In Honor

70 years ago, the Japanese launched a surprise attack on the Naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.  Eight battleships were damaged, and four were sunk.  In addition, three cruisers, three destroyers, a training ship, and a minelayer were damaged or sunk.  Over two thousand men were killed.  As a direct result of this event, the United States entered World War II, and by war's end nearly half a million Americans died.  Let us pause for a moment, consider, and honor.

Today, Harry Morgan, probably best known as Colonel Sherman T. Potter on M*A*S*H, passed away.  He was an amazing 96 years old.  Morgan never served in the military, although, being born in 1915, he lived through every war of the twentieth century.  He also acted in more than 100 films.  Col. Potter was for me, along with millions of others, a kind of role model--an old military man (symbolized by his horse, Sophie) who was simultaneously a curmudgeon and a humanitarian, a soldier and a pacifist, an old-fashioned guy and a progressive.  It was a brilliant character played by a brilliant actor.  Let us pause for a moment, consider, and honor.