I wandered thru a country town, ‘cos I had some time to spare,
And went into an Antique Shop to see what was in there.
Old Bikes and Pumps and Kero lamps, but hidden by it all,
A photo of a soldier boy …. An Anzac on the Wall.
Tragically Pilot Officer Henry Dudley Andrews (age 24) died today 68 years ago - He served on peacekeeping duties in Korea from 11 November 1953 to 31 May 1954.
Read more: Lest We Forget - Henry Dudley Andrews
Today we remember Lieutenant Marcus Sean Case, 27.
Lieutenant Case 8254464 was accidentally killed in a Helicopter Crash in Zabul Province, Afghanistan during Operation Slipper 30 May 2011. He was taking part in a routine mission when the helicopter was forced to make an uncontrolled landing.
In the red fields of the Somme, millions of poppies wave under the wind, flowers on which so many young men shed their blood and lie down to rest in peace on the soils of France.Today the poppies are the symbols of a generation of men who fought and fell here, they are the strong and eternal symbol of Remembrance in which we are united to honor and bring back to life these young boys who had as only youth,the muddy trenches and the battlefields of the Great War on which they gave their today for our tomorrow and on which they now rest in peace, side by side under the stones of their white graves on which are inscribed and remembered their names, their stories that we will keep alive so that these men will live forever and never be forgotten, so that who they were and what they did for us, their lives, their courage and their sacrifices will never be forgotten.
I wandered thru a country town, ‘cos I had some time to spare,
And went into an Antique Shop to see what was in there.
Old Bikes and Pumps and Kero lamps, but hidden by it all,
A photo of a soldier boy …. An Anzac on the Wall.
These are men of the 1st Cav Div in Vietnam on a fire base after an all night attack that almost overrun the place. The story and the eyes apply to any soldier who experiences the same sort of event.
I served along side the Anzacs in 67-68 and saw those eyes amongst them. The eyes have no nationality.
Read more: Under Fire - the Eyes Have It. The Thousand Yard Stare
JFK'S Secretary of State, Dean Rusk, was in France in the early 60's when DeGaulle decided to pull out of NATO.
DeGaulle said he wanted all US military out of France as soon as possible.
Rusk responded "Does that include those who are buried here?"
You could have heard a pin drop
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~
Read more: A poignant reminder - you could have heard a pin drop
The Battle of Long Tan took place on August 18th, 1966 in Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam, during the Vietnam War. After attacks on their base at Nui Dat, 108 men from D Company of 6RAR were patrolling in the area of the Long Tan rubber plantation. Shortly after 4 pm, they were met by a large force of over 2,000 Viet Cong soldiers who attacked with mortars, rifle and machine gun fire.
I watched a short video this morning of a 100 year old veteran who broke down in tears at what the world had become.
It broke my heart to see him so full of despair and grief. As one person said " Thank God for seniors who've served who can tell us firsthand about history and give us their wisdom. Thank You Marine and World War II veteran Carl Dekel. Happy 100th birthday. These aren't the selfish tears of someone who never grew up ... we see too much of that. This is the despair of someone who loves, knows and cares."
