Cuthbert Hurtault was a twenty-four (24) year old young man from the small agricultural community of La Plaine who was killed in the Vietnam War while serving as a member of the U.S. army’s elite 101st Airborne Division.
On Monday, May 26 was Memorial Day, a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the men and women who died while serving in the country’s armed forces? I went to the Vietnam Wall to pay my respects to Corporal Hurtault.
Cuthbert’s tour of duty in Vietnam began on April 2, 1969 and ended three months later on June 14 on a battlefield in the coastal lowlands of Thua Thien province, South Vietnam. The official Pentagon report lists Corporal Hurtault as a hostile ground casualty from artillery, rocket and /or mortar fire. He was buried with full military honors in a private grave next to the village cricket field.
While many in America have not given up on the pain of the Vietnam War, those of us who knew and identified with Cuthbert have long gone on with our lives. Once I left La Plaine and Dominica, I too thought that Cuthbert’s death was behind me completely.
As a college student in Washington DC in the 80s, my paths with this savage war crossed again as it did as a youth growing up in La Plaine in the early 70s. I visited the Vietnam War Monument (the wall), a black granite wall in downtown Washington DC not too far from the White House. It contains the names of 58,178 persons killed in action (KIA), and missing in action (MIA) of America’s most unpopular war.
.
I left a note for Cuthbert at this year’s War Memorial Day where his name is etched on the wall at panel 22W- line 47. The note said “Good night mate and safe trip home…you gave us courage to move beyond that mountain village and pursue the world and it opportunities…..Unknowing to you…. You told us to fear nothing and give the competition our best …we will always remember you…. “.
Some say that there is only one other wall like the Vietnam War monument wall. It is in Jerusalem, the so-called Wailing Wall, and the retaining west wall of Herod’s temple. It is a place of immense religious, emotional and historical significance. It is a living monument where people pray and often leave messages.
The Vietnam wall in Washington DC is similar. My first trip to this wall did not prepare me for all the grief and sorrow which I saw on the faces of many families. Mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, children, girlfriends, sisters, brothers, cousins and friends who had lost love ones in the war.
The experience was harrowing and at times it left me out of breath. In fact it left almost everybody out of breath. Visiting the wall is confronting the war’s physical, emotional and spiritual wounds.
How was Cuthbert killed? Was his platoon wiped out by incoming Vietcong’s artillery fire from higher ground? Did he get hit with a single deadly bullet from a sharp shooter? Was he a victim of friendly fire? Did he volunteer or was he picked to be the lead man of a very risky raid or for a search, rescue or a recovery mission deep behind enemy lines? La Plaine folks desperately wanted to know back in 1969.
More than a month passed before corporal Hurtault’s body was returned to La Plaine after his death. News about his death saddened villagers because they remembered Cuthbert as the young man from those hills across the Sari-Sari River who dared to dream.
On his last visit home after leaving Fort Campbell, Kentucky, (the home base of the feared and famed Screaming Eagles of the army’s 101st Airborne Division) he talked about returning to St. Thomas, USVI, (where he had migrated to before joining the army) and Dominica after his tour of duty in the jungles of Vietnam was over and set up a small business.
While on vacation before his deployment to Vietnam, he wore his battle fatigues while driving or strolling through the village visiting and saying farewell to folks. My friends and I were thrilled at Cuthbert’s towering, confident and impressive figure.
We followed him asked all sorts of questions about war and what it takes to be a brave soldier. Whatever answers he gave sufficed. After all, he was one of us and was our undisputed hero and we were very proud of him.
After he departed for the front lines, he was the subject of many conversations in the school and church yards, rum shops, homes, river banks, cricket field and at the “Koudmen” sessions in the village heights (‘horte’). One night I overheard my grand mother saying a prayer (in patois) for him. She asked god to watch over him and remove him from harms way. This young man from this small eastern rural output who had found himself half a world away in Southeast Asia fighting a war had a whole village praying for his survival and safe return.
