Soldiers

"Be meeri I see a sael gif sias er a gefais i owt topsaelyw lowt tipsi gif way ar y gauafwynt kynill agynilly gwynt."

"Before I will, pill or part Buy a ship, I'll be a sheaphart!"

"What hurts one man may benefit another” and “a diseased village is a good village to a medicine man”"

"One thing is clear: I shall marry Ihuoma. She is a human being, and if marrying a woman like her is a fatal mistake, I am prepared to make it. If I am her husband for a day before my death my soul will go singing happily to the spirit world. There also I shall be prepared to dare the wrath of four hundred Sea Kings for her sake."

"It was a fact that if Amadioha has insisted on taking a man’s life, no medicine man could do anything about it...”"

"Ihuoma is the sea-king’s main interest and her male admires are victims of circumstance and of their own misdeeds”"

"No one wanted to betray his admiration. There was silence for a time."

"He reconciles himself to these forces and treats them with reverence and dignity. He believes that his every action is guided and directed by spirits”"

"There are few women like Ihuoma in the world... It is death to marry them and they leave behind a harrowing string of dead husbands. They are usually beautiful, very beautiful but dogged by their invisible husbands of the spirit world. With some spirits marriage is possible if an expert on sorcery is consulted. With the sea-king it is impossible. He is too powerful to be fettered and when he is on the offensive he is absolutely relentless. He unleashes all the powers at his command and they are fatal”"

"I adore war. ... It is like a big picnic but without the objectivelessness of a picnic. I have never been more well or more happy. ... It just suits my stolid health and stolid nerves and barbaric disposition. The fighting-excitement vitalizes everything, every sight and action. One loves one's fellow man so much more when one is bent on killing him."

"The thundering line of battle stands, And in the air Death moans and sings; But Day shall clasp him with strong hands, And Night shall fold him in soft wings."

"Britain will never have a woman Prime Minister because women are frightened to take on supreme power."

"I tried having male assistants at first [...] But it didn't work. They tend to be too independent; men like to have individuality. Women can become an extension of the boss. They don't mind working overtime, they are more loyal and they can take criticism better. [...] Women are also more efficient than men. I want perfection, and I do my best to get it—so I have trained them myself."

"I can't get on with men [...] or perhaps it might be truer to say that they can't get on with me. They were not very friendly in the Commons, I suppose it was because I was a bit brash; in fact I know I was. I was impatient with the slow archaic procedure."

"Bejar 2d Feby 1835 [1836]To His Excy. H SmithDear SirIn pursuance of your orders, I proceeded from San Felipe to La Bahia and whilst there employed my whole time in trying to effect the objects of my mission. You are aware that Genl Houston came to La Bahia soon after I did, this is the reason why I did not make a report to you from that post. The Comdr. in Chf. has before this communicated to you all matters in relation to our military affairs at La Bahia, this make it wholly unnecessary for me to say any thing on the subject. Whilst at La Bahia Genl Houston received despatches from Col Comdt. Neill informing that good reasons were entertained that an attack would soon be made by a numerous Mexican Army on our important post of Bejar. It was forthwith determined that I should go instantly to Bejar; accordingly I left Genl Houston and with a few very efficient volunteers came on to this place about 2 weeks since. I was received by Col Neill with great cordiality, and the men under my command entered at once into active service. All I can say of the soldiers stationed here is complimentary to both their courage and their patience. But it is the truth and your Excellency must know it, that great and just dissatisfaction is felt for the want of a little money to pay the small but necessary expenses of our men. I cannot eulogise [sic] the conduct & character of Col Neill too highly: no other man in the army could have kept men at this post, under the neglect they have experience. Both he & myself have done all that we could; we have industriously tryed [sic] all expedients to raise funds; but hitherto it has been to no purpose. We are still labouring night and day, laying up provisions for a siege, encouraging our men, and calling on the Government for relief.Relief at this post, in men, money, & provisions is of vital importance & is wanted instantly. Sir, this is the object of my letter. The salvation of Texas depends in great measure in keeping Bejar out of the hands of the enemy. It serves as the frontier picquet [sic] guard and if it were in the possession of Santa Anna there is no strong hold from which to repell [sic] him in his march towards the Sabine. There is no doubt but very large forces are being gathered in several of the towns beyond the Rio Grande, and late information through Senr Cassiana & others, worthy of credit, is positive in the fact that 16 hundred or two thousand troops with good officers, well armed, and a plenty of provisions, were on the point of marching, (the provisions being cooked &c). A detachment of active men from the volunteers under my command have been sent out to the Rio Frio; they returned yesterday without information and we remain yet in doubt whether they entend [sic] an attack on this place or go to reinforce Matamoras. It does however seem certain that an attack is shortly to be made on this place & I think & it is the general opinion that the enemy will come by land. The Citizens of Bejar have behaved well. Col. Neill & Myself have come to the solemn resolution that we would rather die in these ditches than give it up to the enemy. These citizens deserve our protection and the public safety demands our lives rather than to evacuate this post to the enemy.—again we call aloud for relief; the weakness of our post will at any rate bring the enemy on, some volunteers are expected: Capt Patton with 5 or 6 has come in. But a large reinforcement with provisions is what we need.I have information just now from a friend whom I believe that the force at Rio Grande (Presidia) is two thousand complete; he states further that five thousand more is a little back and marching on, perhaps the 2 thousand will wait for a junction with the 5 thousand. This information is corroberated [sic] with all that we have heard. The informant says that they intend to make a decent [sic] on this place in particular, and there is no doubt of it.Our force is very small, the returns this day to the Comdt. is only one hundred and twenty officers & men. It would be a waste of men to put our brave little band against thousands.We have no interesting news to communicate. The army have elected two gentlemen to represent the Army & trust they will be received."

