JOHN O'DONNELL
MARINE VETERAN
HONORING A YOUNG BRAVE MARINE HERO
THIS MAN HAS GIVEN OF HIMSELF EVERTHING HE COULD, SO THAT HIS BROTHER MARINES AND THE PEOPLE BACK HOME COULD LIVE A MORE PEACEFUL LIFE. THIS GIFT OF HIS LIFE SHOWS THE GREATNESS OF THIS HERO. HERO'S DON'T WEAR A CAPE OR MASK NO! THEY WEAR MARINE GREEN. HERO'S COME IN DIFFERENT SHAPE'S AND SIZE'S. AS EACH DAY PASSES,WE MUST TAKE THE TIME TO REMEMBER WHAT THIS HERO GAVE UP! SO THAT WE COULD LIVE IN A FREE SOCIETY. THANK YOU ! SEMPER FI! HERO YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN!! DOSEN'T MATTER IF YOU ARE A 2YR, 3YR, 4YR, ENLISTMENT OR A DRAFTEE OR RESERVIST,OFFICER OR ENLISTED YOU HAVE EARNED THE TITTLE OF UNITED STATES MARINE! A NATION CRIES OUT FOR THE LOSS OF ONE OF ITS SON'S. I AM HONORED TO WRITE ON HIS MEMORIAL
Sep 3, 2014 |
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Taylor Jouwsma
Dear Mr. Kessel,
I believe our involvement in the Vietnam war was very necessary. By us going into the war to take charge and standing up for what we believe in, proves we are a strong nation. Not only does it show what pride our men had during the war, like yourself, but we also held true to our beliefs and being a 'protector' to many of our allies. With out the hard work and dedication our soldiers put in, we could have lost a vital trading partner as well. And who knows? Many of the other countries of Southeast Asia would have fallen to Communism. Thanks to you and the many other soldiers who died during the Vietnam war, we were able to show what a strong force the U.S. is. Because of the soldiers like you, I am inspired by what courage you had to be sent into the war because you risked your life fighting for your country.
As Americans, we have almost always been the country that many view as a 'protector' or otherwise known as a 'stronger nation.' We have been almost unstoppable with our military advantages and the pride we take in our country itself. Going into the Vietnam war, proved how strong of a nation we are. The young men, like yourself, who was sent to Vietnam took pride in our beliefs. Our goal was to not let Vietnam fall to Communism. Now you may ask: 'Why is it such a big deal if Vietnam falls to Communism, how would have that affected us?' Now, Mr. Kessel, think of how the future could have played out if we never intervened. There would be what I'd like to describe as, a domino effect. Starting from Vietnam, to Cambodia, to Laos and so on. These countries of Southeast Asia would have fallen to Communism. Could you imagine a life of living in a Communist country? As Capitalists, we couldn't imagine that kind of lifestyle. It wasn't and never will be the proper way to run a country. At least in our eyes as Americans, that's the way we see it as. Which is why we took pride in our beliefs and increased our involvement in the war.
Now, you may also be wondering why did any of this matter? How was it going to effect the United States of America, if Vietnam and other Southeast Asia countries fell to communism. Economically, not going into the war and intervening could have been a terrible decision. If more and more countries of Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, fell to Communism we would lose more and more trading partners. This may sound selfish, but as a country we need to look out for ourselves as well. When losing trading partners we are losing more goods and money coming in for us, which would have caused our economy to nearly fail eventually.
During the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, U.S. Congress had given President Lyndon B. Johnson the permission to take any further action needed. Therefore, if one of the biggest decision makers in our country would have allowed our involvement to be increased it was most likely for good reasons. They knew that we are viewed as the 'protector' country to our allies, therefore, if we didn't go in we would look weak. We would look like we don't care about more and more countries falling to Communism. If we didn't increase our involvement, we would have looked like backstabbers to our allies.
All in all, increasing our involvement in the Vietnam war was a great decision to please our people and to take a stand on what we believe in. It is a shame that you had to die during the war, but you died for your country. You made history more than you can ever imagine. Yourself and your family should be proud of that, because since you were fighting for your country you were also standing up for your beliefs as an American.
Thank you for taking the time to read my letter.