There was now a direct connection between Vietnam and La Plaine. It seemed that the distance between La Plaine and the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon was much closer than that between La Plaine and Roseau. Why were we so apprehensive that the chances of Cuthbert returning home alive were slim? My grandparents felt that there was a real possibility that he would be killed in battle. Everyday my grandfather listened to the BBC World Service and Voice of America News bulletins on his small battery powered transistor radio for updates on the war.
The older folks in the village were very sensitive to war and armed conflict. My grandparents related with pride about the La Plaine riots in April 1893 and the participation and of their parents in that confrontation. The colonial governor of the island, Hayes Smith sent heavily armed British troops to La Plaine to enforce a land tax. As peasants from one of the poorest districts, the villages protested the unfair and exorbitant land taxes. A confrontation ensued and four villagers (close relatives of my great grandparents) were shot dead by the troops.
My grandparents talked about the endless loss of life during World Wars 1 and 11. I remembered the newspaper pictures that my grandfather had on his wooden bedroom walls of Allied Troops in France in 1944. The newspaper pictures had a brownish colour due to oxidation and exposure it acquired throughout the decades. Papa Allan always talked about the savagery and inhumane nature of war. His instincts and knowledge taught him to be pessimistic about Cuthbert surviving the war no matter how well trained he was. Corporal Hurtault’s unit of the 101st Airborne Division was engaged in a lot of heavy and fierce battles during the war. It was the last combat division to leave Vietnam after arriving in 1965.
While being hit by incoming fire during his last breaths and dying moments, did Cuthbert have time to see his family and the beautiful rolling hills between the Sari-Sari and Laronde rivers where it all began for him? We all hoped and prayed that luck would be on his side and that the good lord would protect him. We had little choice but to think and believe that he would return home healthy and alive. We refused to see it any other way.
Unfortunately, our worst fears were realized. The news of his death sent the village into a tailspin. The mortar rounds which “took him down” also pieced our hearts. For a moment it seemed that La Plaine had lost its vigour and vitality. However, we understood that he had to climb other mountains of progress. For an ambitious country boy, a small agricultural village and Dominica held few options in the 60s.
Before his body was returned home, we drew up many scenarios of how he was killed in battle. Suddenly we all were military strategists and experts analyzing and dissecting why and how our man went down. At La Plaine school we began playing war games; U.S. Army versus Vietcong. Few kids wanted to play Vietnamese soldiers. Why? Wasn’t it the North Vietnamese Army (Vietcong) who killed our hero?
The U.S. Army always won our play battles. We had no idea what the war was about or who the communist Vietcong were. All we knew were that America and Vietnam were at war and we supported the side that one of our own was fighting with. At the height of the war in 1968/1969, the U.S. Military High Command in Vietnam was spreading an effective propaganda campaign to Congress, the media and the American people in order to fund the war efforts.
The reports pointed out that American forces were wining most of their battles and were suffering few casualties. Congress had determined that many of these reports were not accurate. We in the rural outpost with no electricity and pipe-borne running water had no choice but to believe these well-orchestrated reports. These reports lifted our spirits for it meant that with fewer American casualties, Cuthbert had a better chance of surviving. The U.S army lost 16,589 soldiers in 1968 and 11,614 in 1969 the year our man was cut down. These numbers represent the highest amount of U.S. army causalities in any given year during the Vietnam War. According to public published reports, the policy of misinformation by the military’s top brass cost Lyndon Johnson the U.S presidency.
The jungles, deltas, mosquito-infested swamps and valleys of Vietnam probably had a striking resemblance to the tropical rain forests of La Plaine. But the enemy in these Monsoon rain forests and jungles of Vietnam were real and deadly. They were Vietcong snipers, sudden ambush, suicide missions, the smell and feel of imminent death, fear, human carnage and ravages of war. They were not the real or perceived enemies (‘Lougawou, Lajabless and Socouyant’) of the nearby forests of La Plaine.
Cuthbert’s body was transported to La Plaine in a U.S draped casket escorted by twelve soldiers from a U.S army detachment in Puerto Rico. The viewing of the body was at his mother’s home in Case- O-Gowrie, up the ridge from the Sari-Sari River where the rolling hills meet the base of Morne Gouvernear.
