#thelostranger

[noelmehlo]

Are We Failing the Legacy of World War II?

The threat of World War III looms over the horizon. At this point in time, the question is not whether or not it will happen, but rather, when will it happen? The signs are all pointing to the direction of another war and it is probably too late to stop it on its tracks. Russia, for example, has begun making moves, annexing land that was once part of its territory. China has caused a rift in the Pacific over rightful ownership of the South China Sea. It’s neighboring countries are not happy with China. Will China sacrifice its trade economy for the sake of its extending its territory? Millions of people are already suffering from war-related problems, especially in the Middle East. Millions are without homes and livelihoods. Millions had to flee and seek refuge in other countries. Millions had to suffer the loss of a loved one. Millions continue to fear for their lives. What happened to the legacy of World War II? What happened to the lasting global peace that was supposed to be the reward of the atrocities of the war? What happened to the international brotherhood fostered by the war? Are we failing the legacy of the World War II? Yes, we have failed it all right. Every time a nation promotes its selfish interest, we fail as a whole. Every time we disrespect the rights of other nations, we fail as people. World War II taught us lessons and gave us valuable assets to continue living in peace (like the United Nations), but the pressures of the present times are more powerful than the lessons of the past. Or perhaps, the past just has the knack of repeating itself. *** This is one lesson from The Lost Ranger that is so important. The family of Staff Sergeant Hull had to and continues to endure the pain of what was first thought as a suicide for some seventy years. This pain caused by that original assumption permeated the lives of his entire family. Other families have likewise suffered horribly due to this topic across history, all wars, and all countries. Care for and love each other Read the full article

[noelmehlo]

Leaders of World War II

World War II divided the world into two powerful factions—the Allied Power and the Axis Power. The Axis, established when the Tripartite Pact was signed in 1940, was headed by Germany, Italy, and Japan. Germany was led by its führer, Adolf Hitler, who turned the country into a fascist, anti-Semitic state. Hitler was extremely aggressive with his foreign policies, which led to the Holocaust where about six million Jews were murdered between 1941 and 1945. Benito Mussolini was the prime minister of Italy from 1922 to 1943.  Under Mussolini, Italy became the first fascist state and espoused nationalism, anti-socialism, anti-communism, and militarism together with strict state propaganda. Emperor Hirohito was the emperor of Japan from 1926 to 1989. Although he was the commander of the Imperial General Headquarters, it was Hideki Tojo, prime minister of Japan from 1941 to 1944, who was the strong supporter of the war against the Allied forces. Allied forces were led by Britain, the United States, Soviet Union, France, and China, but it should be known that winning over the Axis power was an effort that involved the whole world, not just the big 5 countries. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin were the main men of the Allied forces. Together with other leaders from other nations, they planned for the eventual defeat of Hitler and his cohorts, but more importantly, they laid the foundation for what we now know as the United Nations, an organization that stands for equality and peace and that transcends race, geographical location, and religion.  There were other leaders that will forever be remembered for their contributions to World War II. Two of the most notable are General Erwin Rommel of the German army.  Popularly known as Desert Fox, Rommel was a brilliant military theorist. Another one is General Douglas MacArthur who played a huge role in the Pacific theater, driving the Japanese out of the Philippines being one of them. *** This is one lesson from The Lost Ranger that is so important. The family of Staff Sergeant Hull had to and continues to endure the pain of what was first thought as a suicide for some seventy years. This pain caused by that original assumption permeated the lives of his entire family. Other families have likewise suffered horribly due to this topic across history, all wars, and all countries. Care for and love each other. Read the full article

[noelmehlo]

PTSD: The Silent War

Wars are very expensive and cost millions of lives, as shown in the two Great World wars in recent history. The Second World War was the deadliest and most expensive war in human history and killed millions of people, decimated Europe, and ended with the most devastating weapon of mass destruction at that time dropped on Japan. What is not mentioned in the history books is that combat veterans bring with them the horrors they have suffered during the war. Many survivors report that they suddenly wake up in the middle of the night because of nightmares—they still think they were in the war. A lot suffer from restless sleep, chronic anxiety and depression too, becoming a puzzle for their families and loved ones. They experiencing PTSD or Posttraumatic Stress Disorder due to their traumatic experience in conflict. PTSD has only been officially recognized as a mental disorder in the eighties after a high number of cases of US military veterans experiencing this. However, this condition has been observed way back to ancient Greeks and more in the two Great World wars. It was known before as “shell shock” or “combat neurosis.” It has become a silent war among war veterans. After returning from their service, they suffer in silence. Most of them choose to hide it, no matter how troubling and life-threatening it may be to them and no matter how hard the family or loved ones endure and suffer alongside their negativity and even physical violence. The culture of machismo in a patriarchal society shuts down the combat veteran to get help that they need, saying war is a very masculine thing and there is nothing wrong with that. Stigma of seeing a psychiatrist too plays a role in choosing suffering rather than being branded as crazy. The US government has recognized this debilitating condition among war veterans and has created the National Center for PTSD. It has funded researches on how to treat this condition and has been helping thousands of war veterans for years. This is a big help to the people who served the country well. It is with hope in our hearts that we wish every combat veteran, and every single person suffering from any form of mental illness, well. Their kind of personal war is oftentimes a hundredfold more difficult than any actual combat and is just as deadly. Hopefully, it gets better for everyone. *** This is one lesson from The Lost Ranger that is so important. The family of Staff Sergeant Hull had to and continues to endure the pain of what was first thought as a suicide for some seventy years. This pain caused by that original assumption permeated the lives of his entire family. Other families have likewise suffered horribly due to this topic across history, all wars, and all countries. Care for and love each other. Read the full article

