“Observations”©

Donald S. Conkey

Date: May 27, 2010 – 1022b – Did those who died defending freedom die in vein? (4086)

Monday is Memorial Day 2010 – a national holiday set aside for all Americans to pay homage to those millions who have donned their country’s military uniforms to defend America’s freedoms and unique way of life – especially those individuals who gave their life while defending America’s precious freedoms. 

       It’s been years since I was able to get into my uniform but just thinking of my service years during the Korean War brings back many memories, some pleasant, others not so pleasant. I did my basic training in Fort Riley Kansas, in December, and was then sent to Camp Gordon near Augusta Georgia for further training before being ordered to the Far East. In 1953 orders to the Far East usually meant Korea! But I was pleasantly surprised when the troop ship docked at Yokohama Japan and I, along with nine others, was ordered to report to Far East Headquarters in Tokyo. For most of the next two years I was stationed on Mt Fuji in Japan.

       Last Saturday I drove over to Cumming to attend a wedding reception for the daughter of a former scout and visited with the bride’s grandfather, a 50 year friend and veteran of World War II. Doug, while aging rapidly, is still able to recall the horrors of World War II and still sees in his mind those ‘buddies’ that died in the hedgerows of France while driving the Nazi out of France.

       As we reminisced our military days we wondered aloud about the direction President Obama is leading America today. Didn’t millions die to stop socialism? We talked about those millions who lost their lives stopping Hitler from ruling the world. We talked about our efforts to stop socialism and communism during the ‘cold war’ and the Korean War. Then we asked: “was all this in vain?” In unison we said “we hope not!” But there was a lingering doubt in our minds.

       During World War II 405,000 Americans died, another 671,000 were wounded. This war was to end all wars – but didn’t. I wonder if those thousands who died now think they died in vain. But now, like then, freedom is won by those who say no to tyranny and are willing to stand with the Patriots of 1776 and fight for something so precious that we don’t know we have lost it until often it is too late.

       We switched topics and talked about Cherokee County’s National Veterans Cemetery near Sutallee where we are both scheduled for interment, the cemetery that will be the final resting place for thousands of Americans who either died or were prepared to die to preserve the “Unalienable Rights” God restored in America. Among these thousands will be close friends Sterling Eide and John Williams who are already interned at Sutallee.

        Have you ever asked yourself – why war? I have! I also ask will war ever end and who perpetuates it? My questions are answered, at least for me, in Revelation 12 where John tells about a “war in heaven.” Was this the first recorded war? What was that war fought over? Many think it was fought over individual agency and freedoms as are most modern wars? John’s dialogue is interesting. He suggests the enemy in this war was Satan or Lucifer, the enemy that Moses describes as the ‘master of all lies.’ John tells us that Satan, along with those who followed him, a  third of the “hosts of heaven,” lost that war and were cast out of heaven down to ‘the earth.’ Verse 12 says “Therefore rejoice, ye heavens and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhibitors of the earth, and of the sea! for the devil is come down into you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Today we are seeing just how real Satan’s wrath is. We see it every way we turn.

       War is hell! But slavery is worse! Once enslaved it takes centuries to break out of bondage. It took the Israelites 400 years of pleading before the Lord heard their prayers, and another 40 years of training to “self-govern themselves.” Then, after 256 years of self-government – Joshua to Saul – and serious ethics issues (corruption) the people said to Samuel “now make us a king to judge us like all other nations.” (I Samuel 8:5.) The Israelites had rejected God. Their kings led them into idolatry then total dispersion. That history is well recorded. Is America following in Israel’s footsteps – and asking for a king following massive corruption.

       Those who would “sell-out” America and “make a king to judge over us” are totally unaware of the reality of God’s wrath, or of the price it will take to regain our freedoms if they are lost. Ask the Germans, the Japanese, the Russians, even the Iraqis. They know the price – much death and total destruction.

       Remember Monday – Memorial Day. Yes, remember those who were and are still willing to pay the price to protect our freedoms, and then give thanks to that God who gave America its freedoms. And be grateful we can still debate the issues, even with harsh rhetoric – and in many cases with completely opposing views.