Mourners came from all over the island to pay their last respect to a fallen local hero. One of the noticeable mourners was the first native Police Commissioner, the late Damase Philbert, who also hailed from those same La Plaine hills as Cuthbert. Another was a young officer who was Cuthbert’s school mate at La Plaine. Mathias ‘Dadie’ Lestrade would go on to be Commissioner of Police.
In the late morning hours of the day of the funeral, the La Plaine skies were filled with dark, cumbersome and gloomy clouds. There were also intermittent showers of rain. The omen was that the heavens and skies over La Plaine were also weeping at the fall of this local hero.
Just before the playing of Taps by the soldier bugler, the sun emerged through the clouds. It too seemed to want to say. Farewell my son, I am sorry it didn’t work out as you planned it.” It then disappeared behind the clouds. After a gun salute, Cuthbert was laid to eternal rest amidst tears, weeping, sad, and dejected faces.
Almost immediately after the burial ceremony, the rains came down again for a very short moment. Soon after, a beautiful rainbow was spotted in the skies at the intersection of the rolling hills and the tropical rain forests. This was interpreted as a silver lining. The rainbow was also trying to say to Corporal Hurtault, “welcome home son, you have set the standards and tone for kids from La Plaine ( like this writer) to head out to the big city far from these hills and compete with the best and brightest in other arenas than the one you choose.
The Vietnam War started on August 8th 1965 in Da Nang, and ended in August 1975 when Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) fell to Vietcong forces. For a brave country boy from a small mountain village deep in rural Dominica, the war ended in June 1969. His tour of duty was instantly over and it was time to return home to those foothills where it all began for him.
Thanks for the story. Did not know that.
Thanks for this article. It is very timely.
As a young Individual from laplaine i was raised near where he was burried and was afraid to pass in the short cut where he was burried, always questioned who was burried there and y,but today i can tell my kids this beautiful story am nt afraid anymore, very touching article i applaud the writter cheers to u.
La plaine Youth
As we speak we have another Hurtault soldier from Laplaine currently fighting in Afghanistan. Hoping for his safe return home.
Great Article!
Thank you very much Dr Finn. Great Article!! I share Pat Aaron’s sentitments and think his advice should be promptly taken on board. Blessings!!!
Long and short…Is being a hero dying in the name of attaining citizenship of the great US of A??
Excellent article of one of Dominica’s sons of the soil. Sad it occurred to him so young. His memory should not be forgotten.
His grave should be well-taken care of with a lasting monument, if it does not have one, Every Memorial Day an Observance as a Service should be held in his honor at his grave. I expect he has close relatives in La Plaine.
His soul is resting in peace.
A well written tribute to a worthy young man.
I have never been in the military but I had two uncles who served in W.W. 2.
Regardless of what you think of the US military or the war itself many people would be worse off today had it not been for those who served. So I cannot read a story like this without wanting to take my hat off and observe a moment of silence.
Cuthert Hurtault is typical of many who fell. They went for those who could not go and gave their lives for people they did not know.
In Canada we call them heroes. We have a stretch of highway here called THE HIGHWAY OF HEROES.
My prayers and best wishes go out for Cuthbert s family and friends and all those of our allies who made the supreme sacrifice.
Cuthbert Hurtault, Thank you for serving.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
You sound very brainwashed Rev. Donald Hill. The Vietnam war was U.S imperialism at it’s peak. The war was fought for rubber. So how is anyone’s life better as a result those who served?
King thanks for this great piece of social history. It is an outstanding memorial of a young man whose stature as a soldier at the time, painted a picture of confidence and bravery to his peers and other young men in Dominica. The manner in which your portrayal of this is intertwined with its local and international historical context is both interesting and educational.
In those days when we actually had to climb mountains from Laplaine because there were no roads to Roseau. that mount of progress he climbed set the tone for alot of La people to take chances and succeed regardless of the odds. how and where he did it did not matter at least we can say we have people who fought in a war that changed the world.
