Military Pride

This first article is intended to be a brief narrative about the evolution of the military in our United States of America and not a factual accounting of all the many variations of our fighting forces, but rather, to be a general idea of the psychology and determination that the American Military has always exhibited. The keyword of our defense system has always been "adapt". Early colonial soldiers found this to be true, even as the British tried to quash the rebellion in the colonies, creating fierce patriotism that we have for our country today. To go into details of our military pride would require another lengthy book.

William Sheridan Dillow, Veteran
Army Air Corp/USAF

The colonial army was mostly composed of foot soldiers, because the armament was primarily the musket. There was no Navy, Air Force, Marine Corp, or Coast Guard. Well disciplined British soldiers held true by forming long battle lines and strategies that had been successful for centuries. However, colonists were no match for the British either with personnel or equipment, so they "adapted" and a new strategy was developed. "Do not come out into the open in a long line, to be mowed down by the enemy. Hide behind trees, houses, or anything else that will give cover." This adapted strategy marked the beginning of a long proud history with an attitude that no matter the odds facing them, they were determined to win.

In a few years, the need for naval vessels caused another adaptation to occur by introducing "ground" and "naval" forces under separate commands, because of the different needs for training, equipment, and strategic thinking. Soon it became evident that there needed to be more than merely sailing personnel on board vessels, and the "marines" was born. The new marines attached to the navy, had different equipment and training, than army or navy warfare. The advent of aircraft during World War One brought yet another set of necessary training and equipment. During the war, aircraft used by the military were in direct support of the ground forces, considered to be part of the Army. This group of the newer American military was eventually named the "Army Air Corps", but later became know as the United States Air Force. Again, "ADAPT".

As World War II enveloped the globe, the United States of America again provided her land with military personnel to serve in yet another capacity. By the end of this war, America had military forces that included five major branches of services for the protection of their people: The United States Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard.

The United States Coast Guard is only under the Department of Defense during war time and serves as a law enforcement agency, search and rescue efforts, and aids for navigation on our waterways during peace time. Since the United States Military's Department of Defense is not used as "Law Enforcement", but the Coast Guard has police power over civilians, the two are not affiliated during peacetime. During wartime the Coast Guard is moved over to the Department of Defense, to utilize equipment and expertise against our enemies. Consequently, they perform a very vital and necessary part of our defense.

Today, the modern soldier is a master of technology, and no longer referred to as "cannon fodder". He is a highly skilled, trained person with a definite mission to accomplish. No longer can the recruiter look for the untrained, unskilled person to fill a quota. He must find educated, physically fit, and up-right citizens to recruit into the military. Likewise, the aircraft has become infinitely more sophisticated with the United States Air Force. The naval vessels are a floating universe all their own who provide high-tech naval engineering on both land and sea with the United States Navy. Strategic planning, survival, and combat, to protect our allies and free land, rests largely on the shoulders of both our United States Army and United States Marine Corps.

No longer can any individual branch of service be autonomous, therefore the government developed the concept of the "Joint Chief's of Staff". Even with all the foregoing evolution, the one thing that binds the United States Military into such a formidable group is "patriotism". The proud heritage of the Americans is alive and well and our land is truly the "Land of the Free, and the Home of the Brave". We, as both veterans and non-veterans, must continue to be proud of our military by supporting all branches of service. Our men and woman volunteer much, ask for little, and are willing to make the supreme sacrifice if necessary. The very least that we can do is honor them and let our military pride grow.

Footnote:
Persons with disabilities, like military heroes and our history, must also "adapt". Like warriors on wheels, become a soaring eagle; moving upward to greater heights.

My Military Pride

Brothers In The Military

Dennis & David Musgraves Home On Leave - 1987

The years of service my sons have dedicated to the Armed Forces of the United States of America, is a small tribute compared to the many others before them. Nonetheless, I am honored to share their military careers with others, including the many parents who have shared the same experience of having children in the military. As each of my three children neared the end of their senior years of high school, they made decisions that would dictate their early adulthood away from home. At the time that Dennis made the decision to join the United States Army, his older brother, John, was still home. He too, wanted to join the military but could not because of disabilities and left home with a scholarship in hand for art college. About three years later, my youngest son, David, made the decision to join the United States Coast Guard. Suddenly, I found myself without children and learning to cope with a new lifestyle. Dennis and David's decisions to join the military, eventually led to careers for both of them. The years have not been easy for either of them but true to their individual strengths and convictions, they managed to overcome difficulties and continue to climb up the ladder. As a parent, my years have been filled with emotions that go from one extreme to the other. It is difficult to be so far away from each of them and I cherish the time they are able to take leave to be with me. I am proud of their accomplishments, honored to be their mother, and pleased to support their efforts with the military.

