The Greatest Generation

[greenwald]

This video of "Old 666" is an awesome reminder of the debt we owe what Tom Brokaw, in his book, calls "the Greatest Generation."

Brave men, all of them!

Enjoy their story:

http://www.theospark.net/2010/06/video-old-666.html

 

[36654]

This video of "Old 666" is an awesome reminder of the debt we owe what Tom Brokaw, in his book, calls "the Greatest Generation."

Brave men, all of them!

Enjoy their story:

http://www.theospark.net/2010/06/video-old-666.html

You know, it's been several years since Tom Brokaw's book.......and we've all had lots of time to reflect on the "greatest" generation. Sadly, I think our appreciation of those people in that place and time has not served us well. Much like that generation of people of that was consumed by the Civil War, the subsequent focus and adoration by the nation, seemed to have be come a fixation which allowed the nation to lose focus on the issues at hand.

Yes, the WWII generation, just like the Civil War generation, was faced with horrific battlefield tasks, but many prior and subsequent generations were faced with horrific economic tasks as they worked themselves out of subsistence jobs or penniless immigrant status. Today, we often judge ourselves and other generations by those great generations and dismiss the achievements we've made or challenges we face. Sadly, we've come to overlook the everyday heroes that build healthy, productive families and communities. These people have always been with us and gave birth to the "Great Generations", voted for the good/bad laws that may have sent the "Great Generations" to war, worked in the factories that produced the weapons for the "Great Generations" and then welcomed home or buried the "Great Generations". So, who is great and who isn't? Most all of us, depending on the day and hour. Is a 19-year old soldier comforting a fallen comrade more heroic than a parent with a dying child? Like all us, they are both victims of choice and/or circumstance.

We should appreciate the past, but look forward to the future. Collectively, we can do great things, but seem to have chosen otherwise for several years/decades.

 

[dancogan]

This video of "Old 666" is an awesome reminder of the debt we owe what Tom Brokaw, in his book, calls "the Greatest Generation."...

It is a great reminder, and that's a great video clip. We don't need to compare this generation to any other to fully appreciate the selfless dedication they had to this country.

 

[Bill Burke]

You know, it's been several years since Tom Brokaw's book.......

Well done.

Having said that, I nevertheless highly recommend the book "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand. The incredible story of Louis Zamparini, a bombardier in WWII.

 

[f14rio]

reading the unbroken now

great book

 

[lkchris]

While I really appreciate the "Greatest Generation," I didn't much care for Brokaw's book as he seemed to think it necessary to describe each subject's current politics as liberal or conservative. I bit irrelevant to the time of heroism but SO important to guys like Brokaw.

Missing from much of this is the "heroism" of the Greatest Generation that resulted in the Baby Boomers that thoroughly put an end to the racism and tobacco use so freely engaged in by their parents.

 

[bunkyone]

Hey all: The most amazing thing about this story is that the courage shown by that crew wasn't all that unusual. Over and over again, crews would volunteer for missions that they knew they stood little chance of returning from. They went willingly, knowing full well that their chances were slim... The greatest generation, indeed!! Dutch

 

[PGlaves]

The "greatest generation" wasn't just about the war. This generation also led the charge for vast post war leaps in the US standard of living on the economic side and were the folks in charge during a great social justice awakening too.

 

[bob1100rtc]

If you can find a book titled "Flying Forts" by Martin Cadin, the first chapter is a full account of Jay Zeemers "Mission over Buka". Unbelievable heroics by men that did what needed done. The book gives a great account of the B-17's and their crews in WW2.