At the end of “Saving Private Ryan,” Captain Miller leaves this world with the parting words addressed to the "saved" Private Ryan: "Earn this … Earn it". The remembrance of these words and of the price, which was paid for saving his earthly life, prompts the aged Private Ryan at the cemetery to reflect upon his entire life. Trembling, he turns to his wife and asks: "Have I led a good life? Am I a good man?"

If we view the movie not only as a historic recreation but as a metaphor, we have to see that we are Private Ryan. The servicemen who died in that war sacrificed themselves not just for Private Ryan, but for us as well. They died for their country and they died for their country's future. Those Navy SEALS on that windswept crag did nothing less than the same thing. Now its up to us to “Earn this!”
Charlie | 07.13.05 - 4:03 pm | #

I'm glad you were able to go. I'm sure it meant as much to them (SDVT1) and the families as it did to you.

It was a beautiful ceremony.
HomefrontSix | Homepage | 07.13.05 - 4:07 pm | #

Thank you for sharing that. I had to struggle to hold back the emotion as I read your words. I think Reagan's words about the Marines -- "Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. The Marines don't have that problem." -- very clearly also apply to the SEALs too, all of them, not just those who have fallen.

Thank you for your service and your continued effort of keeping others aware and mindful of the sacrifices you all make.
W. | Homepage | 07.13.05 - 4:27 pm | #

"The Marines don't have that problem."

Indeed you don't.

As a civilian, I might-- all I can do in response to the service and sacrifice of you and your brothers is pray that I will somehow be shown worthy to have received it.
Robert Deis | 07.13.05 - 4:36 pm | #

What a beautiful description. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. I'm keeping the souls of the fallen and their families in my prayers.
Sandy | 07.13.05 - 4:50 pm | #

Gorgeous descriptions. It was hard not to sob just reading your words. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Peg C. | 07.13.05 - 5:25 pm | #

It made me sob too...
Thank you.
Agnieszka O. | 07.13.05 - 5:50 pm | #

Even though I am in the Navy, I have a hard time calling you guys shipmates. We will all do our best to be worthy of men who will fight so hard on our behalf. ...and blog on our behalf, thanks!
Mr Bob | Homepage | 07.13.05 - 6:59 pm | #

I don't think I typed that quite right, I have a hard time callign you shipmate, because even though we wear the same uniform, you've worked so much harder for it than I have.
Mr Bob | Homepage | 07.13.05 - 6:59 pm | #

Matt,

Thank you for letting us all know about the SDVT 1 Memorial. I knew in time that you'd let us hear of it.

KJ filled me in on the SDVT 10 Memorial, and yours gave me the chill bumps, and made me cry just as much as hers did.

Every day I think of the warriors, past, present and future, and thank God for them.

Again Matt, thank you so much.
frogsister | 07.13.05 - 7:06 pm | #

Very touching story, froggy. There are more high resolution images of the memorial here:

http://www.navy.mil/view_gallery...? category_id=15

RIP.
J | 07.13.05 - 7:17 pm | #

"...And Gentlemen in England still abed shall think themselves accursed they were not here, and hold their manhoods cheap whilst any speak that fought with us upon St. Chrispin's Day..."

Semper Fi, Froggy, and to your Brothers...

Thanks for letting us know how well they were "freshly remember'd"...
Sgt. B. | Homepage | 07.13.05 - 7:22 pm | #

Wow, Matt...thank you for writing that... I felt like I was there, a little... the part about yelling their names out and the circle being complete was when I cried. That was a beautiful post.

Thank you. I'm so sorry for all of your losses (to all who lost someone you know or within your community). They were great men and they died a gallant death, and we will remember them and remain free because of them.
adele | 07.13.05 - 8:21 pm | #

What a beautiful post. I suppose "beautiful" isn't the right word at all to use, but that is what comes to mind. It was beautifully and poignantly written. Though I only sat on my couch and read about it, I cried as if I was there. I pray daily for the families of these men, and for all of our men and women who volunteer to keep us safe. Oh, and Mr. Bob, you have my respect - you are there to answer the call, to put yourself in harm's way - no matter your assignment, you wear the uniform of a fighting man of the United States Navy. That's good enough for me.
Karen | 07.13.05 - 8:49 pm | #

Matt,

thanks for your recap of the ceremony... I served with all these guys at SDVT-1. Can you email me any more pics you have from the service?

Mike
mike uyboco | 07.14.05 - 1:51 am | #

Is there any place their UDT classes are listed?
anonymous | 07.14.05 - 2:12 am | #

Honor.

