Choicemaker
04-14-07, 12:09 PM
Carl V. "Sam" Lamb and I served side-by-side as rifle-squad
leaders; Fox Company, 'Chesty' Puller's 1st Marines, 1st Marine
Division. He wrote a book about our experiences in the Korean
conflict, 1950-1951. He included my remarks about an incident in
which one of our people threatened to punch-out a fellow squad-
leader who had black skin.
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THE LAST PARADE
by Carl V. "Sam" Lamb Page 296 (re 1951)
James Fletcher Baxter
"Sam" and I had a lot in common. We both resisted evil. After I
got out of the hospital, Big Jim Causey told of driving along
in his police cruiser and hitting a black man in his head
with his pistol. He thought it was funny how the guy sprawled
into the street. When he made this comment we were in a card
game. I didn't say anything, but then he said he was going to
kick the **** out of Joe Goggins and I had heard enough. I
said, "If you're going to try that, you'll have to go through
me to get to him. I'm willing to give my life for a country
that values each individual. If that isn't true, I don't want
to fight for that country - but, it is true, so I'm not going
to let you rob me of the very good reason I may lose my life
tomorrow or next week. If you attack him, you attack me. I
may lose, but I guarantee I will make it very expensive for
you to get to him. Let me know what you decide."
He got up from our card game and said, "I'll have to think
about it."
I said, "Let me know. I'll be here."
He came back a little later and said, "You're right. I was
wrong." I thanked him for his manliness.
Joe Goggins came to me later and thanked me. He had wet eyes.
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Added 4/14/07 to: anichols NYDailyNews w/Thanx:
Shortly after the above event, Jim Causey was called home for family
member medical problems. On his way back to the States, he passed
through a Naval medical facility. While there he ran into my brother
"Barney" who had just been sent stateside for his Chosen Reservoir
frost-bitten feet.
He told my brother what had happened and said "how much it
had changed " his life. He said Joe and I had forgiven him and he
would "never go back to the old collective point of view." He was
really joyful because he was honestly able to forgive himself! He
became a manly man - a good Marine. - with Honor.
I'm pleased the Rutgers women accepted Imus' apology. They, and
others, need to forgive. We all need to grow. Good examples are
always in short supply. God bless my Country and its individuals.
vincit veritas
Jim Baxter
Sgt. USMC
WWII & Korean War
semper fidelis
Santa Maria, CA
+ + +
leaders; Fox Company, 'Chesty' Puller's 1st Marines, 1st Marine
Division. He wrote a book about our experiences in the Korean
conflict, 1950-1951. He included my remarks about an incident in
which one of our people threatened to punch-out a fellow squad-
leader who had black skin.
+ + +
THE LAST PARADE
by Carl V. "Sam" Lamb Page 296 (re 1951)
James Fletcher Baxter
"Sam" and I had a lot in common. We both resisted evil. After I
got out of the hospital, Big Jim Causey told of driving along
in his police cruiser and hitting a black man in his head
with his pistol. He thought it was funny how the guy sprawled
into the street. When he made this comment we were in a card
game. I didn't say anything, but then he said he was going to
kick the **** out of Joe Goggins and I had heard enough. I
said, "If you're going to try that, you'll have to go through
me to get to him. I'm willing to give my life for a country
that values each individual. If that isn't true, I don't want
to fight for that country - but, it is true, so I'm not going
to let you rob me of the very good reason I may lose my life
tomorrow or next week. If you attack him, you attack me. I
may lose, but I guarantee I will make it very expensive for
you to get to him. Let me know what you decide."
He got up from our card game and said, "I'll have to think
about it."
I said, "Let me know. I'll be here."
He came back a little later and said, "You're right. I was
wrong." I thanked him for his manliness.
Joe Goggins came to me later and thanked me. He had wet eyes.
+ + +
Added 4/14/07 to: anichols NYDailyNews w/Thanx:
Shortly after the above event, Jim Causey was called home for family
member medical problems. On his way back to the States, he passed
through a Naval medical facility. While there he ran into my brother
"Barney" who had just been sent stateside for his Chosen Reservoir
frost-bitten feet.
He told my brother what had happened and said "how much it
had changed " his life. He said Joe and I had forgiven him and he
would "never go back to the old collective point of view." He was
really joyful because he was honestly able to forgive himself! He
became a manly man - a good Marine. - with Honor.
I'm pleased the Rutgers women accepted Imus' apology. They, and
others, need to forgive. We all need to grow. Good examples are
always in short supply. God bless my Country and its individuals.
vincit veritas
Jim Baxter
Sgt. USMC
WWII & Korean War
semper fidelis
Santa Maria, CA
+ + +