You guys can glorify this all you want, but only people who would otherwise have difficulty making it in the world or fools would join the US military.
How many of Dick Chaney’s children enlisted in the military? How many of George Bush’s children are in the military? Do you think Michelle Obama will ever allow her children to enlist?
I wonder how far you would have made it in the world if it weren’t for those same fools that fought for you to have the freedom to be able to write your opionion of this blog. Freedom is not Free!
Explain to me why the Chaneys and the Clintons and the Obamas will not allow their children to enlist in the military
Freedom comes at a price; a great price which must not be mere words. We must be grateful to all who fought in wars that we might live in freedom and hopefully peace.
This is why we should all live in love, harmony and peace with others, respecting them and according them their due rights and dignity.
We should never forget those who volunteered to go to war, fought the good fight including those who did not survive. What would they not have given for their life then?
Wow another brainwashed individual
Actually, both George W. Bush and his dad served in the army. Go read before you post nasty comments. And why you want to be disrespectful of the man’s memory, soldier or not?
Wat did he die for? to satisfy man inability to compromise and to satisfy man’s big ego and greed, a life taken away for no reason.
Nobody wins in a war, as long as a mother or a father have to bury their child a ware is lost, but they fight ware God’s name. I just wish there had been more Muhammad Ali in the world with the balls to stand up to the establishment when comes to war.
God knows the reason. He has the answer.
Some of them from the US ran away to Canada; some are still residing here. The government wanted to deport them to face the US Law but all appears quiet in this area.
Whenever there was a war the entire world was affected. Our ancestors could give us an account of their sufferings even though it was not physically.
Muhammad Ali did not go to war but he is a sickly man. He is not one whom I would exalt. I think he either has Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s. I do not hear much about him and am wondering if he is still alive.
Brother Finn well done. I remember the day too, it was cloudy as if the island was in mourning. We were kids then and thought the Viet Cong had eaten Cuthbert like some bad fish. I recommend you do a collection of your literary works my friend. Excellent reportage of life in Dominica at that time, our view of the world and our simple pleasures.
Growing up in La Plaine and always visiting the playing field, I always saw that grave in the yard of a man called Mr. Hurtault. Knew that somebody was buried their but did not know the full story behind the burial. Very interesting piece of information. Great job
People say that I’m a tough but to crack – this article melted me. What a brilliant piece of journalism! I she’d tears of pride for our hero whilst feeling sad for the loss of such a young precious life. God bless you Son Of The Soil. Rip.
tough nut to crack
Thanks for the history. This is the kind of thing we should be learning at school, unfortunately we don’t. In all my life this is the first I have heard of this piece of history. At least a monument could be built. No it does not have to be big and expensive, but he could have a better well taken cared of grave, with a commermorative plaque.
The US should have supplied it. I do think that his parents would have received a certain amount of compensation from the US and should have had one done in his honor.
His grave with a monument should have been a conspicuous one that everyone would know herein lies, a hero who died in the Vietnam War and annually at times as this he should be remembered.
What an opportunity for the people of Laplaine to provide that monument.
well written. became emotional. these are items that we should read. too much politics and other BS.
Thanks for the information. As a child growing up in La,plaine I often wondered how he got involved in the war. I was able to share this information with my kids. It enabled an interesting discussion amongst my family, with my son commenting “seriously, Laplaine is half a world away! why did he not hide?”
They heard about the Army and they volunteered to enlist in it. Then, if there is a war, they were sent to war. Once in the Army, they had no alternative but to obey orders.
If they were fortunate to return alive, they will be able to attend university free of charge whenever they choose to. This is the reason some of them enlisted in the Army. No exception those who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan.
While in the Army they also receive a salary. After their stint, they can apply for university studies. There are benefits to be derived from enlisting in the Army.
Lovely article. while reading this article i got chills and shed some tears. it seems like this just happened yesterday. rest in eternal peace our hero.