[noelmehlo]

Remembering the Dead Even If They Don’t Care

For decades, Americans have set aside one day every year to honor the men and women who have given their lives in service to our country under the US military. This day is called Memorial Day. Originally, this was holiday was known as Decoration Day which started after the Civil War. It was only in 1971 that it became a federal holiday.  People celebrate Memorial Day in different ways. Those who have lost someone visit their loved one’s graves and memorials. Some families hold family gatherings while some go out to watch the parades.  While all the fanfare is full of colors, fun, and grandeur, we need to be able to reach beyond that and remember the real reason for this special day. To ensure that the true meaning will not be forgotten, a resolution was passed for a National Moment of Remembrance every 3:00 p.m. on Memorial Day. This moment of silence is a simple moment of appreciation and remembrance for those brave individuals who have given their life in service of others.  Memorial Days marks a moment for people to reflect on the sacrifices of men and women in service, and while it may be for the dead and they may not be aware of what we do, we need to take this day to honor them and keep their memories alive through simple ways. What we do may create ripples of hope and service in others that will honor their memory more than any parade or gathering can do.  You can donate to veteran charities. These charities usually help out living veterans who need assistance after their service as they transition back to civil life. You can show national unity by flying your flag proudly outside your homes or offices. You can also volunteer your time doing acts of service in honor of the veterans, such as helping out in the veterans’ cemetery or helping your local churches or organizations who have activities for families.  And lastly, and more importantly, teach your children about the true meaning of this day. Tell them stories of family members who were part of the service or stories of heroes who have made a mark in history. Remember all these heroes in the spirit of reverence and merriment, just the way they wanted.  *** This is one lesson from The Lost Ranger that is so important. The family of Staff Sergeant Hull had to and continues to endure the pain of what was first thought as a suicide for some seventy years. This pain caused by that original assumption permeated the lives of his entire family. Other families have likewise suffered horribly due to this topic across history, all wars, and all countries. Care for and love each other. Read the full article

[noelmehlo]

Running into Red Tapes

According to Webster, red tape is an “official routine or procedure marked by excessive complexity which results in delay or inaction.” There are many circumstances that may lead to a red tape. Searching for someone unaccounted for in a war or searching for someone’s records are two good examples of such situations. Needless to say, the military is one institution that strictly upholds its chain of command and the hundreds of internal and external procedures that allow the institution to ran as smoothly as possible. Ordinarily, these procedures are respected too by civilian people, but there are not-so-ordinary times when a civilian wants nothing more than to hasten a process. Again, such is the case when searching closure. Understandably, decades after a war, records may get lost, replaced, or moved to another area. Understandably, people who once oversaw the needs, questions, and what-nots of families may no longer be in the same place or the same position. Understandably, the sympathy for those still MIA may wane some. After years, those are all unfortunate yet understandable turn of events, but nobody wants them and the red tape that is sure to slow processes even more. Some families who lost a soldier in a war launch their own search in hopes of speeding up the process. Oftentimes, this is a costly and taxing endeavor, but when you want to find someone, dead or alive, you prod on. In recent history, veterans of the Iraq war found themselves up against red tapes when claiming benefits. There were or still are long waits for disability and other similar benefits that veterans are entitled to. There are thousands of backlogged claims that have been waiting for results for more than four months. Society obviously needs to follow rules and proper procedures to ensure systems run smoothly, but when those are not working anymore, perhaps it is time to rethink them. *** This is one lesson from The Lost Ranger that is so important. The family of Staff Sergeant Hull had to and continues to endure the pain of what was first thought as a suicide for some seventy years. This pain caused by that original assumption permeated the lives of his entire family. Other families have likewise suffered horribly due to this topic across history, all wars, and all countries. Care for and love each other. Read the full article

[noelmehlo]

