Three Wars, Ex-Double POW Marine Undaunted Life

Marine survives being a POW in two different wars, returns home to live the American dream

Department of Veterans Affairs

October 31, 2017

Undaunted and undefeated, despite years of imprisonment and brutality, Harrison continued to serve our country in Vietnam until he was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps as a lieutenant colonel on June 30, 1969.

Charles L. Harrison was born outside Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1921. Barely out of High School, Harrison enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1939.By August 1941 he was on his way to Wake Island, a vital staging area for the coming war in the Pacific.

Of the 449 Marines who manned Wake’s defenses when Wake Island was bombarded by Japanese forces a few hours after the Dec. 7 attack on Pearl Harbor, 49 were killed, 32 were wounded, and the remainder, including 20 year old Charlie Harrison, became prisoners of war.

For 45 long months, during which he contracted malaria and other assorted maladies, Harrison suffered under the hands of the Japanese until he was rescued at the end of WWII with less than 110 pounds on his 5-foot 9½-inch frame.

With his courage and love of country intact, Harrison returned home to marry his childhood sweetheart and start a family. He and his growing family enjoyed a peaceful existence until the morning of June 25, 1950, when ninety thousand North Korean troops pushed across the 38th parallel, thus commencing the Korean War.

On Sept. 15, 1950, U.S. Marines under the direction of General Douglas MacArthur made a surprise amphibious landing at Inchon, on the west coast of Korea. Harrison was one of those Marines. 

On Nov. 29, at the Chosin Reservoir Campaign, after a battle in which Harrison was wounded and for which he later received a Purple Heart, he was captured by the Chinese communist forces and again found himself held as a prisoner of war – one of only two Marines in U.S. history to hold the dubious distinction of being held as a POW in two different wars.

Harrison remained in captivity until he, along with seventeen fellow POWs, managed to escape six months later.

This great American hero passed away with little fanfare on Jan. 17, 2015.

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Commander John Wells Stood Up to NFL, Turned Down Award

Retired Naval officer and military veteran's advocate turns down award at Saints game
USA Today
Paul Murphy
November 2, 2017

Wells, a disabled veteran claims protestors are dishonoring the military and the flag.

"They can do it," Wells said. "They have that right, no question. I've got the right to turn it off. I got the right to not go into an NFL stadium and I have the right to decline the award."

A retired Naval officer and military veteran's advocate has declined to be honored at the New Orleans Saints-Tampa Bay Buccaneers game in the Mercedes Benz Superdome on Sunday.

Commander John Wells was to receive the Peoples Health Champion award for exceptional achievements after age 65.

"I admire them for what they're doing," Wells said. "I admire the award. I'm just sorry that the circumstances are such that I could not ethically accept it."

Wells added he won't walk into an NFL stadium while players continue to protest during the national anthem.

Some players around the league are taking a knee during the anthem to shine a light on social injustice.
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And exactly how did they respond?
New York Daily News

"Unfortunately, he has chosen very publicly not to accept this honor and refused the opportunity to promote the very cause for which he was being honored and distract from awareness we hoped to build throughout our community."

Guess they didn't notice the Veterans Community has been very aware of how the NFL actually feels about veterans. When a 'PUBLIC STUNT' allowing players to take a knee during the National Anthem has been more acceptable THAN A VETERAN TELLING THEM NO THANKS! The damage done between fans and the owners may never be repaired. 


UPDATE

I tried to get back to work on something I'm working on for Veterans Day, but I could not get my mind to focus on it. Before this story makes my head explode, I need to go on a rant, so if you want to stop reading now, it is ok. I don't blame you.

I've read too many times on social media that some people do not see it as disrespecting the men and women serving this country. They can't understand how it is disrespecting the flag. 

Unlike when their Moms told them they are special, the protestors seem to think they simply deserve respect for being born. Anything they want to do should be acceptable to the rest of us without ever earning any of it other than getting thousands of people to follow their postings.

I wonder if they ever listened to the words of the National Anthem?

The Star-Spangled Banner

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight'

O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming.

And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen, thro' the mists of the deep,

Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,

What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,

As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,

In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream;

'Tis the star-spangled banner: oh, long may it wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore

That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion

A home and a country should leave us no more?

Their blood has wash'd out their foul footstep's pollution.

