Soldiers once and now

Please allow a small intrusion on our discussion about building a more progressive South. I'd like to reconize a series of stories worthy of wider distribution. It's a story where many of the key players are Southern. Some hail from small Alabama towns like Auburn and Alexandria. Many played college sports in the South. It's a war story, one that military-proud Southerners will identify with. But the real reason for posting it is so that we won't forget the sacrifices of soldiers made famous in the book "We Were Soldiers Once ... and Young."

This month marks the 40th anniversary of this historic Vietnam War battle. Earlier in November, Anniston Star Sports Editor Jimmy Creed spoke with some of the survivors from Ia Drang, offering a poignant reminder of the events. You can read them here, here and here.

As the nation finds itself in yet another difficult military situation -- this time in Iraq -- one Vietnam vet Creed spoke with presents a clear-eyed GI's perspective. "Hate the war, love the warrior."