It is all I can think of as I read your post. How honored we as a country are to have such men defend us. How much honor we owe them for such sacrifice. How I wish I had more than prayers to lay upon God's altar. How feeble I feel in any attempt to honor them enough.
John Middleton | 07.14.05 - 4:11 am | #

I find myself at a loss - how to express the sorrow and honor and love for all the servicemen and women who have given their lives for me. And especially these 19 souls, whom I feel I knew personally through Matt and Scott's posts. Echoing John's post, I am humbled by their sacrifice, and wish I had more than prayers to offer. God grant them eternal rest, and cause His light to shine upon them.
Karen L. | 07.14.05 - 9:52 am | #

I was able to make it through your rendition untill he part of the bagpipes and Amazing Grace, and I just teared up. Glad you were able to go.
DCRocks | Homepage | 07.14.05 - 11:07 am | #

Matt! It is the existence of men like you and those you represent here in their glorified absense, that make me able to tolerate the place that I live. Thank you all.
Mr.Atos | Homepage | 07.14.05 - 1:12 pm | #

Thank you for sharing Matt. Your words were deeply moving and allowed those of us who weren't able to attend to gain some sense of the brotherhood and memoriam of the day. God bless.
JenC. | 07.14.05 - 1:28 pm | #

Thank you so much for sharing this. I've followed your blog for a while now and appreciate all your insights. My tears flow for the families and friends of these men who made the ultimate sacrifice for all of us. We have much to be thankful for, in that warriors like these men daily put themselves in harm's way for our sakes - I keep them always in my prayers, trusting that everything is in God's hands, and He has a plan. God is indeed our refuge and strength, and He will surround the families who lost their loved ones with His healing and hope.
kerrit | 07.14.05 - 1:36 pm | #

From this unworthy civilian who honors all who serve... this left me sobbing with tears running down my face. No one could have done better at honoring fallen brothers with the written word. Marvelous, Worthy One!
mike47 | 07.14.05 - 4:22 pm | #

I can't type and wipe tears. Thanks so much for this, Matt. Breaks my heart and fills me with pride at the same time. God Bless You All!
Miss Birdlegs in AL | 07.14.05 - 7:36 pm | #

Froggy, thank you for sharing that. I'm so glad you found a sense of community and proper goodbye with your brothers. Though people like I have far less connection to those men than you, our hearts were with you that day, and all others who mourn their passing.

What a gift they give us...
Beth | 07.14.05 - 10:38 pm | #

And, yes... I was crying.
Beth | 07.14.05 - 10:42 pm | #

Thank you for your deeply moving account of the memorial.

Thank you to these magnificent men, who died that we may remain free.

"Soon we shall die and all memory of those five will have left earth, and we ourselves shall be loved for a while and then forgotten. But the love will have been enough; all those impulses of love return to the love that made them. Even memory is not necessary for love. There is a land of the living and a land of the dead and the bridge is love, the only survival, the only meaning."

---Thornton Wilder, "The Bridge of San Luis Rey"
Larry | 07.15.05 - 12:53 pm | #

wow.l this is powerful and moving stuff. anyone who isnt proud of these brave men and greatweful for their service simply does not live in the real world.

we have reached the time where it is time to finally and definitively TAKE SIDES. you cannot be with our brave froggies and their uniformed comrasdes throughout the allied services, while at the same time march in a bush-is-the-devil
puppet show.

As General Grant said in 1861 at the start of the civil war: “There are but two parties now: traitors and patriots. And I want hereafter to be ranked with the latter.
cwb | 07.15.05 - 2:34 pm | #

Thanks for sharing this with us.

You guys are a blessing to our great Nation. 'Thank you' to each one of you.

God bless you all.
CTG | 07.15.05 - 4:07 pm | #

Great report. Moving. Thanks.

I wish you had a photo that shows the uniqueness of Punchbowl - a volcano crater. But it's hard to photograph. I've been there many times. Every trip to Honolulu I walk through to the viewpoint (best in Honolulu) and spend half an hour on the historical mozaics of WWII and later wars - at the top of those marble stairs you link to at http://www.usshadley.com/PunchBL.jpg.
Ron | 07.15.05 - 4:38 pm | #

Ron,
I have that photo linked in the post.
Froggy | Homepage | 07.15.05 - 5:43 pm | #

Froggy,

Thank you for sharing that with us. It must have been an intensly personal service. I also want to thank you for your service to the country. I cannot begin to imagine what you guys lay on the alter of freedom each day. God bless!!
Jim C | Homepage | 07.15.05 - 6:08 pm | #

I just went into debt after donating money to the 3 supporting organizations you mentioned, and a piece of equipment to Adopt-a-sniper(Americansnipers.org) I don't mention this as a pat on my own back, but rather as a call to others who didn't serve to help out in their own way.
Ken | 07.15.05 - 7:00 pm | #

Thank you for going there, from a submariner who couldn't. I worked with SDVT-1 as Weps on Kamehameha, and I am a better man for knowing the divers and SEALs who operated our cranky and dangerous dry deck shelters, in Korean cold and Bahraini hot, off to a mission somewhere over there we couldn't get to, coming back to a recovery as tough as the insertion.

