I know that I don’t go into much detail about myself. I try to maintain some anonymity on this blog. I served in the military. I guess that’s why I have a special feeling about this country, our flag, and those who serve. If you’ve ever served in the military you may have an idea about why this country needs to be defended. It’s not political, nor does it have much to do with government. It has to do with the Devine nature of this country. I also realize you don’t have to serve to have patriotic feelings for your country and flag.
D&C 101:79-80
79 Therefore, it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another.
80 And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood.
By establishing this country with blood, which is the blood of those in the military, I believe that serving in the military is a noble service. It’s hard to explain to someone who has not served in the military. It’s hard to explain how you feel you are not only serving this country, but are helping to redeem “…the land…” by serving.
I don’t know if it is just something my family has done or what. My father served in WWII and my grandfather in WWI. I’ve also had relatives that served in the Nauvoo Legion and the Mormon Battalion. I guess it is a family thing. The following is about a current Army unit who traces their history back to the Mormon Battalion.
On August 3, 1950, the “now 213th was inducted into Federal service. The Korean Conflict was a physical manifestation of the Cold War. To the men who served, it was a war- not a conflict. The “Golden boys” began their trek of miracles. Of the nineteen field artillery units summoned to battle in the Korean Conflict, the 213th was the only one not to lose a soldier. They became known as the “Mormon Battalion,” “the Six Hundred Stripling Warriors.”
The 222nd, nicknamed the “Triple Deuces,” a Utah artillery battery from St. George to Cedar City area, became quite well known throughout Utah. Many American soldiers had lost their lives to insurgents in Ar Ramadi, but just like the 2,000 Stripling Warriors, NOT ONE of the Triple Deuces lost their lives.
They told stories of miraculous improvised explosive devices misses, explosion blow-overs with no harm, missiles into camp, and individual impressions to “get-down” or “get up” at exact moments that preserved their lives. Were they in a dangerous area? Yes. Fourteen U.S. soldiers were killed in their area before they arrived and six were killed in the first week after they left. They credited their miraculous survival it to the prayers of their mothers, wives, children, friends, and temple-goers, all of whom they knew were praying for them.
This unit was the exact same Utah National Guard unit from southern Utah that during the Korean War (they were then known as the 213th). Despite the fact that in one harrowing battle they were surrounded by 10,000 Chinese troops, who annihilated another Guard unit from Wyoming that was right beside them, leaving no survivors. On top of this they managed to capture 900 enemy soldiers, some of whom said, “We don’t understand. We shoot you but you don’t fall down.”
The 222nd was deployed to Iraq in June of 2011. They returned in 2012.
We thank them for their service.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
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