~ May You Never Walk Alone ~

I learned about the wars as I grew into a lady...
And saved war ration coupons from the years I was a baby.
I played among the fields and searched for ammo casings,
Never truly realizing lives gone; no longer the embracing.

Until I saw my friends, one by one leave for Vietnam...
Some returned; but never the same, from that far-a-way distant land.
I visited the memorials and shed tears for all the loss,
And pondered as I wondered, "what really was the cost"?

My sons grew into fine young men and patriots they became;
One the Coast Guard, the other Infantry; Life was not the same.
Our home they left alone and still; the quiet was so deafening...
And I flew to their sides to visit, following their bootcamp training.

I watched the news in horror of another war with Desert Storm,
And feared the safety and the lives of my two young sons born.
Then as I realized the work of each of them, suddenly the thought occurred;
It really didn't matter; the branch of service each one served.

They both had a job to do to keep us safe and sound...
And it really is with honor and pride, that all of us rebound.
Yes, I know of weapons and artillery and of soldiers' young and old,
Now I worry about the young, the strong, and of stories still untold.

The years slip by and still I fret, there is no place for me.
I dream of all the yesterdays while I wait for harmony.
Someday I know my God will bring us all together again.
'Til then I wait to see my sons, who really both became fine men.

by Julia Hollenbeck

Update 2009

Sargeant First Class Musgraves retired from the Army at the end of year 2005 with 22 1/2-years under his belt.
Chief Musgraves continues to serve the United States Coast Guard.

"What is your interest in Military Pride? Why would a non-vet wheeler be so interested in the military? How did you ever get started with an interest in this?" These were the questions that have been posed to me time after time after time. Sometimes explanations are difficult because there is no simple answer without living the same life. The focus of our National Disability Awareness Week led me to finally answering the question.
Julia Hollenbeck
© 2000

Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii
December 1941

On Sunday, December 7th, 1941 the Japanese launched a surprise attack against the U.S. Forces stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii ... By planning his attack on a Sunday, the Japanese commander Admiral Nagumo, hoped to catch the entire fleet in port. As luck would have it, the Aircraft Carriers and one of the Battleships were not in port. (The USS Enterprise was returning from Wake Island, where it had just delivered some aircraft. The USS Lexington was ferrying aircraft to Midway, and the USS Saratoga and USS Colorado were undergoing repairs in the United States.)

In spite of the latest intelligence reports about the missing aircraft carriers (his most important targets), Admiral Nagumo decided to continue the attack with his force of six carriers and 423 aircraft. At a range of 230 miles north of Oahu, he launched the first wave of a two-wave attack. Beginning at 0600 hours his first wave consisted of 183 fighters and torpedo bombers which struck at the fleet in Pearl Harbor and the airfields in Hickam, Kaneohe and Ewa. The second strike, launched at 0715 hours, consisted of 167 aircraft, which again struck at the same targets.

At 0753 hours the first wave consisting of 40 Nakajima B5N2 "Kate" torpedo bombers, 51 Aichi D3A1 "Val" dive bombers, 50 high altitude bombers and 43 Zeros struck airfields and Pearl Harbor Within the next hour, the second wave arrived and continued the attack.

Source: Submission by Member

When it was over, the United States Casualties loss:

United States Army: 218 Killed in Action (KIA); 364 Wounded in Action (WIA)
United States Navy: 2,008 KIA; 710 WIA
United States Marine Corp: 109 KIA; 69 WIA
Civilians: 68 KIA; 35 WIA
TOTAL: 2,403 Killed in Action, 1,178 Wounded in Action

Battleships

USS Arizona (BB-39) - Total loss whe n a bomb hit her magazine.
USS Oklahoma (BB-37) - Total loss when she capsized and sunk in the harbor.
USS California (BB-44) - Sunk at her berth. Later raised and repaired.
USS West Virginia (BB-48) - Sunk at her berth. Later raised and repaired.
USS Nevada (BB-36) - Beached to prevent sinking. Later repaired.
USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) - Light damage.
USS Maryland (BB-46) - Light damage.
USS Tennessee (BB-43) - Light damage.
USS Utah (AG-16) - (former battleship used as a target) - Sunk.

