The Dead and Those About to Die.
Mar 18, 2016 5:59:21 GMT -5
Post by rah on Mar 18, 2016 5:59:21 GMT -5
The Dead and Those about To Die
Just finished this detailed history of the 1st Infantry Division on Omaha Beach June 6th, 1944. The news of the suicide of Keith Emmerson of Emmerson, Lake, & Palmer fame hit the news just as I was finishing the book.
Anyway that event got me to thinking about two of the men from the 1st Division on D-day that were awarded the CMOH for their actions that day and eventually committed suicide.
One was an NCO the other a Commissioned officer. Both had been in the Division since the invasion of N. Africa. Both were outstanding combat leaders. Both had received physical wounds during the war from which they had fully recovered and returned to combat. Both eventually broke and were evacuated for severe combat fatigue. One broke at the Hurtgen Forrest and the other broke at the battle of the bulge. Both had served for more than 440 days in front line combat at the time they broke down and never saw combat again. Like many that have received the CMOH they both had problems in civilian life. Both committed suicide when they were in their 40s over 20 years after the psychological wounds that eventually put them under were inflicted.
Who knows the battles such men fight in their own heads. One may think that those two men were driven beyond their endurance by their leadership but based on my other reading this almost certainly not the case. There is a characteristic that seems to be common in such men. They have great concern for the soldiers in their charge. They Love them and they love their units. They are almost always offered support or staff positions that will keep them off the front line but refuse because they want to get back to their men and feel an overriding responsibility for them. And it is that concern and Love which eventually results in their breaking.
Just finished this detailed history of the 1st Infantry Division on Omaha Beach June 6th, 1944. The news of the suicide of Keith Emmerson of Emmerson, Lake, & Palmer fame hit the news just as I was finishing the book.
Anyway that event got me to thinking about two of the men from the 1st Division on D-day that were awarded the CMOH for their actions that day and eventually committed suicide.
One was an NCO the other a Commissioned officer. Both had been in the Division since the invasion of N. Africa. Both were outstanding combat leaders. Both had received physical wounds during the war from which they had fully recovered and returned to combat. Both eventually broke and were evacuated for severe combat fatigue. One broke at the Hurtgen Forrest and the other broke at the battle of the bulge. Both had served for more than 440 days in front line combat at the time they broke down and never saw combat again. Like many that have received the CMOH they both had problems in civilian life. Both committed suicide when they were in their 40s over 20 years after the psychological wounds that eventually put them under were inflicted.
Who knows the battles such men fight in their own heads. One may think that those two men were driven beyond their endurance by their leadership but based on my other reading this almost certainly not the case. There is a characteristic that seems to be common in such men. They have great concern for the soldiers in their charge. They Love them and they love their units. They are almost always offered support or staff positions that will keep them off the front line but refuse because they want to get back to their men and feel an overriding responsibility for them. And it is that concern and Love which eventually results in their breaking.