Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: 'Saving Private Ryan' encourages opening history books

IN JULY "SAVING PRIVATE RYAN" caught the attention of Americans. Maybe it's time to refresh a few memories about World War II. It was truly, as my friend George Brookman tells younger people, the Big One. George was a combat infantry officer in the Pacific for more than three years.

A recent issue of "The Fighting Fourth" magazine of the Fourth Marine Division tells us the following:

* 38.8 percent (6,332,000) of U.S. servicemen and women were volunteers.

* 61.2 percent (11,535,000) were draftees. Of the 17,955,000 men examined for induction, 35.8 percent (6,420,000) were rejected as physically or mentally unfit.

* Average duration of service was 33 months.

* 73 percent served overseas, with an average of 16.2 months abroad.

* Out of 1,000 troops, 8.6 were killed in action, 3 died from other causes and 17.7 received nonmortal combat wounds.

* 38.8 percent of enlisted personnel had rear-echelon assignments -- administrative, technical, support or manual labor.

* The average base pay of enlisted personnel was $71.33 per month; for officers, it was $203.50 per month.

* Between 1939 and 1945, U.S. Armed Forces suffered 292,131 killed and 671,178 wounded.

Yes, George, it was the Big One, especially when considering the estimated international costs of World War II:

Battle deaths 14,904,000

Battle wounded 25,218,000

Civilian deaths 38,573,000

Direct economic costs $1,600,000,000,000

These cold statistics aren't boring to the men and women who served during that period of time or who lost dear ones in uniform. When they see that 292,131 Americans were killed and 671,178 were wounded, they most likely remember that one or more of these numbers represent a warm human being they knew or loved.

Yes, and what about the 6,420,000 men rejected for service because they were physically or mentally unfit? Our nation had just experienced a destructive depression with millions of people not having jobs or a healthy diet. That's right, large numbers felt fortunate if they had one meal a day. If it hadn't been for FDR's New Deal programs such as the PWA, WPA, CCC and surplus food commodities, the number of physically unfit would have been even greater. The surplus foods served in our schools during the 1930s were oftentimes the only meal some children ate.

"Saving Private Ryan" is a movie that brought our country closer to realizing the pain of war and the sacrifices expected of ordinary Americans called to duty. Certainly the movie should be an inspiration for high school history teachers to use as a basis for further study of that period. What caused this great war, what effect did it have on our nation and who were these Americans who answered the challenge thrown at them by Germany, Japan and other nations?

This was an interesting time in our world and it shouldn't be forgotten, and neither should the errors be repeated. These are lessons all generations can learn, but the combat men have special memories that during the next two decades will be carried to the grave by most of them.

Robert A. Gannon tells why he wants to remember in "Monuments and Memories."

Some people say I should not waste

The hours of my life

On monument and memories

Recalling times of strife

They seem to think it only is

A name upon a stone

While I reflect that easily

That name could be my own

Should I forget those men I knew

Who stood and fell by me?

Should I forget those torrid isles

Upon that sultry sea?

Should I forget that smiling lad

From Arizona's plain

Who fought alongside me

Though wounded and in pain?

Or should I just forget about

That corpsman standing fast

Who put his body over mine

And took that mortar blast?

Should I forget those countless men

Who waded into shore

And gave their lives defending

My country and my corps?

I can't forget one single name

Those men are with me still

If I don't remember them

I ask you then, who will?

archive