Corporal Leonard W. Putnam, May 25, 1945

May 25, 1945 - May 25, 2010

GO TELL THE SPARTANS, STRANGER PASSING BY,
THAT HERE OBEDIENT TO THEIR LAWS, WE LIE.


27 years after the war to end all wars ended, 18 years after the world outlawed war, 12 years after the great naval powers decided to limit the size of warships my wife’s great uncle was blown up “in the Pacific Area”. It was 65 years ago today.

[As an aside, it is still passing strange that despite the pledges made by the signators of the London Naval Treaty 2 of them, in two different oceans, tried mightily to sink the ship my wife’s surgeon father served on. The treaty that “outlawed war” set a record for Nobel Prizes that was unmatched until they began to be handed out as consolation prizes for losing American Presidential elections and then for winning one.]

My wife’s great uncle was a 42 year old piano salesman from Jersey City, New Jersey. According to eye witnesses a Japanese mortar shell took off the upper right quadrant of his body on May 25, 1945. It was quick and clean. It happened on Okinawa.

I have the scroll signed by President Truman. It reads…

HE STANDS IN THE UNBROKEN LINE OF PATRIOTS
WHO HAVE DARED TO DIE THAT FREEDOM MIGHT LIVE,
AND GROW, AND INCREASE ITS BLESSINGS.
FREEDOM LIVES,
AND THROUGH IT, HE LIVES –
IN A WAY THAT HUMBLES THE UNDERTAKINGS OF MOST MEN.

He and Aunt Millie had no children. My search for other relatives ended in 1997.

I do something like this every May 25th. As long as I mention his name he is among the remembered. His grave number is N 1416.

I have seen the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

I have seen the Queen place a wreath at the Cenotaph.

Corporal Leonard W. Putnam, an American soldier. Sleep well. Achilles has welcomed you.

Your country will be in your debt. Forever.


KS