Why We Seek Out What We’ve Lost

At some point in life, all of us search for something. Perhaps we search for the fulfillment of our dreams. Perhaps we are looking for the answers to the important questions in life. Perhaps we are looking for peace of mind or for a quiet place to call our sanctuary. Perhaps we are searching for the love of our life. Perhaps we want justice to be served. Perhaps we are looking for people we’ve lost and memories we desperately want to linger on. Whatever it is we are searching for, almost always, we are in search for our own benefit, not to benefit the object or subject of our search. This much is true during and after a war. The same applies when families and friends back home search for their missing soldiers. True enough, fast and swift search-and-rescue missions might save those who are initially listed as missing in action. That part of the operation is clearly for the missing persons, but when there is no possible reconciliation, why do we still continue searching, sometimes even years after one was lost? We search for closure. Despite knowing the probable results of our search, we continue in order to finally and completely leave the past to the past. Take those soldiers in World War II who are still categorized as missing in action. There are still 72,000 World War II soldiers unaccounted for today. Imagine their families. Imagine their friends. Since the war ended, that part of their lives has remained a question mark. There are no bodies to bury, and except for the graves for the unknown, there is no particular grave to mourn over. Over the course of the years, these bereaved families and friends must have wondered a thousand times what transpired during the last moments of their soldiers—What happened to them? Where did they go? What were their last thoughts? It’s easy to emphasize with bereaved families and friends. We only need to put ourselves in their shoes and let our humanity prevail. Losing someone in a war and not knowing what happened to him or her is a pain that no one should suffer. Wars should never happen in the first place. Not after the destruction we’ve seen in the past. It is with love, so much love, that we remember the families and friends of those 72,000 lost soldiers. May they find their peace. Read the full article

[noelmehlo]

Justice After World War II

From 1945 to 1949, thirteen trials were held in Nuremberg, Germany, to hold accountable every person responsible for the atrocities of World War II. These trials are famously known as the Nuremberg Trials, and these were presided by judges from the Allied forces. Before the surrender of Germany in June 1945, the Allied forces were already considering how to bring justice to all the victims of the war. How were they going to try and persecute all the perpetrators when the crimes and injustices were so massive? Finally, the leaders agreed to try the highest-ranking officers of the German army as well as individuals who played major roles in the war, like the doctors who participated in the Nazi killing programs. The Nuremberg Trials were greatly controversial at the time. Many believed that the trials were done for revenge and became a show of power instead of principles. The trials were seen as a lynching party. However, today, the trials are seen as a major accomplishment after such difficult and dark times. After all, the trials laid the foundation of many international laws for peace, security, and justice. It is worth noting that Adolf Hitler was not brought to the Nuremberg Trials. Hitler, and other high-ranking members of the Nazi, committed suicide before Germany’s defeat. Perhaps in this sense, and in many other aspects, there was no complete justice for all the victims of World War II, but all wars are often as such. Imagine the family of a soldier who died in a war. Despite the persecution of those responsible, what can restore his life? Will life imprisonment suffice or is death sentence necessary? In 1945, there were twelve men who received death sentence, and three who received life imprisonment. These numbers were multiplied a few times over throughout the course of the trials, but the number is a far cry when compared to the millions who died an untimely death due to crimes against humanity. The world, however, did not stop revolving and time did not stand still. Life goes on but we remember. Never again. *** This is one lesson from The Lost Ranger that is so important. The family of Staff Sergeant Hull had to and continues to endure the pain of what was first thought as a suicide for some seventy years. This pain caused by that original assumption permeated the lives of his entire family. Other families have likewise suffered horribly due to this topic across history, all wars, and all countries. Care for and love each other. Read the full article

[noelmehlo]

Factors That Put Soldiers to the Test

We know the horrors of war. Images and stories about war-torn countries are often in the news. They move us to pity and fear. They warn us of a similar fate should we take our freedom and security for granted. Often, we read and hear stories about families torn by war when a father, a son, a brother leaves home to go to war. Some kids grow up without the daily physical presence of their daddies. Some parents rely on technology to see their son who is stationed in a far-flung place. These are stories that affect us, mere onlookers, but what are the factors that affect soldiers when they are in a war zone? First and foremost, emotional attachments. They may be tough, muscled, fearless heroes but they too miss their friends and families at home, where there is a sense of security, where they don’t need to keep heightened senses in order to survive. Second, physical comfort. They too crave for warm, delicious meals and soft, comfortable bed in a secured environment and where they get enough quality sleep. In remote places where they are often stationed, they are removed from the comforts of a developed community, and they are always set against nature, braving heat or cold whenever necessary. These elements beat their bodies, often testing their physical strength more than anything else. Most importantly, the psychological aspect. Most men sent to wars haven’t even fired a single shot their entire life; most do not know the test of mental, physical, and emotional endurance they must survive in order to come home to their families. Some of them haven’t been away from home for a long time, yet they go to far places where the only family and friend they will know are men of similar fate, their brothers in arms. How do they reconcile their faith and beliefs in the face of danger, when they have to pull the trigger and kill? How do they last without seeing their loved ones who are in the hospital or who are about to accomplish something without them? How do they face their own fear of being killed in a foreign land? These and more are the unfathomable factors that truly test each and every soldier. Because of these things that they have to endure, and for putting their lives at risk over and over for us who are safely tucked in our homes, they deserve nothing less than our sappiest salute. *** This is one lesson from The Lost Ranger that is so important. The family of Staff Sergeant Hull had to and continues to endure the pain of what was first thought as a suicide for some seventy years. This pain caused by that original assumption permeated the lives of his entire family. Other families have likewise suffered horribly due to this topic across history, all wars, and all countries. Care for and love each other. Read the full article