Sheriff Scott Israel Broward Sheriff’s Office

February 27, 2018

Sheriff Scott Israel

Broward Sheriff’s Office

2601 W. Broward Blvd.

Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33312

Sheriff Israel,

“Why us, Sarge, Why us?”

“Because we’re here lad, because we’re here.”

“Just that.”

“Here” was Rorke’s Drift Crossing. “Us” was 105 British soldiers from the South Wales Borderers, 2^nd Battalion of the 24^th Regiment of Foot.

On the other side of the mealie bag wall was an impi of at least 5,000 Zulu warriors. These warriors had just finished washing their spears at Ishandalwana. 1,500 British soldiers, the entire column, had been killed.

And the Zulu, a people for whom the word fierce was invented, were coming.

The British stood, carried the day, and won 11 Victoria Crosses.

One of my strongest memories of 9/11/01 came from Dick Oliver, a local NYC reporter. His comment, late in the afternoon, when it was obvious that a lot of firemen would not be going back to their houses, was simple and true: “You can always tell who the heroes are; They are the ones who run to the burning building.”

The men of Torpedo Squadron 8 and thank God for GOOGLE took off at Midway knowing that the return half of their ticket would not be used. They died “facing the front”.

A Spartan wife would tell her Hoplite husband to come home either with his shield or on it.

I shan’t mention the Alamo.

And now we cone to February 14, 2019.

Fish stink from the head.

1, possibly as many as 5 of your deputies, including one commander, showed the White Feather.

It is irrelevant why they failed to do their duty. Why they didn’t go “over the top” will be debated at a different time. There is always time for an autopsy. MacArthur said every losing battle can be explained and defined by 2 words: “Too late”

The United States fired the Admiral in charge of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941,

Save the people the spectacle of having your epaulets torn from your shoulders.

As Cromwell said, “In the name of God, go”.

Kevin Smith

PS – At the end of the day at Thermopylae Leonidas supposedly said, “Go stranger, and tell the Spartans we lie here obedient to their laws”. If you are not prepared to “see the elephant”, maybe alone, maybe outgunned, don’t put the badge on. Do something good. Go.