Medal of Honor Recipient was Reared a JW

by Kenneson 11 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  Kenneson

  I was perusing through a book entitled "African American Recipients of the Medal of Honor: A Biographical Dictionary, Civil War through Vietnam War" by Charles W. Hanna (Jefferson, North Carolina, and London: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, 2002) when I came across this very interesting entry on pages 173-4. I thought some of you might find it interesting. It is rather lengthy, so I will not quote the whole article.

  "1st Lieutenant Ruppert L. Sargent, U S A

  9th U.S. Infantry

  "Ruppert Leon Sargent was born January 6, 1938, at Hampton, Hampton County, Virginia. Sargent attended Virginia State College and the Hampton Institute before enlisting in the Army on January 8, 1959, at Richmond, Virginia. Although raised a Jehovah's Witness, Sargent's attraction to the military overcame his religious beliefs. After six years as an enlisted man Sargent was accepted at Officer Training School. He received the gold bars of a lieutenant on October 15, 1965. In 1966, Lieutenant Sargent was assigned to Vietnam for duty with Company B, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry, 25th infantry Division.

  "Lieutenant Sargent earned the Medal of Honor on March 15, 1967 , at Hau Nghia Province, Republic of Vietnam. His citation reads as follows:

  .........

  "Lieutenant Ruppert Leon Sargent valiantly gave his life for his country on March 15, 1967, at Hau Nghia Province, Republic of Vietnam. In July 1968 the recommendation for Sargent's posthumous Medal of Honor was approved, making him the first black officer so honored.

  "Much to their shock and surprise, when Pentagon officials contacted Sargent's widow to arrange for the presentation ceremony, she refused to accept the award. Her position stemmed from her strong religious beliefs. A Jehovah's Witness professes allegiance to God alone and not to any organized goverment. Sargent's mother, also a Jehovah's Witness, supported her daughter-in-law's position. Both women had opposed Sargent's enlistment into the Army.

  "For months pentagon officials worked through quiet diplomacy with Mrs. Sargent and she finally agreed to accept the award provided that it was awarded in a private ceremony with no publicity. In recognition of Sargent's sacrifices above and beyond the call of duty, on March 7, 1969, General Donley P. Bolton presented the Medal of honor to Lieutenant Sargent's widow at her home in Hampton, Virginia. Ruppert Sargent is buried in Hampton National Cemetery, Hampton, Virginia."
• 

  Curious Mind

  It's sad that his wife did'nt have the grace to accept the award for what it was, a recognition of the mans bravery. My wife and i were both raised as JW's and i am in the airforce and i know she would be proud to accept an award if anything happened to me.
• 

  Undecided

  What I see from this is that his change of belief cost him his life. Is bravery worth your life?

  Sometimes I admire those who are willing to give their life for their beliefs, untill I see the ones who blow up themselves and sometimes innocent people for a cause. I can never see why humans can't live together in peace. It seems to have started with God, when he told Adam he would live a hard life and die and pass this trait on to all his offspring because he ate some fruit.

  I just can't understand this life, I get so frustrated trying to figure it out. God, if you are out there, please forgive me, and I will try and forgive you for creating us this way.

  Ken P.
• 

  garybuss

  
  
  The government and the Watch Tower are both masters that demand the life of their followers. I have more respect for the Watch Tower than I do for the government officials that send these kids to be murdered in a political war. If a government murdered my kid and then sent me a metal and cloth medal, I'd shove the medal up their asses.
  
  I think the Witness kids who sat in prison for 5 years deserve a medal. I think the government bureaucrats who sent these 17 year old kids off to be murdered should be lined up and shot.
  
  
• 

  blondie

  This is amazing because I know many JWs that were in the military before becoming JWs that accept retirement pay and benefits and use the VA hospital facilities as well as any burial benefit as well as PX privileges. No one is too proud to turn those down.

  Blondie
• 

  GermanXJW

  > she finally agreed to accept the award provided that it was awarded in a private ceremony with no publicity.
  
  I think this is the way JW always work things out...
• 

  Kenneson

  Garybuss,

  Why do you fault the government for his death when it is obvious Lt. Sargent went against the advice of his wife, mother, and religion to make his own decision? He chose the military over conscientious objection. No one forced him to go to war.
• 

  rekless

  From my point of view: We are all going to die sooner or later...Now if one dies for something one beleives in,that is honorable, if one dies because of something one doesn't beleive in then one is stupid, if one is force to die because of someone else's ideologies and dogmas it is sad...many on this board knows of one that has died for someone's else's ideologies and dogmas.
• 

  lolipopp

  This is a subject that allows for many different opinions. Just for another viewpoint I offer the following.

  If the whole world were devoid of war this situation would not have come up. Considering that is not the case we could remember that were it not for those who are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect what our country perceives as a threat to our (and the worlds') security we could all be speaking German, Russian Vietnamese, Arabic or what have you.

  While I am not in favor of war and feel it an absolute travesty that we lose our young men and now women in these wars (or conflict state) I am eternally grateful for the freedoms these sons and daughters have allowed us to have and enjoy. I think that is a good thing to remember.

  Having lost a son, I am well aware of the pain parents feel when their children die in whatever manner, and I'm talking not only emotional but incredible physical pain. For this I am exceedingly pained for the family members.

  Wars have been around since God had Joshua enter the Promised Land (or perhaps before?) Living in total peace is for a future time; meanwhile we have to deal with what's at hand.

  Having said all that, how do we reconcile war with Jesus statement to love our neighbor as ourselves?? If the authorities that order war are allowed by God (doesn't it say He has allowed these authorities to exist?) it allows for great consideration.

  Bring in the WTS and one can really get discumbuberated (SP? is it a word, sounded good rolling out of my mouth ;o). On can join the armed forces, one cannot join the armed forces, one can do alternative service, one cannot do alternative service, in one country NO, in another YES. This yoyo places braindead oh I mean brainwashed individuls clinging to someone elses conscience or opinion in order to act.

  Now comes conscience and one cannot go against conscience so there we have a reason for differing opinions, and God bless the difference.

  Ok I've said my piece and come to no real definitive conclusion except that kindness, gratitude and good manners are always acceptable.
• 

  undercover

  Undecided and Gary:

  Both of you raised points that I have wondered about. As JWs it may come about that you have to give your life(by not taking blood). As a patriotic member of the military it may come about that you have to give your life(by dying in a war).

  A great deal of people really get incensed about the blood issue and the JWs. Whether right or wrong, this is their religious belief and they choose to die for their God. Some of the same people who criticize JWs for not taking blood will support the military in war action knowing full well that people will die. What's the difference? Is someone dying for their country any more nobler than someone who dies for their God? Is Country more important than God? These are philosophical questions and I don't have answers. I just wonder about it sometimes.