To all too many people, the Fourth of July is merely a day off work, to have picnics and cookouts with families, and then to go see fireworks that evening. It’s been forgotten - in many people’s opinions - what this day is TRULY about. A day when a group of men decided they didn’t like what their government was doing, and chose to become patriots, to try to make a better future for themselves and their loved ones. Many of these sacrificed their livelihoods and lives in this cause. And since then, there have been other patriots doing the same - fighting for the ideals the founding fathers of the USA set down, unswerving in their faith and loyalty.
Mind you, patriotism isn’t anything that America has a monopoly on - other countries have their patriots as well. However, in my case, being an American, and a veteran of the US Army - all I’m personally familiar with is those that were Americans. If any of you readers out there would be willing to share accounts of patriots of other countries, please email me with any information, URLs, etc - I’m nothing if openminded, and living in various other countries in my time in the Army opened my eyes to the values and history of other countries in the world.
So, today’s tribute I got from the American Legion homepage - an account of the determination, patriotism and loyalty of an American Serviceman in the Vietnam war.
Today, our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and CoastGuardsmen continue a bond with patriots before them: Protecting the common cause of America - a cause of freedom and human rights for themselves and their families. One such patriot is Army Special Forces Capt. Humbert "Rocky" Versace (Ver-sach-ee).. Rocky was a trimly built, twenty-six year-old West Point graduate. He was serving a six-month extension in Vietnam as a military intelligence adviser. His slightly out-thrust jaw and penetrating eyes were indications of his personality, but his close-cut, black-flecked, steel-gray hair looked as if it belonged on someone much older.
The most notable quality that Rocky displayed was a dynamic,
outspoken frankness. He had an eagerness and disregard for danger.
Those who knew him said it was a matter of liking Rocky a heck of a lot
or disliking him intensely. He was too positive a personality to allow
any other reactions and his unreserved observations could be quite
abrasive. Rocky was obsessed with the idea of duty, honor, country, and
was so dedicated to his nation as to be considered "different." The old
Army term "Gung Ho" fit perfectly. No one worked harder or more
diligently than he. There was even a sense among Rocky’s comrades that
one day Rocky would run into difficulty if he wasn’t careful. He was so
eager to accomplish his mission, it was bound to get him into trouble
sooner or later. Rocky and his comrades ran into that trouble only two
weeks before his six-month extension was complete.On Oct. 28,
1963, on a raid near the Viet Cong-infested U-Minh forest, Rocky’s team
was overrun by a numerically superior force. His team was forced to
withdraw. Rocky had taken three bullets in his leg. His wounds were
pumping blood like a fire hydrant. Rocky wanted to charge out with the
seven rounds he had left in his carbine and get that many more shots
off at the Viet Cong. His comrades held him down long enough to bandage
his leg. A second after the last bandage was applied, Rocky and his
team were captured.Rocky was the ranking member of his captured
squad, and the Viet Cong tried for nearly two years to break him. They
isolated him. They kept him in shackles and irons. They cut his daily
rice rations in half. They twisted and beat his infected leg. Despite
his pain and suffering, Rocky remained indignant. The harder the Viet
Cong pushed, the wider Rocky’s defiant smile would become. Fluent in
French, Vietnamese and English, Rocky could argue with three different
prison guards at the same time. He challenged their propaganda to no
end, regardless of the punishment he incurred. The Viet Cong sought to
use Captain Versace as an example to the local villagers that the
United States was not invincible. They periodically paraded Rocky
around from hut to hut, a rope around his neck and shackles on his
hands and ankles. The plan failed. The villagers told other Americans
that this prisoner not only resisted the Viet Cong attempts to get him
to admit war crimes and aggression, but in their own language, he would
verbally counter their assertions convincingly and in a loud voice so
the local villagers could hear. The local rice farmers were surprised
at his strength of character and his unwavering commitment to God and
the United States.Finally, the Viet Cong gave up on Rocky. The
last time that any of his fellow prisoners heard from him, Rocky was
singing "God Bless America" at the top of his lungs from his isolation
box. Realizing they could not break his spirit, they killed him. On
September 29, 1965 the National Liberation Front announced that they
had executed Captain Versace. Rocky died without ever forsaking or
forgetting the ideals set forth by our founding fathers
Patriotism, loyalty and dedication - values people around the world can - and should - respect. Even though that July 4th is the day that America celebrates, I ask all of you readers to take a moment to think about and offer thanks to patriots and heroes of your country - wherever in the world you may be. They made sacrifices so that you can continue to have what you do, and all too often what do they get in return for it? Being forgotten in a world where accumulation of material wealth has become the highest priority in all too many people’s lives. So taking less than a minute out of your life to remember and give thanks to patriots and heroes isn’t too much to ask - I’m not asking you to make the same sacrifices they did - only asking that you do a little bit to not let their memory die.
As usual, today’s tribute is dedicated to Bundy, an American patriot and one of my personal heroes. My friend, I thank you for all that you gave to this country of our’s.
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