USS Allen M. Sumner (DD-692)
Reunion 2016 Banquet Speaker

Colonel David W. Taylor, Special Forces, USAR (Ret.)

"THE PRIDE OF BEING A VERERAN"

“Every day that you wake up free, it’s going to be a good day.”

And where does that freedom come from? The answer is sitting in front of me. Our nations Veterans have kept us free in cold wars and armed conflicts to insure the blessings of freedom for us all. Our freedom, the freedom to fail, the freedom to succeed and the freedom to try came from millions of ordinary Americans who sa as their duty to serve, and not to be served.
Through the years our enemies have come in many forms. Some enemies less obtuse than others, causing dissent and confusion. And our veterans who have perished fighting them…we think of often.
This evening finds us in challenging times for America and for other parts of the world. For we are in a war of terrorism. It is not the world we knew prior to 9/11. The geopolitical issues are complex but they are surrounded by a moral certainty. And Americans are one again, fighting and dying, in distant lands to protect our freedom.
When peace in our world escapes us, men and women in uniform must go forward to serrve and by necessity, become a new generation of Veterans. Peace escapes us with radical Islam. This new enemy of peace seeks to devalue human life…ours and theirs…in order to create their terror. My fellow Veterans let me tell you something. We will win this war or terror because of one simple truth: Life always fins a way! Life by its humanity is indomitable. And you and I and every Veteran in America must personify that indomitable spirit!
Veterans Day was so named because peace, unfortunately, doesn’t last forever. History never stops proving that fact.
Today, Americas men and women in the military serve at a time when there is doubt and anxiety in our country, at a time when we have a culture that still places too much emphasis on celebrities, those who appear in the movies and on television and only an occasional note - when danger is near - on our true heroes, such as those serving on the front lines of our war on terrorism. They are ordinary citizens who are called upon to do extraordinary things.
It’s important we Veterans insure America does not confuse the hero from the celebrity. Heroes are distinguished by achievement but the celebrity is marked by image. The hero created himself or herself but the movies, TV and newspaper create the celebrity. The hero is a big person in our eyes; the celebrity…is nothing but a big name. Their status depends solely on the attention we give them and they like it that way.
Most of my heroes are on the Vietnam Wall in Washington DC. On panel 23W are the names of two of my men, Harry Italiano of Suitland, Maryland - one of my machine gunners, and Mitchell Sandman of Syracuse, New York, his assistant gunner. As we descended to the ground in a helicopter to rescue some other soldiers, I happened to jump out the right side of the helicopter and live; they jumped out the left side and were cut down by enemy fire.
Also on that panel is Gregory Scherf of Golden, Colorado, one of my squad leaders. He had only a few weeks before he would return home get out of the Army and enroll in college.
And yet one day, with my patrol surrounded by the enemy, a hole in my left side by an enemy bullet and my lower right leg shattered by another enemy bullet, he crawled through enemy fire to bandage my leg. And then in the true tradition of the American soldier, he sought to reassure me, his leader, that everything was going to be alright, and that he was going to get us out of that mess; and at that moment he was struck in the head by an enemy bullet, slowly lowered his head to my feet and died. “No greater love hath any man, than to give his life for another.”
We come together at events such as this because we understand each other and share a common, but unique bond, Veterans are a giving people. It started early, when that drill sergeant told us to give him ten more pushups.
It came together when we shared heavy loads of responsibility, of being without our loved one’s for extended periods of time and standin watch, never knowing if enemy aircraft would attck in the South China Sea. And for some in the Navy, they untimely gave themselves.
While in war we witnessed deprivation, hardship and certain fear. But we also experienced great compassion, courage and resourcefulness. Ralph Waldo Emerson once noted, “The only compensation war offers for its manifold mischief, is in the great personal qualities to which it gives csope and occasion.” You are a symbol of those qualities, the Navy gave you something that still resides in your soul otherwise you would not be here at this reunion…oh the memories!
You are a giving people, and part of the reason why…is your service in the military. Scott Kopfstein, your host foe this reunion, who, like me lives in Medina, Ohio - the greatest twon in America - has just finished his excellent tour as Commander of our local VFW Post. The guy never stops! Do you think he would have had that drive and devotion had he not been in the military? I don’t think so.
All of the veteran Organizations in America give of their time, talents and money. May could say, “We did our bit, we have other things to occupy our time.” But that ense of giving, and of service and of duty not only carried us through the difficult times of war, it can carry us through the ups and downs of our human experience.
Robert E. Lee once said, “Duty is the most sublime word in the English language. No one can do more, no one should ever hop to do less.”\
You have completed your duty in the military but your duty remains, as veterans, to continue to serve your country by caring for each other, expressing the ideals of patriotism and demonstrating your humanity.
And lest we forget…patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.
As we serve out the remainder of our days, take pride in what you accomplished by serving your country…both in the military and as a veteran.
And at the end of the month on Memorial Day, I know you will ponder what you have experienced throughout your fife…and you will remember those Navy Veterans who did not return alive from World War II, Korea, Vietnam or the current War on terrorism. As a World War ii historian, I can tell you the Navy lost more men in the Pacific Theatre than the Marines and the Army combined.
Each of us has our own memories of our service; part of our own personal fragment of the whole record, which made up your ships history in service to its country…a record which can begin to come together on occasions such as this.
And although our individual recollections and the sum total of who we were…and what we did, we can never forget those who gave their all.
In memory of your Navy comrades you will remember at this reunion, who gave their all in service of this country…the best gift we can give them - and to our country in these times of challenge - is for each one of us to help make human life…more human.
And at this time I also want to remember all of you. And I would suggest to you on occasions such as this reunion, as you reflect back that - you were sailors once and young - as you try to manage your thoughts and emotions while you explore the depths of your memory about days gone by in the crucible of war, that you look in a mirror and respect who you see and try to understand what you feel.
For this day, as in every day of every year, in towns and cities across this country, in churches, stadiums and schools our fellow countrymen remember you when they sing, “Our country ‘tis of the, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.” “Oh say does that star-spangled banner yet wave?” Yes…because of all of you. “Oer the land of the free”, and here in this room, at this time, “the home of the brave.”
May God bless each and every one of you and Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, for your service!