an instant. You know after talking for only a short time that he has become a man. Not only a man but his own man! It is amazing the feelings that hit you when you watch that graduation parade and see the bearing your young son has and the old familiar way has now become his way of carrying himself! Nothing will ever match that feeling! Even after multiple deployments you still remember that fresh faced young gun standing tall on the parade deck with fire in his eye and danger in his soul! You can still see that young one in the man that stands before you now with the seasoned eyes, rock hard body, and the quiet confidence. And you never hear from him one thing that makes you waver in your belief of his devotion or ability!
Fear of your son going into harm's way? Of course! What parent wouldn't want to shield their child from danger? There are simply some things in life that are out of your hands and it all comes down to trust. Trust in his training, trust in his Corps, and trust in him. If the Good Lord decides it's his time then so be it but by golly he will be getting a damn fine son, damn fine young man, and a hellova Marine!
It is young men and women like him that keep this country free. He honestly believes in what he is doing and believes in the corny stuff like God, Country, Duty, and Honor. Those are not simply words to him but more along the lines of his personal ideology. If he has to, God forbid, make the ultimate sacrifice, he will be doing so believing in the right stuff and doing his duty with pride! He is a man, a warrior, an American, a Marine!
And I will ever continue to be damn proud of him and love him with every fibre of my being!
Sorry to ramble but the Falaniko story got me to thinking about what I do and would feel about my son and his duty. God Bless the Falaniko family, the Sgt Major, all families of our troops, and all the men and women in uniform doing their duty for this country. It is a crying shame that there is so much evil in this world that we have to ask so much from our young men and women! Freedom isn't free!
Hello, First of all I would like to thank every one for there support to the Falaniko Family. My name is Manu Mutia Te'o, I am a cousin of Private jonathan Falaniko and I have read all of this page and I would like to thank every one from the bottom of my heart just because of the support you have given to my family. Later this week I will post a poem that I am in the process of writting and I will let all of you see and hope all of you can get a grasp of what it was like the week of the funeral. It will be posted on Friday 6, 2004.
And once again thank you all.
I wish my Dad was as understanding as Jarhead Dad is heh
Thx for bringin this to light as well Gray. I didn't even know Black had written this (I'm still a new guy around here)
For me its nice to know that people out there still care. When i was first discharged after my accident I became disencanted with the world. I thought 90% of the population needed a wake up call and that the military was the underdog of the american public.
While now I know its not entirely true thanks to ppl like Gray, JarheadDad, Doc in the Box, Boots on the ground (kevin) and Black-5.
I feel more in touch. Its true though even when your out your never really out. I still think of my Squad as "my boys". Hell my replacement still contacts me in relation to them.
Comraderie. Its something experienced. Its something precious. Got to hang on to it.
I hope I can help somehow.
Uh, I think Greyhawk wrote this...
I am Jonathan's brother and I'd like to thank the ones who left their inputs on this page. To the people who knew Jon always remember how down to earth he was. He was never scared, he always kept it real. He was hard and always lived his life to the fullest. Respect and family values was his way of life. God bless and see when I get there brother. I love you man. Uso pride remains in the blood always. You're my hero aka Bolrok. Your memory will always be kept alive. Peace my brother!
I work for CSM Falaniko as apart of his 40th ENG Battalion out of Baumholder, Germany. This great leader of ours has all the respect in the world. I will follow him anywhere. Sappers Lead THe Way!
My grandfather died a colonel in the Marines at Peleliu. My Dad, a 29 year career Navy fighter pilot, drove me to the Selective Service Office on my 18th birthday in 1970. I have been to Kosovo and Iraq.
We have faith in our Founding Fathers, in our military leaders, in right and wrong, and in the value of serivce to something bigger than ourselves.
It was good to revisit this excellent post today.
As the present family genealogist I know I can trace my family's participation, my two parents' lines, through every major war fought in America: Revolutionary, 1812, Indian Wars of 1820's, Civil War, Spanish War of 1898, WWI, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.
After Vietnam my three children and my niece were born, before Beirut, and all of them are now 30 or older with no military service. They missed Desert Storm, Somalia and other conflicts just because of their age bracket. I and two cousins were the last to serve (Nam).