Cruisers

USS New Orleans (CA-32) - Light Damage.
USS San Francisco (CA38) - Light Damage.
USS Detroit (CL-8) - Light Damage.
USS Raleigh (CL-7) - Heavily damaged but repaired.
USS Helena (CL-50) - Light Damage.
USS Honolulu (CL-48) - Light Damage.

Destroyers

USS Downes (DD-375) - Destroyed. Parts salvaged.
USS Cassin (DD-37 2) - Destroyed. Parts salvaged.
USS Shaw (DD-373) - Very heavy damage.
USS Helm (DD-388) - Light Damage.

Minelayer

USS Ogala (CM-4) - Sunk but later raised and repaired.

Seaplane Tender
USS Curtiss (AV-4) - Severely damaged but later repaired.

Repair Ship
USS Vestal (AR-4) - Sever ely damaged but later repaired.

Harbor Tug
USS Sotoyomo (YT-9) - Sunk but later raised and repaired.

Aircraft
188 Aircraft destroyed (92 USN and 92 U.S. Army Air Corps.)

World War II had ended, leading my mother to return to her beloved Hawaii in October 1946 (marking her fifth trip) to live on the Northeast side of the island when I was still very young. Later, when we moved further North, I remember the fields of sugarcane plantations that lined the two-lane highway passing the area where we lived, two miles away in a small cottage, off a sandy-dirt road next to the beach. I must have been six or seven years old by then and still easily recall the day my older brother showed me an Army tank he discovered that had been left to rot in the fields of the tall sugarcane. I begged him to help me up inside, so I too could see what hidden secrets lay behind the rusted dark green metal. I do not remember what I saw, if anything, but I do remember long hours of climbing around on top of the tank and straddling the barrel of the gun while sitting on it, when my brother allowed me to go with him. Most often, my brother was the Commander, and I was too afraid of him not to obey his orders. Of course, I was also too timid to go out into the cane fields by myself and even more afraid to walk the dirt road alone to and from the highway, so it did not matter anyway. Growing up on the island of Oahu helped provide a patriotic foundation within me just because of circumstance.

My brother was two years my senior and kept coming home with treasures found: Ammo cases, bayonets, and one day, a hand grenade. I will never forget the look in my stepfather's eyes the day he came running in the house with the hand grenade in his hand. "Stand still and don't move and don't drop what's in your hand." He calmly told my brother, who listened as my stepfather walked up to him slowly, and reached for the grenade. He took it outside several yards away from the house, cautiously removed the pin and top, then slowly turned the egg shaped body upside down, and poured out the powder. We stood on the wooden front porch and watched. It seems to me like he had a long talk with my older brother, before he gave him back the grenade with the pin reinserted, and later laughed about it with the adults. Thus, the collection of ammo cases, disarmed hand grenades, bayonets and knives, dozens of shells, bullets, and casings, became a part of his collection that lingered for many years. I was never allowed to go near my brother's treasures, but grew up with a respect for what these artifacts meant because of eavesdropping on stories he told to his friends when showing them his collection as we both grew older.

Growing up in Hawaii had drawbacks that involved prejudices, but also instilled in me the respect of our American military. Hawaii: a chain of islands in the Pacific Ocean, the perfect spot to set-up military bases, halfway between one world and another. It was also an excellent place to base war ships and planes for the United States of America. At first, no one really objected. Hawaii concentrated on growing sugarcane and pineapples as their main industry, and began prospering more as tourism began a new industry and everyone was happy to share their heritage. But on December 6th, 1941 everything changed when Pearl Harbor was attacked and thus began World War II. I grew up listening to stories of my father, a medic in the Army who developed combat fatigue. The story passed down to me goes something like this:

Mother was on the island in her seventh month of pregnency vacationing. She was advised to leave; something was going to happen and she sailed back to the mainland three weeks before the bombing. My brother was born not quite three weeks later. Two years after that, I was born. At the end of the war my father was gone, and during a shipping strike in 1946, Mother returned to Hawaii to live. She loved the Northeast shore of the island. But here, there were primarily local families of Hawaiian decent that had passed stories of horror to their children of the days that Pearl Harbor was bombed and blamed the American Government for what had happened to their beloved island. ("Had the military not been there; the Japanese would not have attacked.") Prejudices against Caucasians were obvious. Near the end of my third year of schooling, Mother moved to Waikiki and we began attending our first English standard school at Thomas Jefferson Elementary. It was a totally different environment and we were no longer the only white kids in the area for now we had truly entered the melting pot and acceptance was prevalent.

