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Show BuIlle Creek I Breeze BY K. B. After the game Friday night, I had an interesting chat with Del-bert Del-bert Steele; who ran into a handful hand-ful of machine gun bullets on a Korean hill-side a few months ago. Delbert is convalescing from severe abdominal wounds, while he awaits surgery for the remov- al of two chunks of lead from one of his legs. He expects to report to the Mare Island Military Hospital Hos-pital on February 19. Considering his terrible ordeal, Delbert looks fine and his spirits and attitude are cheerful and optimistic. The thought struck me then, and has been uppermost in my mind ever since, that these kids are paying an awful price for the right to be American citizens. Last week the government made its first announcement of a price and wage freeze, to help control inflation. Since that time, the outburst of anguish that have arizen from various groups and factions make the explosion of an atomic bomb seem like a pop gun. Farmers are threatening to curtail production if their profits are reduced. Livestock producers predict a black market in .meat that will almost remove this necessity from legitimate trade. Labor leaders prophesy work stoppages, slow-ups, and strikes if wages are frozen at the present all-time high. Industrialists, still cluching the greatest net profits of all time, swear they cannot continue to produce unless price raises are granted. Politicians are yelling for water to wash their hands of the whole affair. When Delbert was ordered to walk into the path of enemy fire, there was no complaint. His government, gov-ernment, through the authority of his commanding office, had issued an order. His duty was to obey; and obey he did, although he knew that such obedience might mean certain death. War may be a necessary function funct-ion of an eduring Democracy; but its privations and sacrifices should be bourne by all alike. We at home cannot fight; but at least can obey willingly, cheerfully, and without complaint, the orders is-1 sued by our own government in this our greatest emergency. Delbert Steele, U. S. Marine, we salute you. So-long 'til Friday. |
