44- Memorial Day - gratitude and emotions of a Combat Infantryman [08:38m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of the H21 Southern Branch, Austin, Texas, chapter of the Combat Infantrymen’s Association, we dedicate this time to those whose lives were taken in combat. We honored them on Memorial Day at the Cook-Walden cemetery in Pflugerville, Texas.

Duane Williams and Fred Castaneda followed John C. Burkhart, who is the Commander of the Texas Capital Chapter 1919    of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, in taking the floral arrangement and presenting it to the memorial for those who fell in combat. John C. Burkhart is also a CIB-recipient.

We also highlight that a local hero in the Austin area, Alan Babin, was honored at this event. Although he is not a CIB recipient, he did receive the CMB (Combat Medics badge), purple heart and bronze star. He also promotes the Wheelchair Veterans of America, after having 71 operations and a close call to death. If you remember from previous podcasts, he was wounded when he went to help a wounded combat infantryman in the battle of Baghdad in 2003.

Also given in this audio episode is the saying that was echoed by a British airborne infantryman who fought in Normandy in the D-Day battle of June 6, 1944:

“They gave up their tomorrows so that we could have our todays.”

Our next meeting is on 19 June 2010 at the VFW post 8787 at 13:30 hours (i.e., 1:30 p.m. Central time).

Copyright (c) 2010, Combat Infantrymen’s Association and Matrix Solutions Corporation.

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