Patriotism - A Citizen Speaks

May 30, 2002
by Thomas D. Segel

Harlingen, TX - He has no rank. He holds no medals. He is not a public official. But, somebody had to speak to a group of 400 veterans assembled for Memorial Days services at the El Toro Memorial Cemetery, in El Toro, California. Patrick Mallon stepped forward.

"My official capacity is as a citizen with a deep appreciation of the sacrifices made by our armed forces," he says. "My neighbor Tom Goodall served as a Corpsman with the Marines in Vietnam in 1968. We share a common world view and he thought I would be able to articulate this message to the veterans in attendance."

Patrick Mallon is a 44 year old Irish-Catholic American who has not served as a member of the armed forces. He works as a technical writer for the telecommunications industry and periodically writes for several on-line and print publications. His telling words to those assembled would serve well to motivate those summer soldiers and fair weather patriots who are already forgetting about the sacrifices made to assure their futures.

Said Mallon, "I am not a veteran, just a common American in possession of a deep and heartfelt admiration for the sacrifice and courage demonstrated by you, the soldier. It is your bravery, your ability to perform your mission no matter what the obstacles, and your heroism that connects you to the pantheon of soldiers who have honorably served this country in the Army, the Marines, the Navy, the Air Force and the Coast Guard.

"What prompted me to speak today? Many things, I suppose. For one week after 9/11, watching all the hopelessness, destruction, and death, and dealing with my own emotions, I discovered an emerging trend. Once complacent people were becoming empowered, selflessly demonstrating the willingness to perform heroic acts so that other people could live. Making that last call to a loved one before confronting murderous hijackers, guiding disabled workers out of burning towers...there was a refreshing and hopeful aspect to all this unselfish behavior.

"And then it dawned on me, in one of those moments when perfect truth hits you right between the eyes. This is exactly what the American soldier has done in the past... is doing right now...at this moment, and will do again in the future. And I am personally guilty of taking that for granted.

"I made a commitment to myself on that day of personal discovery that my mission would be to reach and convince as many people as possible, to tell them all is not lost in the nation, that more and more people have looked inside themselves and reexamined their priorities, hugged their child a little tighter, said a kinder word to their spouse, called their parents and told them how much they are loved. And yes, more people have a far more meaningful understanding and gratitude for what the sacrifice of the American soldier means to their personal safety. "

Mallon then put things in real terms speaking of how we receive our daily mail as a "right". But, those men in uniform only receive it periodically, as a "privilege". For us it is just keeping in touch. For the soldier it was a paper connection to the world. Each day, Mallon said... "our military of World War II lived knowing the cruelty mankind is capable of inflicting upon itself". He told of their combat...how the dust choked each breath, the heat, the flies, the dirty feet, the constant roar of engines and the constant moving. He told of the GIs and their thankless life of go, go, go night and day. Nobody cared...a miserable existence where death was a constant companion. "Then", Mallon says, "a letter from home arrived. 'I miss you, oh so much, I need you in my life. Please come home alive. I love you.'

He spoke of the soldier in Korea. He said each day we eat from an overwhelming bounty of meal choices, while the man in uniform might not eat for days. It was ugly in Korea. They were dug in, freezing, sweaty, muddy, bloody. The exchange of lethal ordnance, with counterpoints of crushing boredom and mindless terror. Three days of nothing to eat but a stale roll and a handful of peanuts. Awesome loneliness and fear, incredible courage. Long promised leaves that never materialized. A carton of c-rations gets to the soldier, with a Christmas note from a little girl. 'Will you be home for Christmas?' It says.

Each day we phone our friends, upset when we lose a number. A soldier may not talk with loved ones for months.
It is Lai Khe in 1967. Awaking to sounds of explosions shortly after midnight, all units on full alert. The aircraft had been hovering slowly over the dense jungle. It was never known if it had been hit by ground fire or the crew had become disoriented and crashed. The fiery crash took the lives of three platoon members. Three others survived. One survivor talked with his wife from the hospital three weeks later. She read him a Biblical passage: "No greater love has any man than one who would lay down his life for his fellow man."

Patrick Mallon told those assembled veterans how he needed to kneel down and feel the earth...pick up a handful...savor it and know that every bit has been paid for. Paid for with the blood of those who made a decision that this nation and these people were worth fighting for.

This was his message to those veterans...and indirectly to this nation. What motivated him to speak..."Gratitude times 10!", he said. To them I owe all my freedoms, and my next breath."

Thomas D. Segel <mailto:tomsegel@acnet.net>

Thomas D. Segel is a twice wounded, former combat correspondent who saw enemy action during the Korean War and two tours of duty in Vietnam. He retired from the Marine Corps as a Master Gunnery Sergeant after 26 years of service. His next assignment was as Director of Information and adjunct faculty member of the Marine Military Academy. He then completed a new career and recently retired from service with the State of Texas, where he was Director, Division of Information, Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Rio Grande State Center. He holds the Thomas Jefferson Award for Journalistic Excellence, The Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association Distinguished Performance Award and six Armed Forces Writers Association Distinguished Achievement Awards. Segel has authored four books, including "Men in Space" which received the honor of being placed on both the National High School and National Junior High School Library Lists. He currently writes for several on line publications, national magazines and newspapers. His writings are distributed nationally to more than 1,300 publications by the Paragon Foundation News Service. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Texas Pan American and earned his masters degree at Vanderbilt University. He is a past national president of the United States Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association. Segel resides with his wife, Pattie, in Harlingen, Texas.

Last modified: 01/31/10