Reprising last year's tribute to the men who paid the last full measure — and to the families who've carried their absence for a lifetime. Remembering the price of freedom on today's somber holiday.
Would love for you to dig into your observation when you have time, Jeff:
The specific asymmetry you identified is real. Memorial Day 2025 — no active war, extensive coverage. Memorial Day 2026 — active war with named American dead, less coverage. If anything an active wartime Memorial Day demands more solemn attention to the fallen, not less. Whatever their position on the Iran operation’s wisdom, the 13 Americans who died in it were real people who deserve to be named today. That’s not a political statement. That’s basic human decency.
Killed March 1, 2026 — Port of Shuaiba, Kuwait (Iranian strike):
• Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54
• Sergeant First Class Nicole Amor, 39
• Sergeant First Class Noah Tietjens, 42
• Sergeant Declan Coady, 20
• Major Jeffrey O’Brien, 45
• Captain Cody Khork, 35
Died March 8, 2026 — Saudi Arabia (from March 1 injuries):
• Sergeant Benjamin Pennington, 26
Killed March 12, 2026 — Western Iraq (KC-135 Stratotanker crash):
• Major John “Alex” Klinner, 33
• Captain Ariana Savino, 31
• Technical Sergeant Ashley Pruitt, 34
• Captain Seth Koval, 38
• Captain Curtis Angst, 34
• Technical Sergeant Tyler Simmons, 28
Six of them died together on the same tanker aircraft on March 12. Six more died together on the ground in Kuwait on March 1. Benjamin Pennington held on for a week before succumbing.
May they rest in peace.
Instead it’s all about mattress sales and store hours.
Sad.
(Edit to add: Every notification ping I’m receiving feels like a bell tolling in their memory.. .
🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸
Thank you everyone and May God Bless You and May God Bless Our Troops and May God Bless America.)
Thank you. These people deserve to be honored and remembered. The price of freedom is steep indeed, and we need to be reminded how steep and how precious it is.
My father was a WW2 veteran that at one point lost his whole platoon, 49 men one night in Germany. He ended up getting a field promotion to 2nd sergeant. He went on to fight in the battle of the Bulge, was shot in the back, sent to England, where a surgeon removed a lung and saved his life. Because of his sacrifice he died when I was just 20.
When I think of the shysters like Fauci or Morens or people like Joe Biden or Bill Clinton who sold the Chinese super computers, missile technology and nuclear technology that allowed them to pinpoint targets in the U.S., for a one million dollar donation to his 2nd campaign, I get sick to my stomach.
The people that sell out America for personal profit piss on the graves of those who gave so much to keep this country and its citizens free. And look where they have taken this world. Europe is lost. I’m not sure what we are protecting them from, communism? They put people in jail for thinking what the government considers wrongly. I only hope the Trump administration continues to prosecute and jail these traitors. I think it’s our only chance and the world’s only chance for survive.
I am glad to hear Trumpie has "repositioned" 5000 troops from Germany into Poland. . . hopefully, his precursor to permanent retrenchment the world over!
Mr. Childers, thank you for this updated post. As citizenry of this most exceptional country, we have much to be thankful for and much to be thoughtful over in honoring all those who gave their everything to preserve and protect that exceptionalism. Thank God for those who fell to keep us standing free.
My mother was a tough ole bird (respectfully). The only time I saw her cry in her 84 years (with the exceptions of her husband's and sons' funerals) was on Memorial Day. Her only brother was a pilot in WW2, shot down and never recovered.
It is good that we can remember those who have sacrificed all for the freedoms we so often take for granted. Freedom isn't free with the exception of our Lord and Savior Jesus. His sacrifice is the free gift for all who would believe. True freedom is found only in Him. May God Bless and give His peace to all those who have lost loved ones, family and friends in service to protect the freedoms we enjoy.
My grandmother's oldest son, a pilot, was shot down and killed. As a child I did not understand her lack of joy. Not until I was older and read her many personal writings and poems. 💔 Her world was changed forever too.
My uncle, Walter Cizek, the most promising of my grandmother’s four surviving children, died in the battle of the bulge, shortly after I was born. War is hell, in so many ways.
Maybe it’s time to transcend the usual “history” approach re war, and focus on the real why? And who really was at fault? “Qui bono”-ed? . . Is the enemy really us, Pogo?
For some reason, I still have the metal box that contained Walter’s medic first aid kit, on my book shelf, I can’t seem to get rid of it.
It is understandable that you would hold on to this personal item that belonged to your uncle. He should not be forgotten. Thank you for telling us about him.
I have the battered, tiny volume of the Army-issued New Testament and Psalms given to my father, a gunnery sergeant in the European theater in World War II. I cannot part with it.
May we honor the dead, and also remember that questioning the why of their being sent to foreign lands does not dishonor their efforts or sacrifice.
I had a grandfather at Pearl Harbor, on the Arizona. He survived; injured immediately, he was taken off the ship before it sank. He passed away when I was young; I wish I had known him better as well...
