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Real Voices from the Battlefield

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Supplementary Sites

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Captured in Time

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Patriotism, Heroism, Tragedy

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Documenting Tragedy
& Sacrifice

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Sergeant Edgar Bledsoe cradles a critically ill Vietnamese infant. The child was brought to Fire Support Base Pershing. This image was chosen to show the complexities of war - including the impact on innocent civilians. This Sergeant sees a child - not an enemy - and treats the young baby with care,

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A Symbol of Remembrance

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It is perhaps the most famous poem to come out of the Great War. "In Flanders Field" was written in 20 minutes - just 15 lines in all - but it spoke volumes about those who lost their lives during the First World War on a field near Ypres, Belgium, in May 1915.

As a child I often heard my father, who lived through those tumultuous times, quote its familiar opening lines:

The author was the Canadian doctor, soldier, author, and artist John McCrae. Born in Ontario in 1872 and educated in public schools, he was only 15 when he joined the local militia, which was commanded by his father. He started out as a bugler.

Later, he won a scholarship to the University of Toronto, where he earned his bachelor's degree and went on to study medicine. Graduating at the top of his class, he did his residency at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

Throughout his schooling, McCrae kept his ties with the military and advanced to the rank of lieutenant in his hometown militia. He also was a member of the Toronto militia, The Queen's Own Rifles, and became its commander and a captain.

Besides writing poetry, McCrae was the author of scientific articles, medical textbooks, and short stories. Throughout his life he made numerous, beautiful sketches of what he saw.

After his medical training, he was awarded a fellowship at McGill University but postponed enrolling to serve his country in the Boer War. He went to South Africa in 1900 as commander of D Battery of the Royal Canadian Artillery. Though he felt it was important to serve, he left the war disturbed by the poor treatment of the sick and wounded.

McCrae returned to Canada in 1905 and then took a position at the University of Vermont teaching pathology. Years later, when World War I broke out, he enlisted. In the fall of 1914, he was made brigade surgeon with the rank of major, second in command, and was sent to Belgium. Most Canadians and Brits entered Europe across the English Channel into the Flanders region of Belgium.

McCrae's job was almost impossible. Some 5,000 men would die in just a short time. McCrae would later write, "I wish I could embody on paper some of the varied sensations of that seventeen days. ... Seventeen days of Hades! At the end of the first day if anyone had told us we had to spend seventeen days there, we would have folded our hands and said it could not have been done."

The death of a young friend, Lt. Alexis Helmer of Ottawa, was particularly difficult. On May 2, 1915, Helmer was killed when a shell burst at his feet. Because no chaplain was available, McCrae performed the burial ceremony for his friend and countryman.

Though there are several different accounts of how Helmer's death inspired the poem, this is the one probably told most often. The day after burying his friend, McCrae sat on the back of an ambulance and poured out his grief on paper. Sgt. Maj. Cyril Allison, who was nearby as he wrote, later said, "The poem was exactly an exact description of the scene in front of us both. He used the word blow in that line because the poppies actually were being blown that morning by a gentle east wind. It never occurred to me at that time that it would ever be published. It seemed to me just an exact description of the scene."

McCrae later threw away his poem, but fortunately it was retrieved by Lt. Col. Edward Morrison, a former newspaper editor. Morrison sent it to several London publications, and it was published by Punch magazine on Dec. 8, 1915.

Why did McCrae write about poppies?

Gardening experts tell us that poppies grow and thrive only in soil that is frequently disturbed. When McCrae wrote his poem, the tumult of battle had uprooted the whole front. Poppies were in bloom all over the Flanders landscape.

Like the blood spilled from thousands of soldiers, this poppy was red. The red corn poppy ( Papaver rheoeas) was native to Europe and also was prominent in the Napoleonic Wars.

"In Flanders Field" became an instant favorite all over the world. It was particularly popular in Canada and the United States. Ads featuring lines from it helped raise $400 million for the war effort in Canada alone.

His poem went on to achieve immortality, appearing on Canadian $10 bills and a 1968 commemorative stamp. It inspired songs by Canadian composers Michael Roberts and Jon Brooks and the American John Philip Sousa. Proceeds from the sale of poppies were used to benefit disabled veterans.

