The Eye April 1968 Page 5

Recently, SN Larry Crutchfield entered an essay contest, sponsored by the Freedom Foundation, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Word was received that SN Crutchfield was awarded the George Washington Medal Award for his story. Here is his essay, reprinted with his permission:

freedom -- my heritage, my responsibility

From the first shot "heard around the world," the sound still echoes down through time. It now rings out as the American GIs' rifles recoil in the jungles of Vietnam. The fighting men of these United States have deemed it a grand and noble endeavor to don the armor of battle in freedom's cause. At Valley Forge, at Normady, at Iwo Jima, at Manila Bay and at Chu Lai in Vietnam, these words have been heard. When the dice of aggression have been tossed by the hand of tyrrany, an American feedom fighter has always been there to stand up and say, "Consider this before you gamble, all bets for freedom are covered."

Freedom's torch yielded its first tiny flicker of flame in those small colonies that were to give rise to this great nation, until this day, freedom's torch growing ever brighter, refuses to be extinguished. As it is passed from generation to generation, America's advocates of freedom staunchly shield the precious flame from the winds of suppression.

This, then, has been the noble creed of my American ancestry. Freedom and the right to the pusuit of happiness are the ideals that have been instilled in every heart by God-given authority. Nowhere in the world have these concepts been planted more deeply in the heritage of a nation, nor enjoyed more fully as an abundant harvest, than in these United States of America.

Having enjoyed freedom from the time of my appearance upon this earth, when freedom's torch was passed down to my generation, could I then fall back into the shadows of ungratefulness and treachery? In deed I can and I shall not. It is my God-given responsibility to preserve this freedom for those who are to follow after. This I must do in order that generations to come might also have the privilege and opportunity to live in a free nation as I have.

Let it then be known that when "Freedom's Roll Call" is sounded, I, as a sailor in the United States Navy, do proudly ask that my name be added to the list of America's fighters for freedom. It is a list of countless American service men who have said, "I do solemnly swear to uphold and defend the Constitution of these United States..." These are words spoken with pride and not with hollow meaning.

Let this then be the battle cry of all free men everywhere. Having always a faith in their God and in their country, "With God's help and in Freedom's name, I shall fight and I shall conquer... the victory shall be mine!"