The John Needham Commentary

[King Tiger Tank 0]

http://webpages.charter.net/jcneedham/Citadel.mp3

The Citadel Game 2004

My name is John Needham and these are my commentaries. The Citadel Game 2004.

I am dedicating this commentary to four groups of military people. The first group is the veterans, who answered the call to duty when their country needed them the most. I am also dedicating this commentary to our current men and women serving in uniform around the world, who are engaged in the War on Terror. May the blessings of an almighty God guide you and protect you. The third group includes those young men and women, who are training in military schools around the country. They are our future military leaders, our Pattons and Eisenhowers. Lastly, I wish to dedicate this commentary to those service men and women who have paid the ultimate price in defending our nation and preserving our greatest asset, FREEDOM.

It’s June 6, 1944. The New World comes to aid of the Old World.

The great American historian, Stephen Ambrose, called it the greatest turning point in the 20th century. D-Day. The largest amphibious assault in all of human history took place on June 6, 1944 in France on the shores Normandy, sixty years ago this year. At 0500 hours on D-Day, the outcome war for the Allies was very much in doubt. If Hitler’s armies were able to stop the invasion and drive the Allies back into the sea, the war would have gone on. The Holocaust would have gone on. The Germans watched as the Allies came closer. As the boat ramps came down, the Germans machine gunners opened up and I tell ya some those kids were killed before they could even get off the boat. It came down to a bunch of 18-19-20 and 21 year old kids…a private here a sergeant there from different companies, who decided they were not going to die on the beach. There was no retreat. So you had to decide if you were going to die or if you were going to die, try to take some Germans with ya. Among those who assaulted the beach included a young Captain in the 1st Engineers Special Brigade. I’ll tell ya about him at the end of my commentary.

World War II was won by average citizens called by the Tom Brokow of NBC News “The Greatest Generation”. People like Howard Elliot of Birmingham, AL, a veteran of the Pacific campaign against the Japanese and a 1950 graduate of Auburn. Howard was honored by the Shelby Co Auburn Club with the establishment of an endowment scholarship named in his honor this year. War Eagle, Howard …We love you. But, Heroes like Howard are born to every generation. There is retired Air force Colonel Tom Johnson of Mobile, AL. Now Tom is not an Auburn graduate but he has the heart of a tiger. Tom piloted a B52 Bomber in Vietnam. On one mission, Tom’s escort was off chasing down an enemy MIG, when suddenly the radar alarmed again. Another MIG fighter came up behind the bomber. Tom took immediate evasive action. The MIG came in close again. Tom’s Co-pilot looked at him and said, “What are we going to do?” Tom looked over to his friend and said, “We’re go’ in die.” But no sooner than he said that, Tom’s tail gunner opened up with 4-50 caliber machine guns and shot the son of a gun out of the sky.

As Auburn takes on the Citadel this Saturday, I find myself thinking about other things other than the game. Although, I feel confident Auburn will win the day. Auburn cannot afford to overlook the Canines from the Citadel. The worst possible thing Auburn can do now is lose focus. Let it be known from this commentator, here and now, this year Auburn has a date with destiny and the men from East Alabama will be ready to meet the cadets from South Carolina. I find myself thinking about those kids from the Citadel and all like them across the nation who one day could be called upon to deliver the last full measure of devotion to their country in the name of liberty and freedom. There is Dan Pate of Helena, AL at West Point. Dan is a friend of mine. His mother works in my office. Dan is in his second year at West Point and near the top of his class academically and a great boxer. There is Ben Johnson of Pelham, AL. Ben is the son of Tom and Carrie Johnson. Ben is a freshman attending Nebraska under a wrestling scholarship and is in ROTC. Dan and Ben represent everything that is good in our country today.

My mind is on those who have crossed over the river and have rested under the shade of the trees. The news constantly reminds us of the price of freedom. The cost of war has names associated to it and lives associated to the names. The cost reminds us all that FREEDOM is not an ABSOLUTE. The men and women who paid the highest price include Johnny Michael Spann. From a young age, Johnny wanted to pursue a career in the Marines and with either the CIA or FBI. After graduating from Winfield High School in Marion County, Alabama, he attended Auburn University where he earned a degree in criminal justice. He immediately pursued his next goal, serving in the Marine Corps from 1992-1999, and he earned the rank of captain. From there, he was recruited to work for the CIA in special operations. On Sunday, November 25, 2001, Johnny was killed while in combat with the Taliban during a prison uprising in Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan. He is the first American known to be killed in combat in Afghanistan in the War on Terror. Johnny is survived by his wife, Shannon, and 3 young children. The thoughts and prayers of the Auburn Family and the Nation remain with the families of Spann and all those like Johnny who have crossed over the river.

In closing lets back to D-Day and to our young Captain in the Engineers. He had seen combat before. He had hit the beaches of North Africa in 1942 and was with Patton’s 7th Army during the invasion of Sicily. The young Captain knew that this invasion would be different and now he knew the invasion was on when his company was ordered to stay on the ship during a normally scheduled invasion practice on June 5th. Under the cover of night, more than 4000 ships would start their slow move toward the coast of Normandy, the largest naval armada the world had seen. Everyone in the 1st Engineers remained awake. There was no need for sleep. The Captain thoughts drafted back and forth. He thought about his wife, Evelyn and their two daughters, Susan and Darby and their home in Alabama. The young Captain thought about his wedding anniversary, which would be in five days. He asked himself if he would be around to see it. At Dawn the young Captain gazed ahead and saw Hitler’s Fortress Europe. Fighting had already occurred. During the night, the airborne had dropped behind enemy lines. The young Captain wondered if the pre-bombardment from the air force had done any good. He soon boarded Higgins boat and headed ashore. The young Captain made it to the beach and scurried for cover but not before he was wounded. A German 88 shell exploded and tore into the Captain’s left arm. The wounded was not serious though. The Captain banded together with the remaining troops. They worked their way up the beach, weathered the German fire and eventually established the beachhead that would lead a year later to Victory in Europe. Do you know who the young Captain was? It was none other than Ralph Jordan, “Shug” Jordan, Auburn’s future football coach.

So, I salute you all. War Eagle, War Eagle Forever, God Bless the United States of America and her fighting service men and women and Beat the Citadel!

[sportwareagle 0]

That's a great post. Thanks for the input and beat the Citadel!

[Tiger in Spain 0]

As a show of respect for these fine young cadets from The Citadel, those going to the game should give them a standing ovation (after the game, of course) as they head back into the locker room. I would stand and cheer the loudest if I were able to be there.