Over at Lou's place... a column about an American Hero, Rick Rescorla. The immortal quote "Where do we get such men?*" comes immediately to mind.
* That's the closing line in the movie, The Bridges of Toko-ri, made from the novel of the same name by James Michener. A senior naval officer says it in wonder at the self-sacrificial heroism of several naval aviators, killed fighting in rice paddies of Korea after their aircraft went down. (Thanks to Donald Sensing for the summary quote and reference.)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Thanks for the link. I am pretty awed by soldiers especially ones like Rick.
ReplyDeleteI have a funny story about the book, "The Bidges of Toko-ri". Maybe I will blog about it sometime. Great quote!
Thanks for the link.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome!
I'll be looking for that story, Lou. I'm dating myself, but I saw "The Bridges of Toko-Ri" as a first-run movie (I was quite young, though!), and read the book not long after. That movie, and others made during that age in the same genre, made a huge impression on me and went a very long way towards shaping my core values.
I'm resisting a powerful urge to drag out the soapbox. I'll just leave it at this: "Bridges" was an unabashedly patriotic movie. We were the "good guys" and there was absolutely no frickin' moral equivalence to be found, anywhere. They don't make 'em like that any longer, and that's the problem.
I read the book in high school. It was probably the first book that caught my attention and that I actually finished - It made a big impression on me.
ReplyDeleteMy story involves my first trip to Las Vegas and the Navy Tail-hook convention. I have to think long and hard about what I am willing to tell before I start writing;)
OK, Lou... Now you've REALLY got my attention!
ReplyDelete:-)
This oughta be GOOD!