Read more: What has happened to our world? " This is not the country I fought for"
Prentis Penjani’s Grand Debut – The Duck Was Just the Warm-Up Act By Roderick (Whiskers)…
187 hits
By Roderick “Whiskers” McNibble, Senior Correspondent (and dance adjudicator) Crikey, mates and matesses - you’d…
294 hits
I have often pondered why mankind decided to go after the humble whale. After all,…
300 hits
Critical Minerals: The Deal That Could Turn Australia Into the World’s Quarry There’s a new…
434 hits
In 1775, the U.S. Marine Corps was established to safeguard American ships and interests. …
293 hits
We stopped teaching goodness. Now we’re living with the consequences. There was a time when…
317 hits
In an Australia grappling with division and a search for identity, it’s time to rediscover…
346 hits
Ratty News: Dusty Gulch Dispatch — “When the Ghosts Came Rolling In” Filed by: Roderick…
326 hits
Eighty-one years ago this week, in October 1944, a tall, thoughtful barrister from Victoria gathered…
567 hits
On the evening of October 12, 2002, the peaceful tourist destination of Bali, Indonesia, was…
328 hits
Queensland and much of northern Australia are overrun with cane toads - an invasion so…
325 hits
Some time ago, a young boy visiting Redhead’s house asked to use the “dunny.” The…
365 hits
Have you ever wondered how and why the Youth of today are holding rallies , their…
339 hits
Over the last few weeks I have noticed that people are losing their sense of…
359 hits
By Roderick (Whiskers) McNibble, Ratty News Bureau Chief There’s panic, pandemonium, and political puffery in…
375 hits
Try herding cats sometime. You’ll crouch, whistle, wave treats, and for one delusional moment, think…
370 hits
From Network to today, the prophecy is clear: truth has been turned into a commodity,…
578 hits
I am personally horrified by what has happened since October 2023. This wasn’t just a…
411 hits
Much of Australia’s early slang comes from the convict culture of the late 18th and…
458 hits
In 1925, a small courtroom in Dayton, Tennessee, became the stage for a battle over…
609 hits
Ratty News Exclusive By Roderick (Whiskers) McNibble, Special Correspondent (aisle seat, back row) Reporting from…
410 hits
Back in 2002, an anonymous person sent an email from a disposable email address to…
339 hits
“We are perishing for want of wonder, not for want of wonders.” G. K. Chesterton Leonard…
389 hits
Albert Facey’s A Fortunate Life is more than a memoir. It is the voice of…
779 hits
A Journey Through Time: From the Suez Canal to the Speculative Ben Gurion Canal Let’s…
465 hits
I recently watched the film " Captain Philips " on Netflix. I had resisted for…
615 hits
By Roderick (Whiskers) McNibble, Special Correspondent (aisle seat, back row) The Prime Minister has officially…
406 hits
Those who are not familiar with this title may be excused for thinking that it…
441 hits
It was back in the early 80's that Redhead and her late husband bought their…
436 hits
During the early years of World War II, the British Army faced many obstacles. Chief…
470 hits
We have 282652 guests and no members online
We have 282652 guests and no members online
Independence Day, also known as the Fourth of July, is one of the most significant…
717 hits
In a rare confluence, Canada, Britain, and Australia held elections within a week of one…
844 hits
RATTY NEWS EXCLUSIVE Operation Downstream: The Rise of the Feathernet Underground By Roderick (Whiskers) McNibble,…
926 hits
Magic happens everywhere and goodness, wonder and delight can be found alive and well throughout…
959 hits
Tucked away in the remote heart of the Indian Ocean lies a tiny archipelago that…
1034 hits
Factional ferrets, backstabbing bandicoots, and the great Teal tango - how the Libs turned on…
1062 hits
The latest State of the Climate Report is out to scare everyone with plucked esoteric records based…
1465 hits
I am a Christian Brothers College (CBC) old boy and attended a few of the…
1603 hits
It is beyond belief that the speaker who tore up the copies of Donald Trump’s…
1610 hits
Thursday February 08
In the 1880’s shearers wielded a lot of influence on our country. Despite us not…
3682 hits
Wednesday March 01
At the beginning of March, 2023, I join Monty in celebrating Irish month. There are…
5451 hits
Thursday December 29
One of the most famous and best known characters in Australian folk lore, Ned Kelly…
5898 hits
Saturday January 14
General Sir John Monash is one of the truly great Australians. He was an Australian…
5466 hits
Friday July 14
Nearly 30 years has flowed under the bridge since I last owned a dog. That…
4699 hits
Monday March 04
These are episides from Against the Wind , a 1978 Australian television miniseries. It is a historical drama…
3983 hits
I think it’s safe to say that adventures of the more daring kind are often…
13910 hits
Speckled about the steep slopes are clumps of small, fieldstone cottages. Their crumbling mortar and aging stones are victim…
2524 hits
Nearly 30 years has flowed under the bridge since I last owned a dog. That…
4699 hits
