Tag Archives: history

The Red Badge of Courage…

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The book, The Red Badge of Courage, was written by Stephen Crane in 1895. It is historical fiction about a soldier in the Civil War. The book shows the recruitment, training and combat of a US soldier. The soldier goes through bravado, fear, the loss of innocence and courage of this individual. He earns a red ribbon pinned to his chest as acknowledgment of his courage. During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln only authorized one medal to be given to any US soldier for valor beyond the call of duty. That medal was the Congressional Medal of Honor. A total of 1523 medals were awarded for actions during the Civil War.

One interesting story from the Civil War was about 1st Lieutenant Arthur MacArthur, Jr. He served in the 24th Wisconsin regiment. The 24th Wisconsin was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, commanded by Major General George Thomas. After the battle of Chickamauga, they were in Chattanooga. General Grant ordered General Thomas to fight an uphill battle on Missionary ridge in Chattanooga. This was to be a diversion, while 2 other armies flanked Missionary Ridge and routed the Confederates led by General Braxton Bragg. As the Army of the Cumberland moved up the hill, the Confederate fire became withering. 56,000 US troops did not stop where they were suppose to. They began a systematic charge up the Missionary Ridge. About half way up the ridge, the charge became to falter. The 24th Wisconsin’s color Sargent was killed. Then 1st Lt. Arthur MacArthur picked up the colors and rallied the troops running up to the top of Missionary Ridge. The Confederates were so surprised, they began running away. For his actions that day, 1st Lt. Arthur MacArthur received the Congressional Medal of Honor. Almost 80 years later, his son, General Douglas MacArthur received his Congressional Medal of Honor.

Courage is not the lack of fear. It is doing what is right despite the fear. Anyone who has served in combat knows what fear is like. But fear is not just on the battlefield. Fear can come from anywhere. I have seen people afraid of their own shadow. It can be debilitating. It is doubt and unbelief in yourself. This is where courage comes in. If you can believe that you can make the difference, then you should. Whether it is in the classroom, business office, courtroom or battlefield. Take the step, exhibit courage. What do you have to lose? If you don’t, you have failed anyway. So, earn the Red Badge of Courage by standing up and being counted.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

When your Son goes to War.

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My older brother and I went to war, but I never thought about what our parents felt. When my son’s unit was called to war, Iraqi Freedom, my wife and I joined the Family Support Group for his company. My son didn’t know anything about war. Their training was intense for the type of combat they would experience. The US military trains troops to be able to fight a war. But the impact of war can only experienced first hand. All the troops were 18 to 30 years old and none had ever experienced the string of battle. Their bravado was strong, but I saw the fear of the unknown in their faces. You can’t teach how you will react in the middle of battle. All you can do is train and let muscle memory take over in combat.

While our son was deployed, my wife and I stayed busy with supporting troops with care packages of food and any other needs. We live in southwest Louisiana. The number one request for food items was Tony Chachere seasoning in the individual packets. The second request was Community Coffee, dark roast. We sent individual packages for each birthday in the company. We stayed busy because it was a shooting war. Out of the 150 members of the company, 36 were killed in Iraq and there were more wounded. While he was there, we were able to live video link with our son on Facebook. When I saw him, he had lost weight and had a serious look to him. He came home on his two week vacation during 4th of July. We went to the park to see the fireworks and every time an overhead bomb went off, he would jump. It was the ravages of war.

Before he was deployed, we had a serious discussion about death. Not only were we concerned for his safety, but that he would be seeing death up close and personal. My wife and I had to place him in the hands of God for his safety and our own sanity. While he was there, his best friend was killed. That morning his captain allowed him to call home. I answered and the first thing I asked was are you wounded. He said no, it is worst. He couldn’t tell me over the phone, but I figured it out. He took it hard and began to feel guilty for surviving. The effects of war are not only on the soldier, but on his family. It took a while for our son to transition from combat to regular life. The effects of war.

We survived and he came home. 2 more sons served in the military, one in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. It has been 20 years since they served and we are still feeling the effects of the war, but thank God not as much. I was watching soldier’s family reunions on Youtube and it all came flooding back.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

The 4th of July.

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As an American, I celebrated the founding of our country. I marvel at the efforts put for by our founding fathers to create this nation. Our nation is not so different than many others that were founded throughout the ages. Mankind has not changed since the beginning of time. Technology has come a long way, but who we are has not. We live longer because of discoveries, but people are people. All you have to do is to read the history of anybody throughout the ages. And the pattern of who we are will emerge.

The first thing that comes to mind is family. It is the very first institution ever invented, both in mankind and animals. Then there is work to feed yourself and your family, then there is shelter and last but not least is clothing. Our basic needs have never changed. There is an old saying that is true, history repeats itself. Since the beginning, how many times has fathers worried about caring for their family? How many times have mothers been concerned about their families safety?

My son was being deployed to Iraq several years ago. As our family gather with others to see their sons and daughters off to war, I started watching people. Some were laughing, some were crying, some soldiers held their children as I wondered how many times has this gathering occur since this country was founded. As I was watching all the people, a song kept playing in my head. The song was “Johnny has gone for a soldier”. It is a song from the American Revolution.

We may all speak differently, have different origins, believe in different religions and are culturally different. But as a people we are the same. We all have the same desires for family, freedom, being able to provide and protect our families. So, I celebrate this 4th of July by remembering who we are and what was started in this country 400 years.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

The Power of Our words.