Bard! I commented something similar in a note: On the topic of Memorial Day, there are plenty of people who served who regret serving, recant it, and in fact don’t want to be thanked for serving.
It has to do with them realizing the atrocities of war and realizing that they’re not fighting for their country, but for rich old men who benefit from these conflicts and loss of lives.
The great general Smeldly Butler mentioned this in his book “War is a Racket.” I think we can stand to learn a great much from a true American Hero:
The private central bankers of Europe (later to become our Federal Reserve) wanted to finance Lincoln's side at 30% interest. He decided to print our own greenbacks, instead. Guess where the bankers went? Yep the south. The elitist f*cks of France and England both wanted to invade in support of the south, to protect their financial interests, only to be stopped by Russia (the US didn't even recognize Russia until 1933). Lincoln won, depending on the definition of the word "won". He took a bullet to the head while at a rock and roll show ( ←utter bullshit for effect) So, the moral of the story is: Sometimes, the prizes for winning suck.
While I don't agree with everything that Susan Kokinda of Promethean Action says, both she and Barbara Boyd speak constantly of the Bank of England and their starting and continuation of wars...
There’s a beautiful song called “Tell My Father” from the play The Civil War that my husband plays on the mandolin & guitar. He is Retired AF & today is a holy day for us. This song will make you cry.
Would love for you to dig into your observation when you have time, Jeff:
The specific asymmetry you identified is real. Memorial Day 2025 — no active war, extensive coverage. Memorial Day 2026 — active war with named American dead, less coverage. If anything an active wartime Memorial Day demands more solemn attention to the fallen, not less. Whatever their position on the Iran operation’s wisdom, the 13 Americans who died in it were real people who deserve to be named today. That’s not a political statement. That’s basic human decency.
Killed March 1, 2026 — Port of Shuaiba, Kuwait (Iranian strike):
• Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54
• Sergeant First Class Nicole Amor, 39
• Sergeant First Class Noah Tietjens, 42
• Sergeant Declan Coady, 20
• Major Jeffrey O’Brien, 45
• Captain Cody Khork, 35
Died March 8, 2026 — Saudi Arabia (from March 1 injuries):
• Sergeant Benjamin Pennington, 26
Killed March 12, 2026 — Western Iraq (KC-135 Stratotanker crash):
• Major John “Alex” Klinner, 33
• Captain Ariana Savino, 31
• Technical Sergeant Ashley Pruitt, 34
• Captain Seth Koval, 38
• Captain Curtis Angst, 34
• Technical Sergeant Tyler Simmons, 28
Six of them died together on the same tanker aircraft on March 12. Six more died together on the ground in Kuwait on March 1. Benjamin Pennington held on for a week before succumbing.
May they rest in peace.
Instead it’s all about mattress sales and store hours.
Sad.
(Edit to add: Every notification ping I’m receiving feels like a bell tolling in their memory.. .
🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸
Thank you everyone and May God Bless You and May God Bless Our Troops and May God Bless America.)
Thank you for listing them.
Thank you.
Thank you
Amen.
Thank you for your post
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
I hope you will reprint this every Memorial Day, the last few lines especially. Thank you.
Thank you. These people deserve to be honored and remembered. The price of freedom is steep indeed, and we need to be reminded how steep and how precious it is.
thanks to you too, doc.
Your "down under" thanks are well received up here.
Cheers Jeff for a well written blog today.
May their memory be a blessing.
and I will also second that!
God Bless America.
I second that JC.
Happy memorial Day.
And a reminder to AOC, stay in NY and don't pull up. https://torrancestephensphd.substack.com/p/dont-listen-to-aoc-mane-dont-pull
My father was a WW2 veteran that at one point lost his whole platoon, 49 men one night in Germany. He ended up getting a field promotion to 2nd sergeant. He went on to fight in the battle of the Bulge, was shot in the back, sent to England, where a surgeon removed a lung and saved his life. Because of his sacrifice he died when I was just 20.
When I think of the shysters like Fauci or Morens or people like Joe Biden or Bill Clinton who sold the Chinese super computers, missile technology and nuclear technology that allowed them to pinpoint targets in the U.S., for a one million dollar donation to his 2nd campaign, I get sick to my stomach.
The people that sell out America for personal profit piss on the graves of those who gave so much to keep this country and its citizens free. And look where they have taken this world. Europe is lost. I’m not sure what we are protecting them from, communism? They put people in jail for thinking what the government considers wrongly. I only hope the Trump administration continues to prosecute and jail these traitors. I think it’s our only chance and the world’s only chance for survive.
100% agree James.
I am glad to hear Trumpie has "repositioned" 5000 troops from Germany into Poland. . . hopefully, his precursor to permanent retrenchment the world over!
Second that.
Mr. Childers, thank you for this updated post. As citizenry of this most exceptional country, we have much to be thankful for and much to be thoughtful over in honoring all those who gave their everything to preserve and protect that exceptionalism. Thank God for those who fell to keep us standing free.
