On 20 November 2018, Sergeant Millard Odom, United States Marine Corps was laid to rest in Miramar National Cemetery.
Part of what made this mission extraordinary is that it was exactly 75 years ago to the day that he was killed in action during World War II in the battle for Tarawa.
Supporting the funeral were members of the Patriot Guard Riders.
I had the distinct and solemn honor of presenting mementos to Sergeant Odom's surviving sister.
Also extraordinary was that Medal of Honor recipient John Baca presented the folded flag. Here is the citation accompanying the presentation of the Medal.
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in
action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp4c.
Baca, Company D, distinguished himself while serving on a recoilless
rifle team during a night ambush mission A platoon from his company was
sent to investigate the detonation of an automatic ambush device forward
of his unit's main position and soon came under intense enemy fire from
concealed positions along the trail. Hearing the heavy firing from the
platoon position and realizing that his recoilless rifle team could
assist the members of the besieged patrol, Sp4c. Baca led his team
through the hail of enemy fire to a firing position within the patrol's
defensive perimeter. As they prepared to engage the enemy, a
fragmentation grenade was thrown into the midst of the patrol. Fully
aware of the danger to his comrades, Sp4c. Baca unhesitatingly, and with
complete disregard for his own safety, covered the grenade with his
steel helmet and fell on it as the grenade exploded, thereby absorbing
the lethal fragments and concussion with his body. His gallant action
and total disregard for his personal well-being directly saved 8 men
from certain serious injury or death. The extraordinary courage and
selflessness displayed by Sp4c. Baca, at the risk of his life, are in
the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit
on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
When individuals are held accountable by private entities for their comments, on social media and elsewhere, they scream loud and long about their right to free speech. Assertions aplenty roil the landscape when words result in consequences. One of the most common is the perpetrator has an absolute First Amendment right to free speech and can therefore say anything with immunity.
Such folks might first want to educate themselves on the right they are claiming. There is no absolute immunity.
The First Amendment reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
Key in the above and subsequent precedence setting court decisions is that government can not make any law abridging free speech. In other words, the government can not abridge the freedom of speech. Private entities are not so encumbered.
A private company, for example, can dismiss an employee for speech the government can not abridge. What, you ask? Can't I just say whatever the hell I want to say, post, Tweet, or otherwise communicate with absolute immunity? You are probably immune from arrest or other government consequence (libel and slander notwithstanding), but, yes, your boss can fire you for speech the business finds objectionable. And you may be liable for civil action.
In today's hypercharged environment of uncivil discourse and rampant use of social media platforms, folks might do well to keep this in mind.
Come Wednesday morning, it's pretty damn certain the sun will rise. Nearly as certain is that one side or the other of the political spectrum will be apoplectic.
Yet the sun will still rise. No apocalypse occurred overnight in the wake of the election.
Life will go on.
But if listening or reading only in the echo chambers of the (inaptly named) major political parties, left or right, liberal or conservative, roughly half of the average american citizens will hear doom and gloom. It is also reasonable to predict an onslaught of associated claims and counterclaims about this or that injustice. Just as during the lead up to the election, exaggeration, embellishment, overstatement, and hyperbole will fill the day. Self-appointed pundits will flood (mainly in the aforementioned echo chambers) broadcasts, the airwaves, and Internet with their (anything but) sage views. Absolutism will dominate. Handwringing will be elevated to an art form. Invective will be shouted. Protests may be mounted.
Sheesh!
Yet the sun will come up and life will go on.
Those most impacted by the results, the average citizenry of the nation, will go about their daily lives, in spite of the election. Some will grouse, some will smile. But they will go about their lives, regardless of their views and feelings. Because that is just the way it will be.
The winners may celebrate and the losers may complain, but neither will simply lay down and do nothing. Momentary anger or joy will by necessity yield to the demands of the new day. Breakfast will be consumed and off to work they will go, happy or not. The activities of daily life will continue pretty much unabated.
Perhaps only in the woefully unrealistic and insular bubbles called college/university campuses will activity momentarily cease. Classes may be cancelled. Marches may be organized. Even as parents pay the bills, academia may raise its strident voice.
Everywhere else, life will go on.
That is an absolute certainty for Wednesday morning.
A nearly ideal, weather wise, Saturday morning in the San Diego region saw 68 motorcyclists come together in the early morning hours. While most folks were probably sleeping in or enjoying a leisurely breakfast and second cup of coffee, these bikers gathered at a funeral home in the town of La Mesa, just east of San Diego.
Funeral home on a Saturday morning you ask? Some might assume, with disdain in mind, that it must be for the services for "one of those bikers." Couldn't be farther from the truth.
These bikers came to honor a fallen sailor, Petty Officer Curtis Adams, U. S. Navy, who had been shot down after stopping for who he thought was a stranded motorist.
To honor him, these bikers would escort him to the San Diego airport for the final flight home.
Arranged by the Patriot Guard Riders, this morning's mission included bikers representing several groups. The prevailing themes across the groups were patriotism, military service, and honoring for our men and women in uniform. In addition to the bikers, which included some younger active duty members of the military, there were roughly a dozen cars carrying Petty Officer Adams' fellow sailors, those who had served with him.
The package, as it is referred to, ultimately grew to 68 motorcycles, 14 cars, and the hearse. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited, a prayer offered, and mission briefing provided.
At the appointed time, a flag line was set, honors were rendered, the pall bearers transferred the remains into the hearse, and the package departed and headed to the airport. Once there, they repeated the process, rendering honors as Petty Officer Adams was delivered to the airline cargo representatives.
A somber Saturday morning, with dozens of folks, the majority of whom had never met Petty Officer Adams, coming together as patriots.
In this hyper-intense period leading up to the mid-term elections, I noticed the absence of the media and elected officials. Damn! A young sailor dies, gunned down in the midst of trying to do the right thing, and not one member of the media or one elected official could spare even a few minutes out of their Saturday morning.
