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Huber

City of Lakes & Parks  952-443-2363

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8099 Bavaria Rd * Victoria * 952-443-2990

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         I don't often write about Memorial Day.  It falls at a critical time for me each year as I'm finishing the June issue of the Gazette.  It's spent proofreading, with movies on in the background.  There are many war memorial movies on TV as well as in theaters.  In recent days, from the comfort of my home, I've covered the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, and the War on Terror.

 

The American Civil War

         Only a couple nights ago we stayed up late to watch "Gone  With the Wind" from start to finish, which means nearly four hours in one spot.  The first time I saw this movie I was a student at the University of Hawaii.  Starring Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh, "Gone With the Wind" brings the Civil War to life, when brothers fought brothers, and death.  The burning of Atlanta is an unforgettable scene.  An estimated 646,000 men died in the line of duty.  Allan has a relative who fought in that war, but many of us didn't have family who had yet crossed the Big Pond.  Young people can be reminded Civil War years were 1861-1865. 

 

World War I

         One night last week I watched "On Wings of Eagles" with John Wayne playing a World War I aviator.  It's a John Wayne-Maureen O'Hara movie that I hadn't seen before.  I like them together, and I like true stories.  This movie brought home the fact that wars separate families.  Young people can be reminded World War I years were 1914 to 1918.  It resulted in 18 million deaths -- 11 million military and 7 million civilian.  (USA deaths:  116,516).   My favorite World War I movie is "War Horse."  I particularly recall the scene that takes place in a Holland windmill, maybe because I've seen firsthand those windmills dotting the Dutch landscape.  I gave a DVD of that movie to grandson Gunnar who loves horses.

 

World War II

         Most war movies focus on World War II (1941-1945), because writers and authors had experience with that war in one way or another with family or friends if not themselves.  Estimates range from 50 million to 80 million killed (405,399 Americans).  My favorite World War II movies are  "Hacksaw Ridge" and "Saving Private Ryan."  I haven't seen "Patton" for a very long time but I remember being impressed with George C. Scott.

         "Hacksaw Ridge" is a true story about Desmond Doss who served during the Battle of Okinawa.  He personally saved many lives, without firing a shot.  I've written about that movie before in this column.

         "Saving Private Ryan" stars Tom Hanks and vividly recalls the Normandy Invasion.  Allan and I visited Omaha Beach and the Normandy area of France with my parents in 1997.  I can still see Dad walking  through the sea of cemetery crosses there, among his American comrades.

         My dad served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific theater.  Just a couple weeks ago, he told me how he was recently reminded of the moment he was leaving for war, saying goodbye to his parents and his girlfriend (my mother) at the train station.  With war headlines and fatalities, Dad said he didn't expect to be returning home.  And then he said, "I had that same feeling when Bet and I left home in March, when we walked away and drove off the yard."

         I wrote last month how my parents, Joe and Betty Claeys, left the homeplace at Ghent after 70 years and moved to a nearby assisted living apartment in Marshall.  Real life is always more poignant than movies. 

 

Korean War

         Two Korean War movies were on TV this week, and they were both new to me.  I did not like "The Hook" starring Kirk Douglas, who is often too angry for me.  On the other hand, Robert Walker Jr. is a sweetheart who gets parts with heart.

         The second Korean War movie playing in the background of my office this weekend was "One Moment to Zero" with Robert Mitchum.  I didn't keep track of it very well.  Maybe next time.  Young people can be reminded those war years were 1950-1953 with 36,516 Americans killed.

 

Vietnam War.

         The first time I saw "Forrest Gump" was in Milwaukee with Germaine, Julianne, Fr. Elstan, Sr. Marilyn, and Sr. Colleen in 1996.  I saw it again about ten days ago, beginning to end, and was reminded that it's outstanding.  As Forrest Gump,  Tom Hanks famously says, "Life is like a box of chocolates.  You never know what you're going to get."  The Vietnam War was from 1955 to 1975 and wounded many more American soldiers (153,300) than it killed (58,200).

 

War on Terror

         Wars are memorialized in real life before they are memorialized in film.  Today we fight the War on Terror, which is the ugliest of all because it is waged by losers who intentionally target the innocent.  We celebrate Memorial Day because most of us in the USA are still civilized.

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From the Editor

Dedicated to the sunshine of truth,

the moonshine of meeting deadlines,

and the starshine of Victoria.

The Victoria GAZETTE

Sue’s Album

A symphony of photos

and fewer than a thousand words

at www.VictoriaGazette.com

June 2017