"Naturaliter audita visis laudamus libentius et praesentia invidia, praeterita veneratione prosequimur et his nos obrui, illis instrui credimus."

"Difficilis ... in perfecto mora est, naturaliterque quod procedere non potest, recedit."

"Non ... ibi consistunt exempla, unde coeperunt, ... et ubi semel recto deerratum est, in praeceps pervenitur, nec quisquam sibi putat turpe, quod alii fuit fructuosum."

"Familiare est hominibus omnia sibi ignoscere, nihil aliis remittere; et invidiam rerum non ad causam, sed ad voluntatem personasque dirigere."

"Mummius tam rudis fuit, ut capta Corintho cum maximorum artificum perfectas manibus tabulas ac statuas in Italiam portandas locaret, iuberet praedici conducentibus, si eas perdidissent, novas eos reddituros."

"Profecto ineluctabilis fatorum vis, cujuscunque fortunam mutare constituit, consilia corrumpit."

"Isn't it fascinating that probably the only laugh this man will ever get in his life is by stripping off his clothes and showing his shortcomings."

"Going to war was the only unselfish thing I have ever done for humanity."

"Keep the circus going inside you, keep it going, don't take anything too seriously, it'll all work out in the end."

"Да, это было пять месяцев назад, когда войска наши в Восточной Пруссии настигли эвакуирующееся из Гольдапа, Инстербурга и других оставляемых немецкой армией городов гражданское население. На повозках и машинах, пешком старики, женщины, дети, большие патриархальные семьи медленно по всем дорогам и магистралям страны уходили на запад. Наши танкисты, пехотинцы, артиллеристы, связисты нагнали их, чтобы освободить путь, посбрасывали в кюветы на обочинах шоссе их повозки с мебелью, саквояжами, чемоданами, лошадьми, оттеснили в сторону стариков и детей и, позабыв о долге и чести и об отступающих без боя немецких подразделениях, тысячами набросились на женщин и девочек. Женщины, матери и их дочери, лежат справа и слева вдоль шоссе, и перед каждой стоит гогочущая армада мужиков со спущенными штанами. Обливающихся кровью и теряющих сознание оттаскивают в сторону, бросающихся на помощь им детей расстреливают. Гогот, рычание, смех, крики и стоны. А их командиры, их майоры и полковники стоят на шоссе, кто посмеивается, а кто и дирижирует — нет, скорее, регулирует. Это чтобы все их солдаты без исключения поучаствовали. Нет, не круговая порука, и вовсе не месть проклятым оккупантам — этот адский смертельный групповой секс. Вседозволенность, безнаказанность, обезличенность и жестокая логика обезумевшей толпы. Потрясенный, я сидел в кабине полуторки, шофер мой Демидов стоял в очереди, а мне мерещился Карфаген Флобера, и я понимал, что война далеко не все спишет. А полковник, тот, что только что дирижировал, не выдерживает и сам занимает очередь, а майор отстреливает свидетелей, бьющихся в истерике детей и стариков... А сзади уже следующее подразделение. И опять остановка, и я не могу удержать своих связистов, которые тоже уже становятся в новые очереди, а телефонисточки мои давятся от хохота, а у меня тошнота подступает к горлу. До горизонта между гор тряпья, перевернутых повозок трупы женщин, стариков, детей."

