tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3786818.post1264709353153786460..comments2024-03-18T17:08:18.111-05:00Comments on Fatale Abstraction: We will sell our lives dearly...phlegmfatalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08636803080525003892noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3786818.post-47138589751505558052009-03-06T13:51:00.000-06:002009-03-06T13:51:00.000-06:00I too was surprised at how small the Church itself...I too was surprised at how small the Church itself is. I think most are. But little of the fighting took place there. Much of the actual fighting happened at or near "the long barracks".<BR/><BR/>I first took the tour in 1968 while in flight school getting ready to go to Viet Nam, so it had particular significance for me then. At the time, with the exception of the Church the tour was self-guided, and I learned little more than what I had already read in history books.<BR/><BR/>Returning to San Antonio last fall to provide Hurricane Ike relief, I took the tour again. For a minimal fee you get a digital audio player and earphones and can spend as much or as little time walking around as you want. I heartily recommend doing it.<BR/><BR/>Things I learned this time that surprised me:<BR/>On the long march North to the Alamo, Santa Anna dealt with some of the freakiest weather in history there. There was a great deal of snow on the ground slowing their progress. Many of his men were worn down or incapacitated by the trek.<BR/><BR/>This battle might very well have saved the young United States from Mexican dominance/takeover. The men defending the Alamo diminished Santa Anna's forces and held them long enough for Sam Houston to build a force of men to take Santa Anna on. The battle of San Jacinto effectively defeated the strongest military force in the Western Hemisphere and allowed the fledgling United States to fill that vacuum.<BR/><BR/>For that, we can thank these brave men who chose to stay with Travis in what was pretty obviously a suicide mission. <BR/>Remember the Alamo.Greybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11919862790973521778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3786818.post-57872084294652077332009-02-24T11:07:00.000-06:002009-02-24T11:07:00.000-06:00A very stirring moment. I sometimes wonder, when ...A very stirring moment. I sometimes wonder, when I look around at my fellow shooters during a match - what would we do? It's often the case of a few brave men and women doing things that the Big Dogs didn't know how to respond - and getting slapped-down that makes a difference.NotClauswitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14358707844087117280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3786818.post-41788805250965719302009-02-23T16:59:00.000-06:002009-02-23T16:59:00.000-06:00Thanks, I needed to read something like that today...Thanks, I needed to read something like that today.kavemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05921562341658397891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3786818.post-72627749970067567232009-02-23T12:40:00.000-06:002009-02-23T12:40:00.000-06:00They were a pretty scruffy lot, but did a hellva j...They were a pretty scruffy lot, but did a hellva job...Old NFOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16404197287935017147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3786818.post-8976384524762849102009-02-23T12:31:00.000-06:002009-02-23T12:31:00.000-06:00I first set foot in the Alamo two years ago. The ...I first set foot in the Alamo two years ago. The visit had been on my list since 1963 while I was at basic training (Lackland AFB), but was never granted a pass to go into town. To say it was worth the wait is an understatement of MASSIVE proportions. The other places I've been in my life that evoked the emotions I felt therein are few, VERY few.Buckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05319116022465066060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3786818.post-18301673906837031552009-02-23T05:51:00.000-06:002009-02-23T05:51:00.000-06:00Gives me goosebumps thinking of their patriotism a...Gives me goosebumps thinking of their patriotism and bravery.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the heads up and the honorary title.<BR/><BR/>Hugs,<BR/>FloFlohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09399341816112338080noreply@blogger.com