American Heroes
Contributed by Doug Ferguson
Say what you will about media personality Tucker Carlson, you have to admit that he finds some pretty interesting and independent people to interview in-depth on his new program “The Tucker Carlson Encounter”.
I Recently listened to his long interview with Tulsi Gabbard where, as a new rising star in the Democratic Party, she told why she left it and become a campaigner for political reform, urging her fellow Americans to reject all corrupt politicians in the D.C ruling class, regardless of party affiliation. In the interview she pointed out how many of the long-term members of congress become millionaires WHILE in office.
This got me to thinking about the people like herself who are NOT corrupt, but who are patriotic, have sacrificed for their country and are willing to do it again if needed. These are indeed American Heroes.
First some brief information about Tulsi for those who may not know much about her. She was the first Samoan American and also Hindu member of congress to be elected to the U.S. House as representative from Hawaii from 2013 to 2021. She had been elected to the Hawaii House in 2002 at age 21. She enlisted in the Hawaii National Guard and was deployed in 2004 for a 12-month tour in Iraq. Because of the deployment she did not run for re-election.
In 2007 she graduated from OCS at the Alabama Military Academy. She later was re-deployed as an Army MP platoon leader in Kuwait in 2008-09. She was promoted from Captain to Major and received several military honors during her service. Returning from military service, she was promoted as a “rising star” in overwhelmingly Democratic Hawaii politics when, as punishment for not going along with all the party’s platform, Hillary Clinton charged that she (Tulsi) was a “Russian Agent!” Despite all controversies in her political career, she has been constantly supportive of our military and its veterans as well as for her constituents. She also never took money from lobbyists and is NOT a millionaire.
There are others both present and past who fall into this ever shrinking “Hero” category. While certainly not comprehensive, I looked for important leaders and/or celebrities who either were in military combat voluntarily and sacrificed there, had the chance to leave and didn’t, returned later or else had well established careers they voluntarily left to go serve their country when needed.
Clark Gable was already one of the most famous movie stars in the world when WWII started. One month after Pearl Harbor, his beloved wife Carole Lombard was killed in a plane crash returning from a war bonds tour. He asked President Roosevelt how he could help in the war and was told to “Stay where you are”.
Instead, he volunteered for the Army Air Force, went through 13 weeks of OCS, and was trained as a photographer and aerial gunner. Initially, as part of a unit that went to Britain to film the documentary “Combat America”, Gable flew many actual combat missions in the gun turret of a B-17 photographing the action as German shrapnel exploded around him, even occasionally in his plane! He did this from 1942 until the end of the war in 1945 when he returned to acting.
There are many more famous Americans who served their country in combat and war and then went on to serve their country in other positive ways over their lifetimes. Here are a few prominent ones: Barry Goldwater, Charles During, Colin Powell, Dan Sullivan, Gene Autry, George Marshall, James Arness, James Garner, Jimmy Stewart, John McCain, Neil Armstrong, Tammy Duckworth, and Tom Cotton just to name a few that I researched. Check them out yourself.
Some made great physical sacrifices to do so, like Tammy Duckworth, who lost both legs while co-piloting a helicopter in the Iraq War and then went on to be a U.S. Senator. Others were like Gene Autry who walked away from a burgeoning career as “King of The Cowboys” to volunteer for a dangerous piloting role to serve his country in WWII. Still others, like George Marshall, the author of the famous post WWII “Marshall Plan” went on to serve prominently in government and industry.
Selfless patriots made this country with its opportunities for its citizens to overcome adversity through hard work and education. It wasn’t perfect and it didn’t happen overnight, but was due to the efforts of many, starting with our founders who, to a one, put their lives at risk to start the country of freedom known as America!
We need to honor and support those who still do!