"Can you imagine being wonderfully over-paid for dressing up and playing games?"

"You do not know what the next chapter of your life will bring. No matter how far down you may feel today every valley is surrounded by mountains whose peaks hold new and wonderful experiences. Throughout the toughest times in my life, I have held onto this one Scripture verse, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13."

"Writing this book I wanted to visit the child of my youth, to tell him that after all his struggles he was going to have an amazing life; that this chapter of his life would end when he graduated high school and went into the Army; that all the hardships, all he things the bullies put him through would make him tougher and more resilient; that in his later years he would have wonderful friends who would be closer than family."

""Others, not self" has become my core value- selflessness rather than selfishness- and that has made me a happier person. I don't always live by my own motto now; I still have my "I" centered moments. But I try hard to avoid them and return to the idea of being of service to others, to my family, my friends, and fellow veterans. When I fail, I try again. I am happiest when serving others and not myself."

"Writing this autobiography has been one of the toughest things I've done. It brought back a lot of memories. I had to look at these memories from two perspectives: that of a child and that of an adult. Through my child's eyes many challenges I faced growing up seemed insurmountable. But from an adult perspective they didn't seem so great. It's like when as an adult I went back to visit Lake Eliza. I remembered the lake being really big, but when I viewed it as an adult it was really small. The lake had not changed; it was simply a matter of perspective. That's the way my problems were growing up. When I was going through them they seemed enormous but now, looking back through more experienced eyes, the problems of my youth seem very small."

"Getting ahead in life is not easy. It's just the opposite. I have learned that you have to do a lot of things that are unpleasant in the vague hope that life will be better in the future. You put in your time, pay your dues, explore alternatives, and try to make wise decisions. Anyone who's been in the Army knows how hellish it can be. That's the point. That's the whole idea of basic training- you get up early, you get yelled at all day, you are challenged physically and psychologically, you wash dishes and clean latrines, and go to bed exhausted before resuming the grind at dawn the next morning. You do it because you have to, and through the process you acquire mettle- that's a word I like. the work improves your mental toughness and your character- and people with mettle tend to achieve your goals. It has worked for me."

"Getting ahead usually involves being bold and never accepting that you've reached your personal potential. In my career as an advocate for veterans, I accepted new responsibilities when they were offered, even though I wasn't certain I could handle them. When I was a veterans assistance counselor and assigned to Icarus II, a drug treatment unit at the VA hospital, I realized I needed more education. I was not a good student in my youth, but as an adult, I recognized that I needed to learn more, took college classes part-time, and finally earned my degree. That was a proud moment."

"The Albanians resisted them for 25 years with a tenacious and invincible spirit, because of the valor and courage of their greatest leader, George Kastrioti Skanderbeg, and this day celebrates the 500th anniversary of his death. We are delighted to learn that all Albanians, at home and abroad, plan to honor this anniversary by offering homage and veneration to their national hero whom they will never forget. This Holy See is pleased to join in the praise of this man of great nobility, a faithful son of the Church and a son whom sovereign pontiffs before us have praised possibly more glowingly than any other man of his time. For 25 years he saved his country from the assault of enemies. He defended his country threatened by the greatest danger, at the head of an army which was the rampart and defense of Christianity."

"In 1912 Ismail Kemal raised the flag of Scanderbeg in Valona when he declared Albanian independence. Scanderbeg was our inspiration in those first arduous years during the birth pangs and growing pains of Albania. He has inspired our poets, historians, and sculptors. And he still inspires us. Sometimes I wonder whether there is any other living man who is alive today as he is!"

"[I]f a tolerable account could be got of the exploits of Scanderbeg, it would be inestimable, for he exceeds all the officers, antient and modern, in the conduct of a small defensive army: I met with him in the Turkish History, but no where else."

"In the fulness of conquest, Mahomet the second still felt at his bosom this domestic thorn: his lieutenants were permitted to negociate a truce; and the Albanian prince may justly be praised as a firm and able champion of his national independence. The enthusiasm of chivalry and religion has ranked him with the names of Alexander and Pyrrhus; nor would they blush to acknowledge their intrepid countrymen: but his narrow dominion, and slender powers, must leave him at an humble distance below the heroes of antiquity, who triumphed over the East and the Roman legions. His splendid atchievements, the bashas whom he encountered, the armies that he discomfited, and the three thousand Turks who were slain by his single hand, must be weighed in the scales of suspicious criticism."