Sincerely,
Taylor Jouwsma
May 8, 2014 |
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Nitikan Supapornkomon
i think American's involvement in Vietnam is a good thing even we lost a lot of brave people, even we lost you. Every war has both good and bad. But if you think in this way, there will be a lot of problems follow when Vietnam fell into communists. It will spread communist to all Southeast Asia and around the world. You are not even protect Asia but the less of the world, also America because our economy needs other countries to trade with. Now, Vietnam is not communist. A lot of countries in Asia are not communist because of your help. We're proud of you.
May 8, 2014 |
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Hunter Hill
hunter.hill@sub1.org
pobox 2121 Pinedale Wyoming 82941 USA
As a Hawk, i suggest that the United States increases the military involvement in the war. i think this because of three main reasons. First reason is because communism must be stopped. Also to the United States is seen as a dominate, strong countries, and other smaller weaker countries look up to the United States for help. Furthermore the United States should be involved in the war because it would be economically better for the United States.
The US should increase the Involvement in the war because, communism must be stopped. Communism may take over Vietnam if the US does not take action about this. Eventually the other countries will then become communist, and stronger countries. this will all lead to the US being next on the list according to the domino theory.
Also the US should become more involved in the war, because the US is looked up upon by weaker smaller countries. If the US sits back and lets south Vietnam become corrupted then the US its self gets looked at as a weak country. This will also show that the US is not strong and dominate enough to take action.
Lastly the US should be involved in the war because economically it will be better for the US. For example if big trading countries get taken over to communism the US loses huge trading partners, and the people in the US will lose more jobs. In the Presidents case it would be a smart dissension to become involved in the war.
May 8, 2014 |
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Kaylum Thayne
kaylum.thayne@sub1.org
pinedale WY 82941 USA
Americas involvement in Vietnam is justified. the reason being is because we said that we would take a fem stand agents Communism if there was a threat at an time. with us stepping in to this we are going to be making ales and going to have people back us up is something where to ever happen to us. we are justified in joining the war also because we are a very strong force and because of the Cuban missile crisis we have Russia on there heels and they are not going to step in as much. IF the united states had not stepped in to the war we would have the domino effect happening and why would we want to wait tell the Communism spreads to all of the other small country when we could step um to the plate now and fix it. If we would not have stepped um and vitamin because communistic then what would we do if we where the last on that where not communistic and we had no one to fight to back us up we would soon fall and are grate country the United States of America would no longer be free. We are no just sending solders in to die, but to keep us free and being a strong nation.
May 8, 2014 |
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Mylo Candee
mcandee@bis.midco.net
friend
2107 N 7th St Bismarck nd 58501
Mistakes were made.
Mike- I was in Washington one Memorial Day a few years ago. It was chilly gray day with light rain. I walked to the Memorial and looked up your name and Doug Kelley & a college buddy from Bowman. The Washington Post carried a big story about some Undersecretary of State talking about why the hell we where in RVN, why so many trusting young guys did their patriotic duty and paid the ultimate price.
The dude said 'Policy mistakes were made.' Finally the government got honest with us. Every grave marker should carry those words: Policy mistakes were made. So many of your family and friends asked 'Why'. After 30 years of asking, now you know the answer.
Apr 22, 2012 |
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Janet Rose Pfau waddell
a..waddell @sbcglobal.net
childhood friend
1016 L eureka ca 95501 usa
Cub scouts
I had a picture of you with my brother and the other cub scouts. You were holding a birthday cake. I sat behind you in 7th grade and you whispered a lot to me. I remember those conversations in detail and I remember you and always will.
Apr 22, 2012 |
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Scott Kessel
Scottysplace@ca.rr.com
Brother
Greetings...I'm Scott Mike's Lil Brother...I was only 6 when we got the news that we had lost Mike...
I think of him often....God bless all who served...
May 30, 2011 |
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Roger Bullwinkle Aubery
Best Buddy
Howdy and Semper Fidelis. well I finally made it back I guess nobody else has visited you. Oh well I know there a lot of people thinking of you. we got through Christmas. Fverything is going pretty good still trying to find Dave. well gotta go eor now. Love you.Semper Fidelis, Brothers Forever.
Saturday, January 08, 2005 |
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