The 4th in Military Retrospect

******* Thousands of Americans(including a Higher percentage of Women than ever before) are away from the USA this day serving in Uniform and some are in active combat or close to it. In the Past sometimes there has been substantial conflict on this date such as Gettysburg in 1863, Post Belleau Wood in 1918 and Normandy in 1944. In 1950 small American Units were retreating South on the Korean Peninsular hoping to form a holdable pocket until larger UN Forces arrived. They Succeeded against substantial odds.

****** While larger combat situations and greater losses occured at other Calendar times on this date a certain Reflection can easily take place - and hopefully a realistic view as to exactyly what sacrifice's sometimes are necessary. This Reality Check is largely devoid in this society as more and more are totally apart from their Military. Some even hold those in Uniform in outright contempt. This is where We are substantially different from a half Century ago - and THEN most had clear memories of larger battles and losses.

****** Even with our reduced Personell in Uniform and relying on Reservists We can easily sustain the losses in Afghanistan & Iraq and most should know this. Even heavy contact like Fallujah in late 2004 was a far cry from the Bulge, Iwo Jima, or the Argonne Forrest. However then there was no TV. This by the way WAS the rude awakening LBJ had c.1965/68. The public being incapeable of a decent proportional view only saw individual loss and suffering and this factor combined with THEN a large VERY comfortable Upper Middle Class culture made a very neat convenient safe view of that War or any involvements anywhere. These were mainly the Baby Boomers who had their comfortable life by and large because of the "Greatest Generation" - It was and is a rather Supreme Irony and that age group of which we mostly here are now is in their 60's and a good portion simply do not want to reconsider things or face an uncomfortable dangerous World.

****** Many see the Ultimate Obscenity in someone Middle Age or above sending Anyone younger off to Any War so they drift into an unsupportable denial of some real dangers and sometimes demand perfection from their Government while even tolerating Militant lunacy on the part of Real Enemies as somehow being understandable. Some also intricatly consider meticulous Conspiracies while TOTALLY refusing to see the Real Laws of Probability. In short Cowardice permeates much of this, but for Every Quiet Coward there are maybe 5 times as many who in safe situations shoot of their mouths decrying all the terrible Evil's they oppose.

******* We in the West - the Democracy's cannot at present take any really big loss of life simply because possibly a Majority in mot of these Nations want no part of any hardships or dangers and will in short term recoil from the initial losses in any conflict. This BTW makes any return to Conscription in the US all but impossible . It's the Political Third Rail.

****** We have this Day which is very important to many based on it's very real justified symbolism - but others after the parades and the cookouts and the Ball Games - are really without a clue.

The Siege of Vicksburg ended on July 4th, 1863, giving the Union full access to the Mississippi River.

The citizens of Vicksburg did not celebrate the 4th of July again until 1952. That year General Eisenhower came to town as a candidate for President and a parade and celebration was held. I know this because I was there.