Wow. Great article> it really caught my attention.
you write like a great historian.
i really like it.
great piece. The writer needs to be commended. These are the stories we need to explore and read about. Anyway the persons who blasted the USA have a right too since we live in a democracy. But rather than concentrate on all what the great empires have done to us we will be better up attempting or trying to build our own. The caribbean has so much to offer, so many bright minds but we fail miserable to get together and create our own destiny.We depend on all the organisation they have created for us which keep us in perpetual poverty and in the same breath recruit all our bright minds.
You must keep in mind everyone should be held accountable; not only adults and the government. It commences from upbringing, discipline/training and example shown in the home; proper parenting.
Then, attendance and diligence, at school commencing in public/elementary school to high school. Once students graduate they should seek employment. This will also assist to pay their fair share of taxes and boost the economy.
When there are young people who are school dropouts, obviously they will not be able to obtain a suitable position with a well-paying job. As adults these may remain poor and probably for the rest of their lives.
Nationals have an obligation to fulfill to themselves and their country. If a certain percentage of nationals are not educated of all, consider you will have a poor country. Government of the country must have money to financially aid them. In bygone years the poor got no financial help from the government.
Too many blame the government without thinking of this section of society who are poor and why they are poor.
They can create their own destiny if they are all employed and are not dependent on overseas help. Consider the above on how to fulfill self-reliance.
This soldier is truly a great Dominican hero.
Dr. Finn, you should send this article to as many US based papers and magazines as possible including National Geographic. No one could have written this better. Do not waste your talent. Send this story out there. Once you start reading it, you dare not stop until the end. Great great great work.
No only a brilliant article by Dr Finn, but the basis for a book about about Cuthburt and La Plaine. The La Plaine Riot, is news to me , an ex Brit soldier , very much interested in the British Military action in the Caribbean.
I salute this fallen hero. RIP Cuthbert.
Extremely good read Mr Finn. Many thanks for the reminder of our fallen heroes! Many of us take life for granted
Lovely article DR Finn. I remember this incident quite vividly. Am from Laplaine and was there watching the U.S. & south Vietnamese soldiers give Cuthbert a beautiful military sendoff. I was about 13 years old at the time and needless to say very excited. Keep the thought provoking articles coming DR Finn.
Constance, where in the globe u are now? I last saw u when we were working at Pte. Michel together. U were great with world current events, can u still relate to these events?
I have to congratulate Dr. finn for a masterpiece article.
A great read!!!…….
Well so nice to read this…I think I was part of it…1969 in Laplaine he came to our youth camp at the school one night and spoke about his training..in the States….Everyone looked at me I was the next on the list…but to France..which I did 3 years latter…Still got some pictures of that day in Laplaine…may he rest in peace….
Such a poignant story.. Thank you. To think that a war in the ends of the earth could touch a people in a lil mountain village in a tiny little know Caribbean island.
So many have shed blood for the privilege to be in the land of opportunity!
They enlisted all over the world/Caribbean. A Trinidadian lady had told me that her fiance went to war. She never saw him again. No doubt he died.
Very well written article. I have family and friends in La Plaine and felt closer to this brave soldier as I knew of the names of many of the characters mentioned from my mother who originated from La Plaine. May he rest in peace.
This writer has paid the highest respect to our fallen soldier. May he rest in peace.
Dominica – Roseau has a Cenotaph to honor the fallen soldiers on November 11th, Remembrance Day. When I resided in D/ca a ceremony was held to honor them. It took place after the High Mass – the last Sunday Mass. I would attend; some dignitaries and also some nationals. Prayers were said and The Music Lovers, the Government Band would play relevant hymns/songs. A wreath would be laid on the Cenotaph.
If you are in D/ca and residing near Roseau and the ceremony is still held, you should keep this in mind and attend. It is one way of honoring every soldier worldwide who died in wars.
This writer has paid the highest respect to our fallen soldier.
I remember when they did the gun salute fellas nearly fell from the trees they had climbed to get a better view.
A good read.
A very captivating real life story. Only the reference to the Vietnam war makes one to release its a historical piece.WELL DONE WRITER.