I don't think this means there's a special tradition in our family like the one discussed. I understand and honor those families who have career investments, generation after generation, and it's largely due to the coincidence in time that none of the four that follow in the generation of my children that there is no service. I feel quite confident that had there been a need at that critical age of 18 to 21 or so that all four would have conisdered volunteering.
My great-great paternal grandfather enlisted twice during the civil war. He very much opposed slavery. He was seriously wounded during each enlistment but was ready to continue service had the war not ended.
He and others in my family like him, as there's always been a tradition of enlisting, not being drafted, represent a different group of people. They're what I'd call the non-professional families, but they owe a great debt to those of the "warrior caste" who always provided the core of the military at any time. I know from talking to them and reading about them that they had great respect for the "warrior caste" and appreciated their importance.
It's largely due to chance that such a string of service can be mentioned, but there are many, many generations missing inbetween major wars. A professional military, like that represented by the warrior caste, is even more critical then. They've served in many cases to prevent wars from occurring and this is even more true today. While we've become more and more dependant on such marvelous families, even when our leaders overlooked their importance following the Cold War, I think it is important to remember their importance in these special times.
It's not only at times like this when we need the "warrior caste" to be there in Bosnia, Korea, Germany, and elsewhere, as well in the active theaters of Iraq and Afghanistan, but the time will come, soon I hope, when we will need them in peace.
We likely owe a good deal of respect for the "warrior caste" as much, if not more, in times of peace in this dangerous world of the near future. We all hope that it ends with Iraq and Afghanistan, but we've also become more realistic. Since many members of the "warrior caste" read this site, I hope they will accept my appreciation for their contributions. I dislike comparing them to my children's generation, which includes professional medical and teachers, as to who is "more important." That's not the issue.
Our police, our farmers, our office workers are all "important" to our country. But there is an especial importance to the families of the "warrior caste." They are the protectors of our liberties. I also have a tradition of educators in my family, and that's very important, but they cannot be free to teach without the protection of that critically important "warrior caste."
Thank you.
America is the greatest nation on Earth because of men and women willing to pay the ultimate price to make sure we live free and away from danger. Thank You is not enough to say to these fine people, but that, plus moral support, and care packages sent to our troops in Iraq is what I can do at this time.
My grand nephew graduated from the Naval Academy on Friday. He is becoming a marine, not joining the navy as his father did. I am so proud of this young man. Academics is not his main thing, but he did them well and was 270th of 975. His character is outstanding. So much so that he received a Letter of Commendation from the Superintendent of the Academy; he was awarded a bronze eagle from his peers; he was Executive Officer of his brigade; and said he felt out of place sitting with the great scholars during the awards. This is a young man who had to fight very hard to get into the academy, was told he was in, then was bumped for a political appointee, but overcame that and got in. I'm expecting really big things of him, he has alread achieved so much. His father was a graduate of the academy, his grandfather was Navy, not of the academy. So he broke tradition and is going into the Marines, but a proud military tradition lives on.
PS I posted this by mistake at Mostly Cajun, but I'm so proud I'm still leaving it here, too. Hope you don't mind.
We served and we welcome service by others because we understand that our country's destiny is in our hands.A 911 that just talks is worse than worthless.
Virtually every able bodied male in our extended family has served this past 100 years. It's a brotherhood, it's understood, but cannot really be explained. We love our Country and our Comarades in Arms.
For God and Country,
VFW Post 9949
the falaniko story is very painful. jonathan was a very caring person. i had the opportunity and privilege of meeting jonathan. i spent 7 months in iraq myself and jonathan is the first person i knew that made the ultimate sacrifice. i can only imagine that his father is very proud and is thankful to have been blessed with the time he had with his son. he will always be in the prayers of everyone who truly understands the meaning of freedom and selfless service. i would like to apologize to the falaniko family for the hurt i already caused them. sincerely sgt valtierra. gumv345@aol.com
My son is in the Army looks like he will make it a carrier as I did. My dad served during Korea. That makes him third generation Army. Thankfull he has made it back from Afganistan and Iraq (82d).
As always, GH ... thanks for defending me and mine.
May your son, no matter the trails he chooses to patrol in his life, continue to share your wisdom.
May your Grey turn to the bright white of a long and productive life, before your Mrs. receives your folded colors from this grateful nation.
And may she never have to receive your sons' colors ... but instead, after a long and fruitful life herself, go to stand watch with you in Heaven for the eventual arrival of all your children.