Another WW II Veteran Bites the Dust

[Gene]

Russell Hamler, the last of “Merrill’s Marauders” of World War II, dies at 99.

The headline blared at me, and I stared in disbelief. It's not merely the passing of great men from a bygone era that distresses me. It's the realization that we're squandering the very freedoms they fought so valiantly to secure. That's the heartache. Too many today don't grasp the razor's edge on which World War II balanced. We were unprepared, dismissive of the spreading European conflagration, until the German juggernaut seemed unstoppable, and the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor shattered our Pacific defenses. Our leaders were thrust into an agonizing juggle of resources, transforming industries, and training both men for battle and women for the workforce. We fought on two fronts, our victory anything but certain.

Now, as I witness the erosion of unity and purpose, the divisive acts of politicians, activists, and the indifferent public, my heart aches anew. Each time another of those brave souls passes, I mourn not only their departure but the seeming disregard for the legacy they bequeathed us. They sacrificed everything for a gift we too often take for granted. And that, more than anything, is what truly gets to me.

Here is the rest of Russell Hamler's story... https://taskandpurpose.com/history/russ ... ld-war-ii/