Cuthbert and his 58,177 dead colleagues were, indeed, brave soldiers. They made the ultimate sacrifice in a war fought against peasants whose only demands were equality, freedom and independence. The Vietnamese wanted to unify their country and to liberate themselves from French colonialism. They fought a just cause and they won.
The US killed about 3 million Vietnamese civilians, including women and children. They burnt their villages and destroyed their farm. They polluted their rivers and destroyed their forests with cancer-causing chemicals like agent orange. They raped their women and murdered their sons. In a nutshell, the US committed atrocities in Vietnam, a country whose only demands were equality, freedom and independence.
very good! I fully agree with you…USA invaded Vietnam and committed war atrocities…same story repeated over and over again in many countries: mass killing of peasants by militia in Latin America backed by CIA, shelling of cities with massive casulties among civilians…and of course all this in the name of freedom, liberty and democracy….only for a few Americans of course…
I saw a movie entitled “Green Eyes” of a US soldier who fought in Vietnam. He fathered a child, a boy. He had no idea where in Vietnam the boy lived and how he was. He went in search of him and found him. The boy had “green eyes”.
It was an interesting and moving movie. I would love to see that movie again. It is an excellent family movie.
Thanks Dr Finn. I remember that period very vividly; but don’t think I could articulate it like you.
Since I came from Case O Gowrie and a close family friend it was indeed a sad period for us all in LaPlaine.
Well done Dr Finn, thanks for raising the awareness.
very interesting. I would like to visit when I get home
finally i got to read and understand the history behind this grave. as a young girl i remember playing rounders in the ‘old’ playing field, and skipping thru the bushes to look for mangoes, and coming across this grave and wondering who was this person and what was his story. why was he burried here? how did he die? i was told it was a family member of Mr hurtault’s – the house to the left coming into the playing field – and the land belonged to their family. i had no idea the person burried there was a war hero, and he was so young.
thanks for writing this article. it gave me a lot of insight behind this ‘mystery’.
How sad fighting a war for the people, our enemy, who enslaved us for over 400 years.
That was history. It happened. It cannot be erased. However, I do not view it as enslavement. I was never enslaved and I am not enslaved. Our ancestors of those bygone years were.
Even though it is history, it is time for people to set that ‘enslavement’ aside and let life go on, hoping such will never recur.
Those who do not love and who hate are enslaved people. These are the enslaved ones which they have brought upon themselves.
this is a great piece of work. Well written, well informational. Thanks. May his legacy live on forever in our hearts.
Thank you for writing this article, I really enjoyed reading it., Very infomative and on a personal level quit inspiring.
Well written article. I read it with goose bumps flashing through my body. These articles worth publishing!!!
Great article.
Kelvin Gabriel
Again very well written-I did not go to Vietnam–but spent four years in AFGHANISTAN–War is hell and freedom isn’t cheap,. Cpl Hurtault paid the price.
to Kelvin Gabriel
what freedom? US Army and US Government bring destruction all across the globe. US has long term history of extra-judicial killings, overthrown of democratically elected governments (check history of Latin America in 20th century), organisation of coup de etat, political assassination and 200 years tradition of plundering other nation resources. What freedom you brought to people of Afganistan? Check story of Omar Khadr:
a 15 year old boy who took rifle to protect his tiny village then US soldiers came to his village. US military captured him and send to Guntanamo where he spent 8 years without COURT ORDER and then he was pleaded gilty to be a terrorist and imprisoned for another 8 years
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/sep/25/omar-khadr-guantanamo-canada
So if US invades into your village and you take riffle to kill bastards, according to US law you classified as terrorist which means you are not human any more and you can be killed without investigation/court order etc. So every freedom movement in the eyes of US government is terrorist organisation? You called it democracy?
What freedom you brought to hundreds thousands killed in Iraq? What freedom you brought to 50 nations invaded by the US since WWII?