Us submariners share in your loss.
chap | Homepage | 07.15.05 - 9:20 pm | #

Matt, what a very touching post. Thank you.
Maggie | 07.16.05 - 1:07 am | #

I to try hard to earn the life you all have given for me. The one thing I can promise you is that honor and will always be associated you all. My whole faily as I said was instilled to understand without men like you and who you represent so well, we have no freedoms. I know the service to the country and with your men is NEVER done for recognition...but you represent the absolute true wealth of our country, I thank you and cherrish you and those you represent and my prayers go with those who are still here, and those who have gone on where the best angels await as God says "See these my children and best worriors, who ask nothing so I have more than they ever hoped for here...Come with me to the best place here in Heaven for you, your friends have been waiting for you, and I promise you eternal happiness to reward you for following and doing without question, He then turns to his best angels and says, we will keep them happier than their wildest expectations till they are reunited with all their comrades and families, now angels anthing they want until we are all reunited... as your their legacy of doing the impossible all the time buids them rewards in Heaven, they still await all to be together...and that will happen one day..."JUST NOT TODAY" Meanwhile you know what the fallen want your life to be like from now on...so try to do what you know they would want...Be happy for them...you will se them all again in time to come....My prayers will go for you without ceasing...the WW2 pharmacist's mate daughter who is so proud of you for making this jorney, you know they know you came for them!!! Braveheart,carry on fully for those who long for you to do so!!!! ...All my heart...maggie
maggie | 07.16.05 - 2:05 pm | #

I went to the funeral service for Danny Dietz here in the Denver area. I saw several of the SEAL guys that came from Virginia Beach and Coronado there as well. This is a very hard time for everyone, but especially for those SEALs who have served and who are now serving on the teams. I am also glad that you were able to connect with them on some level to say goodbye to these fine warriors and share in their memorial. I thank you for your story and photos here about the other funeral service. Let's hope that we don't see the need for anymore funeral services for a long time.
Jan | 07.16.05 - 10:59 pm | #

Anon...I know Mike Murphy was in class 236.
adele | 07.16.05 - 11:08 pm | #

Thanks adele, I just thought I recognized a name from a documentary on UDT class 234, but haven't seen the program since all this happened. It is possible this soldier may have been rolled back to a different class as well. Thanks.
Anonymous | 07.17.05 - 8:18 pm | #

Thank you for helping tell their story. SEALs have proven their heroism and love of country time and time again. They are an inspiration to those who defend America today.

"THE MANSIONS OF THE LORD"
Words by Randall Wallace

To fallen soldiers let us sing
where no rockets fly nor bullets wing
Our broken brothers let us bring
to the mansions of the Lord

No more bleeding no more fight
No prayers pleading through the night
just divine embrace, eternal light
in the mansions of the Lord

Where no mothers cry and no children weep
We will stand and guard tho the angels sleep
All through the ages safely keep the mansions of the Lord
Bill | 07.18.05 - 2:13 am | #

Bill,

I love that. Thank you so much.
frogsister | 07.18.05 - 2:33 am | #

I came across this video of the service on the navy.mil website and thought I would pass along the link for anyone that's interested.

http://www.navy.mil/management/v...eo.aspx? id=5176
Cat | 07.20.05 - 10:47 pm | #

May our brothers rest easy.

Semper Fidelis
Kevin Mac
85-91
Zen | 07.24.05 - 8:34 pm | #

I am saddened by my grandson's death, Shane Eric Patton. I am more saddened that the military did not invite me to the memorial and they did not invite Shane's mother. As if we have not felt such loss and then this MILITARY injustice. God help us all.
linda hamilton | 07.26.05 - 1:08 pm | #

Froggy,

I've known SEALS, trained and worked with Green Berets and know I'm a better person for it. Punchbowl is a beautiful, awesome place. While I was a decade to early some of the people I know from U. S. Army Civil Affairs and SOCOM have been and are in Afghanistan and Iraq, and some have made the supreme sacrifice for their country and the newborn countries of Afghanistan and Iraq. Thank you is so small and what you and the others have done and are continuing to do is so great. I'm glad you could go and I cried throughout your recounting of the service.

Walter M. Clark, SFC, USAR retired, SOCOM.
Walter Clark | 11.02.05 - 9:04 pm | #

Your description of the ceremony gave me chills. I'm a civilian, and I've never lost a friend in combat... but ceremonies like this help me recognize the sacrifices of others.

Hooyah.
rc | 02.03.07 - 1:21 pm | #