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After the battle of Gettysburg, there was a ceremony to dedicate the Soldiers National Cemetery. The organizing people invited Edward Everett to be the main speaker. They also invited President Lincoln. Everett spoke for two hours before President Lincoln spoke. Lincoln knew the Everett would be long winded. So, he wrote his most famous speech on a piece of cardboard. His speech was exactly 272 words. The photographers didn’t have time to set up their cameras, by the time President Lincoln finish the Gettysburg Address. Abraham Lincoln’s most famous address that is written on the wall of the Lincoln Memorial. No body remembers what Edward Everett said. Even after 168 years, everybody knows the Gettysburg Address. That government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from this earth.

We learn to speak when we are young. We can’t wait to able to speak. Many times I have seen small children run around screaming with other children. They were not saying a word, but they were communicating with each other. It can get irritating because of the noise level. But communicating is a real need in our lives. We strive to be understood and become frustrated when we are not. Some people are chatter boxes, while some don’t say two word. Have you ever met someone that didn’t say anything, but you knew what he was saying anyway? It’s interesting how that works. We learn communication all of our lives. Yet, some things are a puzzle.

Words have power. Speaking must be done judiciously. We can encourage, discourage, up lift or destroy with our words. I heard this many years ago, but have found it to be true. You can’t take back hurtful words or reverse what you said. It is like taking a box of feathers to the top of a mountain, then releasing them. Then try to gather all of them back again. You can’t. Our words have a power of its own.

Using our words correctly takes self discipline. We have to learn to speak at the right time. Everybody knows the fable of the boy who cried wolf. In the end, no one believed a word he said. It is important that people can believe what you say. It is not only for your sake, but for others also. This is where using our word correctly comes into play. What if all your words come to pass, just as you have spoken them. I have heard many people say, that kills me or I can’t do that. Guess what, those words come to pass whether or not we want them to. It’s not that we can’t speak. It is speaking the truth and live that way. For as the mouth speaks, so are we.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

It’s Christmas Season again.

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Black Friday is today and Cyber Monday is to come. In my many years in retail, my favorite time of year has always been Thanksgiving. People would come into the store with a smile. It is because Thanksgiving as apposed to Christmas, is a time about friends, family and food. There is always too much food and discussions about anything and everything. Unfortunately, Christmas has become commercial. Tis the season to spend all the money you have to try and stay up with your family or neighbors expectations. The real reason for Christmas seems to be shoved aside. Usually for unnecessary things that don’t last more than a few months. I know that businesses have been trying to recover from the Covid pandemic. It seems that the thought of the gift is not as important as the price. Which makes it very hard to give to people. As I have gotten older, I see the value in the thought of the gift, than the price.

My maternal grandmother, after granddaddy died, lived on Social Security. She lived on $125/month. My mom and her two sister’s helped her with the bills. When it came to Christmas, my grandmother had this inner sense of what to get her grandchildren. Her gifts were never expensive, but she knew what to get for us. She would give gifts that were tailor made for us. She was always amazing. She could make cookies faster than anyone I knew. Yes, I loved my grandmother. She was a real blessing in my life. And I miss her very much. I miss my whole family.

Christmas started as a point in time to celebrate the birth of Jesus. He really was born in the springtime, right before Passover. In Israel, winter is the rainy season and no one can travel around the countryside with any ease. Caesar called for the taxation in the springtime allowing everyone to travel to the cities of their birth. When Jesus was born, there was much celebration. Western culture chose December 25th as the date of Jesus’ birth. Saint Nicholas lived in the 3rd and 4th century. His was a bishop of Patara in Asia Minor. He would give food and gifts to the children. This is where the custom of Christmas began. In Holland, Saint Nicholas day in celebrated. He is called Sinterklaas. Translated into English, it is Santa Claus.

Christmas has never been about gift giving. It has always been about giving of yourself to others, your time, your attention and yes your money. Saint Nicholas never sought gifts in return. He did it out of the love in his heart for Jesus. This is what Christmas is about. Find someone that you know that can’t return a gift and give yourself instead. And be blessed in this season of giving love to one another.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Our Soldiers and Veterans.

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I have four sons. Three of them served Operation Iraqi Freedom. My older brother and I served during Vietnam War. I have a cousin that died serving during the Vietnam War. I have a cousin that died in Korea with the 1st Marines. My dad and his two brothers served during WWII. Whenever there was a need for soldiers, my family answered the call. The average age of a soldier is in the military is 18. That means they are giving their youth to serve their country. My family served as Minute Men in Massachusetts and in the Atchafalaya Militia during the American Revolution.

During each and every war that America served in, men gathered to answer the call. When they gathered, their families were there to see them off. The families did not know whether or not they would see their sons again. So they laughed and cried and cheered them on. Do you know how many times since the founding of our country that families gathered to see their sons of to war?

I want to tell you about an experience that I had when we saw our second son off to the Iraqi war. We were gathered with many families. Some were crying, some were laughing and everybody was being brave for their soldier. We got there about two hours before they left. The longer I was there, I kept hearing a song go through my head. I couldn’t shake the song out of my head. In fact, it got louder. The song was from the American Revolution called “Johnnie has gone for a soldier”. The more I heard the song, I looked around and thought about how many times families have gathered to send the children off to war. And how we were no different than those families in the American Revolution. As much as we say that things have changed, they still remain the same.

I am proud that my children have served and that my family has served also. Honor the men and women that serve our country. They have given their youth for your freedom.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com