My mother was a tough ole bird (respectfully). The only time I saw her cry in her 84 years (with the exceptions of her husband's and sons' funerals) was on Memorial Day. Her only brother was a pilot in WW2, shot down and never recovered.
It is good that we can remember those who have sacrificed all for the freedoms we so often take for granted. Freedom isn't free with the exception of our Lord and Savior Jesus. His sacrifice is the free gift for all who would believe. True freedom is found only in Him. May God Bless and give His peace to all those who have lost loved ones, family and friends in service to protect the freedoms we enjoy.
My grandmother's oldest son, a pilot, was shot down and killed. As a child I did not understand her lack of joy. Not until I was older and read her many personal writings and poems. 💔 Her world was changed forever too.
Let us remember those who died for our country and be thankful and not take for granted those who came home safely. Thanks for a great column.
Your last sentence; how powerful. Thank you, Jeff.
My take:
In Flanders Fields (third stanza herewith)
"Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields."
Today is the day for that. The other stuff for another'
That prayer❣️🙏😇☕️🍪
My uncle, Walter Cizek, the most promising of my grandmother’s four surviving children, died in the battle of the bulge, shortly after I was born. War is hell, in so many ways.
Maybe it’s time to transcend the usual “history” approach re war, and focus on the real why? And who really was at fault? “Qui bono”-ed? . . Is the enemy really us, Pogo?
For some reason, I still have the metal box that contained Walter’s medic first aid kit, on my book shelf, I can’t seem to get rid of it.
It is understandable that you would hold on to this personal item that belonged to your uncle. He should not be forgotten. Thank you for telling us about him.
I have the battered, tiny volume of the Army-issued New Testament and Psalms given to my father, a gunnery sergeant in the European theater in World War II. I cannot part with it.
May we honor the dead, and also remember that questioning the why of their being sent to foreign lands does not dishonor their efforts or sacrifice.
I had a grandfather at Pearl Harbor, on the Arizona. He survived; injured immediately, he was taken off the ship before it sank. He passed away when I was young; I wish I had known him better as well...
The hidden story of the Civil War.
Seems that the Bank of England played a part.
All wars are bankers wars.
https://www.heritage-history.com/index.php?c=read&author=mullins&book=canaan&story=civil
Bard! I commented something similar in a note: On the topic of Memorial Day, there are plenty of people who served who regret serving, recant it, and in fact don’t want to be thanked for serving.
It has to do with them realizing the atrocities of war and realizing that they’re not fighting for their country, but for rich old men who benefit from these conflicts and loss of lives.
The great general Smeldly Butler mentioned this in his book “War is a Racket.” I think we can stand to learn a great much from a true American Hero:
https://unorthodoxy.substack.com/p/donating-to-a-good-cause-how-billionaires
https://unorthodoxy.substack.com/p/how-saying-thank-you-for-your-service
Excellent essay. Also:
The private central bankers of Europe (later to become our Federal Reserve) wanted to finance Lincoln's side at 30% interest. He decided to print our own greenbacks, instead. Guess where the bankers went? Yep the south. The elitist f*cks of France and England both wanted to invade in support of the south, to protect their financial interests, only to be stopped by Russia (the US didn't even recognize Russia until 1933). Lincoln won, depending on the definition of the word "won". He took a bullet to the head while at a rock and roll show ( ←utter bullshit for effect) So, the moral of the story is: Sometimes, the prizes for winning suck.
Wont find it in the history books that the Czar saved our ***. He was the wealthiest man in the world controling the most land mass.
Bolsheviks moved on him.
Wont find it in the Trotskyite text books.
Regarding global chaos and unrest, there is a repeating common denominator. The same denominator is still on the big screen, today.
While I don't agree with everything that Susan Kokinda of Promethean Action says, both she and Barbara Boyd speak constantly of the Bank of England and their starting and continuation of wars...
There’s a beautiful song called “Tell My Father” from the play The Civil War that my husband plays on the mandolin & guitar. He is Retired AF & today is a holy day for us. This song will make you cry.
Tell my father that his son
Didn't run, nor surrender
That I bore his name with pride
As I tried to remember
You are judged by what you do
While passing through
As I rest 'neath fields of green
Let him lean on your shoulder
Tell him how I spent my youth
So the truth could grow older
Tell my father when you come
I was a man
Tell him we will meet again
Where the angels learn to fly
Tell him we will meet as men
For with honour did I die
Tell him how I wore the blue
Proud and true, through the fire
Tell my father so he'll know
I love him so
Tell him how I wore the blue
Proud and true, like he taught me
Tell my father not to cry
Then say goodbye”
Songwriters: Frank Wildhorn / Jack F. Murphy
Here’s the YouTube link for the song. https://youtu.be/Pt-P7YNbj7s?si=3oXvxcxW5xdEhRly
😭
Solemn Day , Never forget. Blessings to all . 🙏💟🙏