I am reading a book right now that focuses on a few of the individual Marines that fought on Tarawa. Reading about them reminds me about the level of sacrifice each of them made to repel Japan and destroy their armed forces completely. That battle was pure hell on earth. I have nothing but admiration for them and everyone else that has served our country.
My father was German, but within three years of coming to the states he was drafted to go to Vietnam. He would get his citizenship over there and he was placed in the motor pool. Despite qualifying as a marksman (My dad was a heckuva shot) he was sent to the motor pool where he did what he excelled at unlike any person I have ever met. He received the Bronze Star during his tour, but never said how he got it. He was so proud to be an American citizen and to have served in the armed forces of his adopted country. I will never forget when my uncle died in 2006 and my dad had lost his sight due to a doctor’s tragic mistake, he got up and he saluted my uncle (Also a Vietnam vet that got his leg blown off by friendly fire. Found that out 15 years later.) while they played taps.