Chuck Roots
12 March 2018
www.chuckroots.com
The Ripon Bulletin
Warrior Culture
Over the expanse of human history, a
definite group of people in each society has emerged and remained. This group
is often referred to as a “warrior culture.”
“A warrior is a person specializing in combat or warfare, especially
within the context of a tribal or clan-based warrior culture society that
recognizes a separate warrior class or caste.”
There is a strange phenomenon that takes place
within cultures that have a warrior culture. When that culture finds itself
threatened by outside forces, they turn to the warriors, or army, to confront
the foe in order to protect the general populace. Though this warrior class is
expected to be prepared to take on all comers, when the battles are over and
all has returned to normal, the warriors who have done all the heavy lifting
are expected to disappear until needed the next time a threat is on the
horizon.
Many of the greatest and most fearsome warrior
cultures became more than protectors of their tribe or people group. Often
these warriors took advantage of their military power and acumen, becoming predators
of the very people they were expected to shield from evil forces.
The United States of America is a rare exception when
it comes to establishing and maintaining a warrior culture. When it became
evident that the colonists were going to end up doing battle with Great Britain
and her vaunted Red Coats, the Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to
establish a standing army. It was on April 19, 1775 that the “Shot heard round
the world” was fired during a stand-off between the American “Minutemen” and
the British Redcoats on Lexington (Massachusetts) Green. This brief skirmish
quickly moved to the next town of Concord, and the American Revolutionary War
was underway.
However, it was not until June 14, 1775 that “Congress approved the
raising of 10 companies of riflemen to enlist in Maryland, Pennsylvania and
Virginia until the end of the Revolutionary War.” At the time, this band of warriors was
known as the Continental Army but is still regarded as the birthday of the
United States Army.
Some
months later, the Continental Navy was formed, giving birth on October 13 to
what would later become the United States Navy. In all six frigates were
commissioned and used for several decades, especially against the pirates from
four Muslim African Mediterranean countries preying on ships, stealing cargo,
and taking control of the ships for their own use. The sailors were taken
prisoner and made slaves on these pirate ships.
The
next military force to be birthed was the Continental Marines on November 10,
1775. In a famous watering hole known as Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, the first
Marines were recruited “to conduct ship-to-ship fighting, provide shipboard
security and discipline enforcement, and assist in landing forces.” They were known primarily for their
exceptional fighting ability.
The
United States Coast Guard was established on August 4, 1790, known then as the Revenue
Marine. Not until January 28, 1915 was this naval force named the United States
Coast Guard.
With
the advent of flight, early military fighting forces were part of either the
Army, the Navy, or the Marine Corps. Formed initially August 1, 1907, the Army
Air Corps became a significant force all in its own, eventually separating from
the Army to become the United States Air Force on September 18, 1947.
What
makes our military unique in the realm of warriors is that all branches of our
military serve at the pleasure of the head of the civilian government – the President
of the United States. The President is Constitutionally appointed to be the
president of all Americans, but (s)he is the Commander in Chief of every single
person serving in the uniform of our military. This was brilliantly thought out
by the Founding Fathers so as to deter the threat of mutiny, junta, insurrection,
or a military takeover of the civilian government from within the military. The
President is the boss over every single general and admiral, period. He can promote
them to positions of greater authority and responsibility, or he can fire them.
Another
fact that makes our military unique is that we do not wage war or engage in
military conflict with the purpose of expanding our reach and power around the
world. Some territories have been gained through treaty and purchase. And even
land we have won at the expense of American blood on foreign shores we
eventually turn the land back over to the original owners. Or if a country
which we formerly liberated and where we had military bases decides they don’t
want us there any more, we pull out. France is a good example. We saved their
bacon in two world wars last century, yet sometime in the 1960s they wanted all
of our military bases closed. Same with the Philippines in the 1990s. We even
returned the blood-soaked island of Iwo Jima to the Japanese, where more than
6000 Marines were killed toward the end of World War II.
Our
military is part of that historical warrior culture, but we who serve or have
served, are perfectly content to live in peace. Please remember this. They are
not to be feared except by those who are enemies to liberty and freedom.
These
are our sons and daughters. May God bless them and the USA!
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