Attention on Deck!

[Subdeacon Joe]

Lance Corporal Donald J. Hogan, 20

 

Lance Cpl. Donald J. Hogan, 20, was doing a foot patrol near some cornfields in Afghanistan’s Helmand province Aug. 26, 2009, when he spotted a kite string strung along the road. Somehow sensing the string connected to an improvised explosive device, Hogan threw his body onto a nearby Marine, acting “without hesitation,” according to the Navy Cross citation.

 

Hogan then yelled at others in their squad to take cover. But the IED detonated, killing the young man from San Clemente, Calif., a member of Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, at Camp Pendleton.

 

“This desperate attempt to warn the rest of the patrol bought the remaining Marines valuable seconds to begin moving away from the improvised explosive device before it detonated,” the citation cites. “Hogan’s extreme act of selflessness saved a Marine’s life and allowed the rest of the squad to avoid the full brunt of the fragmentation” from the IED.

 

I haven't found the full text of the citation yet.

 

Ave atque vale.

[Sergeant Smokepole #29248L]

Semper Fi!

[Utah Bob #35998]

The Pentagon was supposed to be speeding up the process for major valor awards. Doesn't look like they've made much progress.

Rest in peace LcCpl Hogan. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten.

[Subdeacon Joe]

I have a feeling this might be more his style than the "Ave atque vale" that I put in the starter post.

 

THE SAME CANTEEN by Private Miles O'Reilly

 

There are bonds of all sorts in this world of ours,

Fetters of friendship and ties of flowers,

And true lover's knots, I ween;

The girl and the boy are bound by a kiss,

But there's never a bond, old friend, like this,

We have drank from the same Canteen!

 

It was sometimes water, and sometimes milk,

And sometimes apple-jack "fine as silk;"

But whatever the tipple has been

We shared it together in bane or bliss,

And I warm to you, friend, when I think of this,

We drank from the same Canteen!

 

The rich and great sit down to dine,

They quaff to each other in sparkling wine,

From glasses of crystal and green;

But I guess in their golden potations they miss

The warmth of regard to be found in this,

We drank from the same Canteen!

 

We have shared our blankets and tents together,

And have marched and fought in all kinds of weather,

And hungry and full we have been;

Had days of battle and days of rest,

But this memory I cling to and love the best,

We drank from the same Canteen!

 

For when wounded I lay on the center slope,

With my blood flowing fast and so little hope

Upon which my faint spirit could lean;

Oh! then I remember you crawled to my side,

And bleeding so fast it seemed both must have died,

We drank from the same Canteen!

 

[Bama Red]

RIP, LCPL Hogan

 

Bravo Zulu and Semper Fi, Marine. Prayers up.

[Badger Mountain Charlie SASS #43172]

Rest in Peace

 

Day is done, gone the sun

From the lakes, from the hills, from the sky

All is well, safely rest

God is nigh.

Fading light dims the sight

And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright

From afar, drawing near

Falls the night.

Thanks and praise for our days

Neath the sun, neath the stars, neath the sky

As we go, this we know

God is nigh.