Military Tales
Rescuing History – One Voice at a Time. This website is dedicated to all those who have served this great nation. The main focus of this website will be documenting personal experiences of history from each veteran's point of view.
May History that was purchased at such a price, never be forgotten!
The Gravity of Memorial Day
The voice of Lt. Col. Michael J. "Bat" Masterson
In hallowed ground, Memorial Day is found, A national holiday, its roots profound. Men and women, warriors bold, To war they go, tales yet untold.
Saddened are we, for those not returned, Whose lives were extinguished, forever spurned. This day we set aside, hearts filled with care, To honor our fallen, in solemn prayer.
Amidst my work, audio files I found, Of service men singing, joy all around. In Nakhon Phanom, on that Southeast Asian eve, Lt Col. Michael J. Masterson, the emcee, I believe.
His voice, a riveting melody, His humor, dry and witty, you see. I sought him out, eager to share, A remastered song, a memory to repair.
Through searches and Google's guiding hand, I realized the weight, Memorial Day's grand. I possessed the essence, voice and charm, But Lt Col. Michael J. โBATโ Masterson was gone, a heartfelt alarm.
On October 13, 1968, he took flight, In an A-1 Skyraider, chasing the night. Over Laos, on a reconnaissance quest, The artificial horizon indicator, a troubling bequest.
In Xiangkhouang Province, the aircraft met its fate, Lt Col. Masterson's distress, a harrowing state. Bailing out near Pathet Lao's domain, Silence followed, nothing to explain.
Search efforts, fruitless in their endeavor, No trace of remains, lost forever. Yet in 2005, repatriated from afar, Human remains identified, a connection to Lt Col. Masterson's star.
A POW to some, an MIA to the rest, The Defense Department and Air Force put to the test. His directive clear, spoken to his wife, Find the truth, uncover the strife.
In Laos and Washington, she sought the light, A relentless pursuit, day and night. Freedom within her, the strength to fight, For those who couldn't speak, a beacon of might.
The Lao Government claimed no knowledge, alas, But the truth slowly emerged, through history's looking glass. On March 3, 2006, JPAC brought closure, Identifying Lt Col. Michael John Masterson, a treasure.
Now memorialized, in the Courts of the Missing, At the National Memorial Cemetery, forever existing. Lt Col. Michael J. โBATโ Masterson's name, Forever etched in our hearts, his legacy aflame.
On this Memorial Day, we stand as one, Honoring heroes, their battles done. Their sacrifice cherished, never in vain, In our memories, their spirits remain.