In the United States, Moina Michael, a Georgia teacher and YMCA volunteer, was so taken with the poem that she wrote a poem in response titled "We Shall Keep the Faith." It began:

Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields,

Sleep sweet-to rise anew!

We caught the torch you threw

And holding high, we keep the Faith

With All who died.

Michael resolved to make the poppy a reminder of McCrae and millions of others who lost their lives in war. She mounted a long campaign that led the American Legion to adopt the red poppy in 1920 as its symbol of remembrance.

McCrae did not live to see all this. In 1918 McCrae had been named consulting surgeon for the entire British army, but the war had left him weary and unhealthy. Late in January 1918 he developed pneumonia and meningitis. He died on Jan. 28 and was buried with full military honors at Wimereux, France, where poppies grow.

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It is perhaps the most famous poem to come out of the Great War. "In Flanders Field" was written in 20 minutes - just 15 lines in all - but it spoke volumes about those who lost their lives during the First World War on a field near Ypres, Belgium, in May 1915.

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Joseph recounts killing a young German soldier during WWII whose face remains etched into his memory.

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Germans in the Woods | #VeteransVoices from StoryCorps

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Real stories from real veterans

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What should I know about transitioning from service?

Returning to civilian life presents new opportunities - and challenges - for Veterans. Many Veterans look forward to life after the military because they can spend more time with family and friends and no longer have to worry about military structure or deployment. At the same time, transitioning out of the military may raise a lot of questions. You may wonder what you are going to do with this new phase of your life, or whether you will be able to find a job. You may think about going back to school, but not know where to start. Or you may miss the order and discipline of military life (compared with civilian life) and wonder if you will be able to adjust.

If you are a member of the National Guard or Reserves, you may be worried about transitioning from military service back into your civilian workplace. Will you be able to pick up where you left off? Will your colleagues understand what you've been through and welcome you back?

Whether you served during a war or in peacetime, your experiences in the service - both positive and negative - have made you a different person than you were before you entered, and may have changed the way you look at things and deal with people. Stressful or traumatic situations may have resulted in habits or ways of coping that can be misunderstood or problematic in civilian life.

As you adjust to your transition from the military, you may:

Feel uncomfortable with the lack of structure and goals compared with military life

Miss the adrenaline rush of physical and life-challenging situations

Worry about your finances

Push yourself to be perfect in work and other areas of your life

Become annoyed with others who seem more easy-going or less detail-oriented than you

Feel isolated and alone, as if no one understands you

What should I keep an eye out for after transitioning from service?

Most Veterans go through some period of adjustment while transitioning from service and military life, but ultimately find their new roles fulfilling. For some people, the transition is harder or lasts a long time, which makes it difficult to enjoy life or to be successful in the civilian world. Some Veterans experience the following:

Some of the challenges that come with transitioning from the military can be difficult or stressful and can put a strain on your relationships. You might find it hard to enjoy the things you usually like doing. You may be having a tough time dealing with the deaths of friends with whom you served. Chronic pain or other medical conditions may pose additional challenges.

What can I do about issues related to transitioning from service?

Going from something familiar, like military life, to something new and different can be challenging, but there are things you can do to help you be successful. Remember to:

Reach out to other Veterans or Veterans' groups for social support.

Exercise regularly and eat healthy meals.

Practice relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing.

Recognize that others may not always agree with you or understand your military service; agree to disagree.

Discuss and make plans for the transition with your spouse, children, and other family members; recognize that, in some respects, transitioning from life in the military is a family affair.

Be prepared for insensitive questions or topics of conversation; practice how to respond ahead of time.

Respectfully decline to talk about things that make you uncomfortable.

Have a plan of action for your adjustment that includes a list of goals for your transition, your future, and your personal life.

Try to get a good night's sleep as often as possible.

Avoid unhealthy "quick fixes" that you think may help you cope, such as drinking alcohol, taking drugs or energy stimulants, or smoking cigarettes.

In addition, for National Guard members and Reservists, there are a few things you can do to help ease the transition back into your job:

Contact your supervisor before you return to work and discuss your responsibilities, changes in personnel, and new policies or projects.