All your stories about democracy and liberty is complete nonsense as in reality US has long-term bloody history of committing crimes, war atrocities and the international law was drafted in a way that US cannot be blamed and held responsible. As a matter of fact, since Barack Obama election situation became worse and despite all Obama lies like closure of Guantanamo, government accountability etc…its all became one big lie and in reality there is no difference between Bush, Obama or any other president of US since WWII
True is USA is the great empire and everybody who disagree might disappear, get tortured, jailed without court order or just killed as US quite habitual to do in Middle East.
You said the words before I did. “War is Hell!” Indeed! If only humanity could live in peace. There are still some nations which are not peaceful. Note the number of displaced people and refugees. How sad they have to flee their homes. Sad as well, those who have died.
God gave us a world to live in and enjoy and some members of humanity in this era use it to cause wars and murder thousands of people. When they are through, millions will be killed. Let us pray for the world, for them, that they will set down their weapons.
The battle is the Lord, on our knees and some are not aware of that.
that was a masterpiece…some people was just born to be smart. I really enjoyed reading this. thank you for sharing and inspiring others.
WOW! What a lovely historical, nostalgic and emotional piece with all the interlocking humane touches and interrelationships to one who was a trail blazer, a fearless explorer for the betterment of life and one who dared to live – for indeed his memories live on.
I recall as a very young boy in La Plaine ( we left in 1973) my Dad took me and my older brother Davidson to the graveside (it was around 1972). This inspired us and we in a sense loved everything military. I dreamt of the air force and flying but in the end I did not pursue that line but my brother is now Sgt. in the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force ( having himself been trained while in the SSU by US 82nd Airborne Division instructors assigned to the RSS. Last month He just completed training with the U.S. Coast Guard training cutter Eagle. http://www.carolinacoastonline.com/news_times/article_3fdbe27c-b784-11e3-bde3-001a4bcf887a.html
So Cpl. Hurtault’s inspiration to many still live on. He dared so that others could win too. R.I.P
sad story, but it is sad to hear this man in his prime lost his life not for America but for the American politicans who got a hardon when they think of war.
exactly, America should be a land where dreams of millions of immigrants come true, but it turned to be a country which ran by liars and aggressive elite which profit enormously from all wars which USA fights in the name of better and larger profits of elite – corporations with close ties in White House:
United Technologies: aircraft, electronics, engines
Finmeccanica: aircraft, artillery, engines, electronics, vehicles and missiles
EADS: aircraft, electronics, missiles and space
General Dynamics: artillery, electronics, vehicles, small arms, ships
BAE Systems: aircraft, artillery, electronics, vehicles, missiles, ships
Lockheed Martin: aircraft, electronics, missiles, space
During the war: Blackwaters etc etc
Dont forget hundreds of US corporation profiting on post-war
contracts: energy companies, constructions etc
So of course each corporation donates generously on election campaign of every politician who has good perspectives to conduct new war or create advantages for corporation using US muscles…like NSA: hacking security communication of Brazilian oil giant Petrobras to create advantages to US energy companies or CIA conducting war crimes to help US companies like United Fruit Company to destroy democracy in Central America.
How those US corporations are different from Nazi Germany corporations which profited from Hitler Germany wars: Krupp, Boss, Siemens?….moreover during second world war then ordinary soldiers died on the beach of Normandy, US companies like DuPont, Kodak, Shell Oil continued to profit from business with Nazi Germany?
Of course, every politician in the USA will have hardon for decades (without Viagra) on every possibility and prospect of war
Great articles like this needs to be published and shared . This little island have been a long supporter and producer of a lot that is not published or talked about. Vietnam era to present . Thanks for sharing great read .RIP our brother
@ glenn: Our folks do not understand the nature of the beast – the military industrial complex. Time will tell!!
Colourful writing with a dental flavour.
Very well written article. It brought back memories of that war as I was a helicopter pilot flying rescue missions. I was posted there from 1965-1968 flying missions from U.S. Navy aircraft carriers. No I did not know this gentleman, but I knew many like him. The hopes and dreams of a generation were with us all. Some returned, some did not. Those that did not will be in my prayers always. This young gentleman will be added. God bless.
Well written article
Good to know. Thanks for the enlightenment