"His manners were popular; but his discipline was severe; and every superfluous vice was banished from his camp: his example strengthened his command; and under his conduct, the Albanians were invincible in their own opinion and that of their enemies. The bravest adventurers of France and Germany were allured by his fame and retained in his service: his standing militia consisted of eight thousand horse and seven thousand foot; the horses were small, the men were active: but he viewed with a discerning eye the difficulties and resources of the mountains; and, at the blaze of the beacons, the whole nation was distributed in the strongest posts. With such unequal arms, Scanderbeg resisted twenty-three years the powers of the Ottoman empire; and two conquerors, Amurath the second, and his greater son, were repeatedly baffled by a rebel, whom they pursued with seeming contempt and implacable resentment."

"If Skanderbeg had not been born, I would have long since put a turban on the head of the pope and the crescent moon on the top of St Peter's. Finally Europe and Asia are mine. Woe to Christianity. It has lost its sword and shield."

"Land of Albania! where Iskander rose, Theme of the young, and beacon of the wise, And he his namesake, whose oft-baffled foes Shrunk from his deeds of chivalrous emprize"

"[Skanderbeg is] an unshakable dam [who] stopped the fury of the Turkish tide and prevented it from overrunning Christian Europe."

"[Skanderbeg is] the most perfect, most fortunate and greatest master of warfare of all time."

"Don't worry about me. I'll take care of myself, but if I do fall it will be an honor to die the cause for which we and the Allies are fighting, side by side."

"At the time of his death Freudenberg was a runner for Company M, 309th Infantry, 78th Division. He was making his way to the rear in the battle after being wounded in the right leg when he was shot through the head and killed. He was born in Hoboken and as a lad attended P.S. No. 3 in Hoboken, New Jersey and later P.S. No. 8 in the Hudson City section. At the time he entered service, April 4, 1918 he was employed by Butler Brothers. He had trained at Camp Dix and in May 1918, sailed on the U.S.S. President Lincoln."

"Private Louis Julius Freudenberg; Co. 'M' 309th Infantry sailed from the U.S. May 19th, 1918. Arrived overseas May the 31st. Fought in the following battles: St. Mihiel offensive, September 12th to 15th, 1918; Limey Sector, September 16th to October 4th; Meuse Argonne offensive, October 11th to 16th. Private Freudenberg was a "runner" delivering messages along the lines. He was called an "angel" by the boys because he was constantly cheering them up, and had words of comfort for all. While participating in an attack on enemy positions near St. Juvin, France, on October 16th, 1918 he was wounded by machine gun bullets and was lying in a shell hole with his sergeant who was wounded in the arm. Private Freudenberg volunteered to try and get back [to] the line to summon aid for his sergeant, and when he arose to do so was shot in the head and killed. His body was laid to rest with full military honors, East of Champigneulle, France."

"Private Louis J. Freudenberg reported killed in action October 16, was a member of company M, 309th U.S. Infantry. He entered the service April 4, last and went overseas May 19. He was twenty-four years old and was born in Hoboken but his family moved to 63 Concord Street, Jersey City twenty years ago. Private Freudenberg graduated from Public School Number 6, Jersey City and at the time he joined the colors he held a responsible position with Butler Brothers, Jersey City."

"Medgar showed us that even in the face of adversity, we must continue to fight on. Although he knew he was placing himself in harm's way, he stopped fighting for equality and equity."

"He believes that new industries that have come to Mississippi should employ him above the laboring category. He wants the public schools and colleges desegregated so that his children can receive the best education that Mississippi has to offer."

"What then does the Negro want? He wants to get rid of racial segregation in Mississippi life . . . The Negro citizen wants to register and vote without special handicaps imposed on him alone . . . The Negro Mississippian wants more jobs above the menial level in stores where he spends his money."

"The Negro has been here in America since 1619, a total of 344 years. He is not going anywhere else; this country is his home. . . Let me appeal to the consciences of many silent, responsible citizens of the white community who know that a victory for democracy in Jackson will be a victory for democracy everywhere."

"We, as men, owe it to our fellow man and to our children to stand firm and stand out for those things that we are entitled to. I count it a blessing from God that I am able to withstand ridicule and abuse because I am willing to stand for my fellow man though many show no appreciation for the work that we are trying to do in their behalf."