No refuge could save the hireling and slave

From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Oh, thus be it ever when free men shall stand,

Between their loved homes and the war's desolation;

Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued landv Praise the Power that has made and preserved us as a nation.

Then conquer we must, when our cause is just,

And this be our motto: "In God is our trust";

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Written by Francis Scott Key on 

September 14th, 1814.

Are there some police officers who should not have joined the force? Sure, but the protestors seem to want to blame all police officers. The thing is, the good ones are the majority and they still show up to put their lives on the line for people who hate them.

Now the NFL is being grouped because a minority of the players seem to think it is ok to disrespect the Anthem that was written in tribute to the men and women who put their lives on the line in defense of this country. 

If they cannot understand what those words mean, or why they have the right to protest, then how would they know what respect is when they see it? If they cannot see what disrespect is to others, perhaps they never will.

Should people fight for justice? Absolutely! That is the foundation of this nation when it began in Massachusetts and has not stopped because brave people stand up and risk everything for the sake of others.

Taking a knee during a football game informs the public of how little they matter when players seem to believe their opinion matters more than what the fans may personally think about a subject. 

It is like going to a deli and hearing someone behind the counter defending the livestock. Really bad for that business! 

The right to protest is theirs but it also the right of those who disagree with them to also protest in a way the NFL will understand. They are taking their money, and their limited free time, to do something other than support the NFL.

 

Trusted to Care for Veterans, Going to Jail for Abusing Them

15 yrs in prison for former physician’s assistant who sexually assaulted vets at Leavenworth V.A. Hospital
FOX 4KC
BY MICHELLE PEKARSKY
NOVEMBER 3, 2017

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. — A former physician’s assistant found guilty of sexually assaulting patients at the Leavenworth Veterans Administration hospital was sentenced Friday to 15 years in prison.

In August, Mark Wisner, 66, was found guilty on one count of criminal sodomy, one count of aggravated sexual battery, and three counts of sexual battery.

Court documents say Wisner admitted to V.A. special agents investigating sexual abuse claims that he performed genital exams on men that were ‘excessive and unnecessary.’ Documents also state that Wisner said he ‘lost control’ and it became an ingrained habit.

During his trial, victims testified that Wisner groped their genitals, forced them to get prostate and genital exams they didn`t need, and had even made sexual advances. Some said Wisner would withhold medication if they didn`t go through with the exams.

The judge sentenced Wisner to 15 years and 5 months in prison (187 months) for the combined charges. Wisner will also have to register as a sex offender. Fox 4’s Kera Mashek was in the courtroom and reports Wisner could be eligible for parole after three years.
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New Smyrna Beach Officer and Veteran Killed in Car Crash

Off-duty New Smyrna Beach police officer killed in crash

WESH 2 News

November 2, 2017

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. — An off-duty New Smyrna Beach police officer was killed Thursday morning after his car went off the road, rolled over and struck a tree. The Florida Highway Patrol said Josh Calverley, 29, was traveling northbound on U.S. 1 around 1:45 a.m. when he veered off the road and into the median. 

Troopers said he overcorrected, rolled over and hit a tree. Calverley, who lives in South Daytona, was an officer for the New Smyrna Beach Police Department and a U.S. Army veteran. 

He would have been with department for two years in December. Calverley was in his personal vehicle at the time of the crash. The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
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Iraq Veteran Got Second Chance Being Good Dad Because of Good People

In crisis after Iraq tour, Kansas City veteran given second chance at fatherhood

KSHB News
Steven Dial
November 2, 2017

He felt he was out of options, so Brown put a call into the VA for help. He received a PTSD diagnosis after his military service, and workers moved to get him into a rehabilitation program through KVC Health Services.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- After returning from serving in Iraq, James Brown’s life went in a downward spiral. He got addicted to pain pills, went to jail and lost custody of his children.

“It’s not how you start, but how you finish that matters.” The old saying rings true for Brown.

He served our country, then came home to a broken family. His troubles went out of control when his wife left him. Brown was arrested multiple times after his return from Iraq in 2015, once on a weapons charge.

“I tried to commit suicide, then I got addicted to pain pills, which also got me in trouble with the law,” said Brown. “I was on my way to try and commit homicide -- kill me and my kids.”

His two young children, Jayden and Adrianna, went to live with Cathy and Stu MacFarlane as part of the foster home program. While the couple has children of their own, they’ve also spent the past four years opening their home to children in need.
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