Got this from several sources, and it’s a good follow-up to yesterday’s post on our outgoing Chairman:
I wanted to share with you what we saw in Washington DC last week. After the mid-term brief we toured the Mall and made the usual stops at the WWII Memorial, the Wall, Lincoln Memorial, etc. At the Vietnam Wall we saw something unbelievable. We noticed three small index cards at the base of the Wall. I knelt down for a closer look and noticed that a 4-star general’s rank was pinned to each card. The cards were personally addressed and said:
“These are Yours- not mine!
With Love and Respect,
Your Platoon Leader,
Pete Pace
1 Oct”
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs had laid down his rank for his boys who died in Nam just the day before! I later found out that 1 Oct was also the same day he stepped down as chairman.
Updated: More reasons to love the internet -
Class, Character, Integrity, and Honor.
Wish we had more like him.
I echo your sentiments, Steve.
What a leader.
Yes, there is a tear in my eye.
I’m speechless.
Pace for President!
He has more character and credibility than the whole lot of career politicians coveting power with no concept of duty, honor or country.
I am certain that his actions were mtended to be private, and not for public consumption, but a sincere show of true respect and rememberance of his fallen comrades. And I am sure he cares just as deeply about every American fighting man or woman lost at any time during his long watch.
“The Warrior wants war least of all for he must pay its fearful price.” [Douglas MacArthur, in his farewell at West Point, 1962]
Pace is truly a class act.
A class act all the way.
I’ve expressed my admiration for Peter Pace awhile back on another thread…this truly confirms it. Best
Marines never forget. Semper fi.
The high point of my life was my Navy service, just as my dad’s was. The high point of my service was restoring the MSR through Hue back in the day. A platoon of Foxtrot company, 2/5 Marines was our security, and they were on the radio net with a platoon of Golf company. I remember like it was yesterday when the platoon commander of my platoon and the platoon commander of that other platoon, a sergeant, congratulated each other on still being alive. I am touched beyond words that Peter Pace had his first duty in that time and place, maybe with that other platooon. No matter what is said about Gen’l Pace, he is the real McCoy. I’ve read some really disgusting things written recently about Gen’l Pace being a yes – man to Rummy, and this act puts it all in perspective, at least for me.
Lex, in the end it is all myth, but your tale here has the ring of truth. Those drizzly, history filled days affected Gen’l Pace as they did me. Any active duty kids out there reading this blog should realize what they are doing right now may very well be their personal Mt. Everest, so they better treat it with the respect it deserves. Give it every ounce of brains and guts you can muster, for it will be with you for a lifetime, no matter what you may do or how high you may rise.
John S.,
General Pace has more Honor, Credibility and Character in the tip of his little finger than all of the professional politicians (past, present and future) in or out of Congress!
I was skeptical until I saw the pictures. Outstanding tribute to a fallen warrior.
My admiration for General Pace just continues to grow.
A truly beautiful act. As so many have said; character, integrity, leadership. Outstanding!
Class.
That’s really all that needs to be said.
I go to school in Chaminade High School and if you could just here General Pace speak you’d be in awe. I have the utmost respect for the man and I wish all the best for him.