“Earlier in the morning Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines had attacked eastward into the ruins of Shuri Castle and had raised the Confederate flag. When we learned that the flag of the Confederacy had been hoisted over the very heart and soul of Japanese resistance, all of us Southerners cheered loudly. The Yankees among us grumbled, and the Westerners didn’t know what to do. Later we learned that the Stars and Stripes that had flown over Guadalcanal were raised over Shuri Castle, a fitting tribute to the men of the 1st Marine Division who had the honor of being first into the Japanese citadel.”
Eugene B. Sledge, With the Old Breed on Pelilieu and Okinawa
[…] Catholics for Catholics Harvard Newspaper Backs Claudine Gay, But. . . – Jazz Shaw at Hot Air Battle Flags – Donald R. McClarey, Esq., at The American […]
Although I understand the pride of the Southerners, it was a questionable choice. Roosevelt had done about all he could to maintain social divisions (Until Eleanor pushed him to authorize the Tuskegee Airmen) and this action by one group did little to enhance unit cohesion. I saw remnants of this attitude during the Vietnam war and it served no one well.
“Although I understand the pride of the Southerners, it was a questionable choice.”
I wonder if we truly do understand.
If flying a Confederate flag detracted from unit cohesion, …so too have many other institutional efforts. Women in the military in combat roles, LGBT persons, “equal” PT standards, now transgender nonsense. We were not free to discuss the genuine merits of these matters in ROTC or on duty.
For all that warriors from the 70s could be brutes at times, I have seen little evidence that “enlightened” efforts have made our forces stronger.
People demonize the South for slavery; they too-often fail to admit to the Southerner’s tenacity in battle. Such events as from the article could not have happened with stern warrior spirit.
We also too-often forget the South’s efforts to teach…manners.