Anticipate changes and be patient.

Remember that your co-workers may have had to take on some of your responsibilities while you were away; avoid taking charge right away.

Talk to other National Guard members or Reservists to learn how they handled their return to work.

Make sure you understand your health coverage and get any benefits reinstated promptly.

Talking to your family and friends about your experiences can be helpful as you deal with your transition. They will get a better understanding of what you are going through and may be able to provide you with support.

Take the next step: Make the connection.

Every day, Veterans who served in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard connect with resources, services, and support to address the issues affecting their lives. If transitioning from service is interfering with your health and well-being or getting in the way of your relationships, responsibilities, work, or ability to study, you may want to reach out for support. Consider connecting with:

Your doctor. Ask if your doctor has experience treating Veterans or can refer you to someone who does.

A mental health professional, such as a therapist or counselor

Your local VA Medical Center or Vet Center. VA specializes in the care and treatment of Veterans.

A spiritual or religious adviser

Explore these resources for helping Veterans address transition-related issues.

Learn more about what you can do if you are experiencing specific concerns related to transitioning to civilian life, such as feeling on edge, relationship problems, posttraumatic stress, and depression.

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Transitioning From Service | Real Stories From Military Veterans | Make the Connection

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Returning to civilian life presents new opportunities - and challenges - for Veterans. Many Veterans look forward to life after the military because they can spend more time with family and friends and no longer have to worry about military structure or deployment.

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Write a letter thanking Troops, & Veterans for their service.

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Through the generosity and hands-on efforts of the American people, we send Care Packages to all who bravely serve our nation.
CARE PACKAGES SENT SINCE 2003

Here on the USS San Jacinto, we recently received a shipment of care packages from y'all at Operation Gratitude. This little ray of sunshine was much needed, as the unfortunate spread of the Coronavirus has stopped all of our possible port visits. As of right now, we have been underway for 61 consecutive days, and are expecting another 50+ before we get a break. Like I said, much needed. We are all so thankful for your generosity. What you do makes what we do a little easier, and it means a lot to every one of us. Please keep being great.
Very Respectfully,ET2(sw) BP
READ MORE RESPONSES →

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Operation Gratitude - Thanking All Who Serve

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Through the generosity and hands-on efforts of the American people, we send Care Packages to all who bravely serve our nation. CARE PACKAGES SENT SINCE 2003 Here on the USS San Jacinto, we recently received a shipment of care packages from y'all at Operation Gratitude.

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Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.

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Library of Congress: Interviews

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Personal Snapshots: Picturing the Vietnam War (Experiencing War: Stories from the Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress)

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Understanding the power of a picture, the Veterans History Project encourages veterans to submit photographs of their time in the military. Photography can play an important role in telling a service story, and we focus our lens on 12 collections from the Vietnam War, all of which include candid, amateur photographs.

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Written about my time as an Army emergency room nurse at 91st Evac Hospital in South Vietnam 1969-70.

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Iraq

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Comprehensive info from the history of Veteran's Day & personal stories.

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Veterans Day is a time for us to pay our respects to those who have served. For one day, we stand united in respect for you, our veterans.

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A United States Marine during the Battle of Hue. The Battle of Hue was one of the longest, deadliest battles that happened during the Vietnam War. This image was chosen to honor veterans in order to show how much they sacrificed, and at times, suffered physically and emotionally to protect our freedoms.

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Specialist Justin Cliburn's job was to train the Iraqi police. While serving, Justin formed an unlikely friendship.

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The Nature of War | #VeteransVoices from StoryCorps

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Additional Resources

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The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a 2-acre U.S. national memorial in Washington D.C. It honors service members of the U.S. armed forces who fought in the Vietnam War, service members who died in service in Vietnam/South East Asia, and those service members who were unaccounted for during the war.

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Arlington National Cemetery is a United States military cementery in Arlington, VA.

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Family members of veterans share their stories.

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Family Members of Veterans Share Their Stories

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Tom Geerdes served as an Army medic in the in Vietnam and Cambodia. Like many veterans, he returned home a changed man.

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Tom's War | #VeteransVoices from StoryCorps