Over the years, Oahu again became a star attraction. More hotels were built; more ships and planes were bringing the tourists. The economy of the island changed as tourism became the leader of their industry. As a young girl, I met wives of soldiers who would befriend me while their husbands were on maneuvers or assignment. Then there was the Korean Conflict and neighbors had military husbands. One I remember in particular was a German war bride and had married a man from the Philippines before moving to Hawaii. The man was sent to Korea and listed as dead, but months later he returned and at the age of eleven, I heard the stories of his own acceptance back into his natural family who thought his presence was a ghost. As a teenager I met military personal both through friends and my work with photography. Local islander friends joined the military or were drafted at the very beginning of Vietnam, and two of my friends were sent over as "Advisors" prior to the undeclared war. One returned. The prejudices of being singled out as a white person from the mainland, was the cross I had to bear along with other mainlanders only during my years of growing into a young adult. Even though the problems of prejudice were obvious, Mother made a point to rear us with America in our hearts, as did the school system. I cannot recall ever starting a day in school without the pledge to the flag of the United States of America. In Junior High and High School we stood at attention as the flag was raised to the sound of a bugler, and at the end of the day we stood at attention again as re-treat announced the lowering of the American Flag. As a youngster, I learned quickly that the flag of the United States of America must never touch the ground. It was taken down at dusk and never flown during a storm. The flag was cherished and a symbol of our government. It was our freedom.

While Hawaii was still a Territory of the United States of America, a song of great anticipation of Hawaii becoming the 49th state was sung and danced to by the Islanders for many years. When Hawaii became the 50th State in 1959, fireworks, the waving of American flags and cries of joy, were heard and seen around the island. The celebration lasted for days and marked new beginnings for everyone but it was also clear that a few Islanders were not extremely pleased. I found it odd having grown up in a society of a different culture with mixed emotions, to realize that even with all of the shortcomings, patriotism was still embedded in my heart. It was inevitable that someday I would marry someone in the military, and he would be an American.

I did in 1962 and moved to California in early 1964 via his Navy career. He was an E-5 in the United States Navy with two younger brothers. One of them received a Draft notice from Uncle Sam in 1965 and was shipped to Germany. The youngest brother immediately decided to join the Marines and was sent to Vietnam. All three of the Musgraves' brothers were at one time, all in the military together. All three of them made it through the years of Vietnam. My children's father devoted eight years to the United States Navy serving as an Air Crewman and Electronics Technician flying "down range missions" in the pacific, and continuing with Civil Service doing basically the same work until his retirement as an E-11 shortly before succumbing to cancer.

Like many parts of the country throughout the United States, Oahu changed. Sugarcane and pineapple fields line only a small part of the roadway on the island, and the road that once was just a dirt path is now a two-lane junction that leads to a beautiful resort. The cottage is gone. Waikiki has skyscraping hotels that hide the glory of Diamond Head until you reach the end of the main road that is now a one-way congested four-lane highway. The house we lived in across the street from Thomas Jefferson Elementary is now an eight-story condominium, if indeed it still stands since my last visit in 1995. And most tourists never really see or feel the true Hawaii in the "forbidden areas" that have not yet been touched by progress, because tours are not offered. Island songs still sing of the sorrow and the pain (but never to the tourists), and most are sung in the Hawaiian language, though time has healed most of the heartache. My brothers moved to Maui long ago to get away from the hubbub of the city of Honolulu and continue to live the life they knew as children.

As my sons grew up it was only natural for me to believe that someday they would join the United States Military. Length of service had no baring because it did not matter to me how long they served, only that they served at least one enlistment. Yet, I never expressed those feelings to them until the subject came up during their senior years of high school. Two of my three sons were able to join the military. Their enlistment marks at least the third generation of military service in the United States for their ancestry. Their grandfather, John Lee Hollenbeck, served during World War I and in World War II. Their father, Dennis Laverne Musgraves, began his term of service with the United States Navy in 1959 and both of his brothers entered into the United States Marine Corp and the United States Army, respectfully. For too long a time it has been thought that my Military pride was based on my children. It is. However, it goes much deeper, and there is always more to the story than what meets the eye.

My life on Oahu also left me with the islands in my heart and soul. Which you will find to be quite true if you surf the entire web site. Mother used to tell me, "I don't know what it is about this place. Once I came here, I always returned. You will too." Mother left the islands in 1967 and returned in 1978 to live her remaining years. As for me, I have made many trips back "home" and the desire never seems to leave.

Web	www.wheelmeon.org

Military graphics (in part) on these pages courtesy of Chuck Stewart
GeckoCountry

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