The Pensive Warrior

Friends Forged In Fire: A Haiku Series

In 1853, Matthew Perry led four ships into Tokyo Bay to establish formal ties between the United States and Japan for the first time. Others had tried before, but none were successful. Perry’s mission was to secure safe harbor for shipwrecked Americans and gain permission for U.S. ships to refuel and resupply at Japanese ports. Japan had an isolationist policy to kill any foreigners on Japanese soil at the time, but Perry came with enough security to ensure he gained an audience and was not attacked on sight. He requested a letter be delivered to the Tokugawa Shogunate, along with several other gifts. His gesture worked, and when he returned on March 31, 1854, the Treaty of Kanagawa was signed. A few years later, a commerce treaty was also signed, accelerating Japan’s technological capabilities with the cultural exchange.

Since then, the U.S.-Japan relationship has been an interesting and varied one, to say the least. Japan and the U.S. both grew in influence and in their frequency of contact in the Pacific. Embassies were opened, trade commenced, and immigration began. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, tensions started to flare between the two countries as the U.S. and Japan both tried to increasingly control and influence each other’s holdings. The U.S. tried to exert control over Japan through treaties favorable to American interests, and Japan tried to annex U.S. territory through emigration and displacement of American workers and land-owners. By 1907, many around the world believed war between the U.S. and Japan was imminent, and they were not wrong to think as such.

The two nations stood on the same side of events in WWI, and Japan took control of German holdings after the war. Despite this alliance, tensions continued to grow as both sought influence in the Pacific. The U.S. tried to use political and diplomatic maneuvering to maintain access to Chinese markets whereas Japan sought to turn China into a puppet state. This eventually culminated in the Japanese ambition of conquering all of Asia and using the continent to control the rest of the globe. Japan ceased parts of China through military force in 1937 and entered a formal military agreement with Germany and Italy with the signing of the Tripartite Pact in 1940. This put the two great nations on a tense path, as the U.S. was aligned with the Allies of WWII, and Japan was now with the Axis.

First Diplomatic Mission to the United States — Japan’s first diplomatic mission to the United States occurred in 1860, and the delegation was pictured in numerous photographs.

The two were major trading partners, and Japan sourced much of its oil from the United States. Japan was determined to conquer China and all of Asia, and there was widespread resentment to this in the United States. Japan sent diplomats to Washington, D.C. in an attempt to prevent war, but there was a split between the civilian and military leadership in Japan. Eventually, the civil government fell, and the Japanese military largely took control of its own operations. With the military mostly in charge, and with the resolve to conquer all of Asia, the decision was made to attack American military bases across the Pacific and hopefully knockout the ability of the U.S. to respond to any conflict in Asia.

This precipitated open war between the U.S. and Japan during WWII. The bloody and arduous conflict resulted in the demilitarization of Japan after their surrender in 1945. For the first time in its history, Japan was occupied by a foreign power. A new constitution was written and major reforms were instituted in Japan. It was a dark and dismal time. The occupation lasted until 1952. Even though the war between the U.S. and Japan was officially over, the path to peace was long and bleak, leaving both sides with new scars which may be difficult to appreciate for those who did not live through that era. Yet, it was during this period that the stage would be set for the Americans and Japanese to band together and face the greatest threat in either of their histories.

Bombing of Nagasaki — The events of World War II brought the U.S. and Japan into conflict, beginning with the attack on U.S. military bases around the globe – most notably at Pearl Harbor – and ending with the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

In San Francisco, on September 8, 1951, the U.S. and Japan signed the Security Treaty as part of the formal end to the occupation and the restoration of Japan as a sovereign territory. This was the beginning of the long-lasting alliance between the U.S. and Japan and was an agreement centuries in the making. During the latter part of the 20th Century, there was continued struggle between the two great nations. The Security Treaty was revised to better represent Japan, and both countries worked together to push back against communism during the height of the Cold War. After the Fall of China in 1949, there was a purge of communist groups from Japan as a precautionary measure. Ties were rocky between the U.S. and Japan throughout the 1950s and 1960s with many protests and reforms, but a positive relationship was born out of those trials which set the stage for the two countries to push back against communism in the 20th Century and beyond.

In recent times, the U.S. and Japan have sought to expand their alliance with the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue to include India and Australia. This comes amidst the rising threat of the Chinese Communist Party after failed attempts to reform the genocidal regime over the past 30 years. With the People’s Liberation Army of the CCP modernizing and forming new alliances, as well as tacitly, and sometimes openly, threatening to strike Japan, Australia, and the U.S. with nuclear weapons, the American and Japanese peoples both now stand at the precipice of their greatest challenge yet. It remains to be seen how the unlikely alliance and friendship forged in blood and fire will fare against the renewed specter of communism, and the world watches with anticipation to see if these two great nations can rise to answer their calling.

American-Japanese Combined Fleet — A combined fleet of American and Japanese warships sails in formation through the Sea of Japan, over 70 years after the end of the Pacific War between the U.S. and Japan.

This haiku series was written in honor of the history of the relationship between the United States and Japan, as well as in honor of the Japanese samurai’s invention of haiku as a unique form of poetry well-suited for warriors on the eve of battle.

Friends From Foes

Unknown faces come
Foreigners from distant lands
Strangers we know not

One eager to meet
The other wary of them
Both respecting strength

New ties bring new wealth
And worlds apart grow closer
Slow as it may be

But peace is fragile
It takes much heart to maintain
And little to break

Ambition strains us
And pushes us into war
Where blood and tears flow

Through fire and strife
We fumble into madness
Chaos seeping in

All our hope is lost
We forget how to forgive
Hate blinds us to love

We push to Hell's gate
To the limits of our souls
Only there we stop

We question ourselves
We wonder what we have done
How far we did fall

But time never stops
And the world keeps on spinning
So we carry on

Our darkness within
We find a way to tame it
And remake our peace

Peace for a future
A new dawn for our children
Where we both may grow

Friendship forged in fire
Tempered in the storms of war
Unlikely allies

New darkness rises
Threatening our world once more
A familiar foe

Peace comes and it goes
And duty calls us again
To stand and to fight

Side by side once more
With darkness at our doorstep
Threatening us both

Together we stand
Faced with our greatest challenge
Unsure what comes next

The specter looms large
Will fear overtake our hearts?
Or will courage reign?

The world calls for us
Our nations must be strong
Or all will be lost

Divided we fall
Together we may stand strong
As the world watches

May God bless us all
And those standing by our side
For both we shall need

Bless us on this path
Bless the U.S. and Japan
In this final fight

All Pensive Warrior posts are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Heroes From History: David Humphreys

David Humphreys was an American officer, diplomat, and poet during the revolutionary period. He was born in Derby, Connecticut on July 10, 1752. Before the war of 1776, Humphreys went to Yale College and was one of the founders of a literary society known as the Connecticut Wits along with Joel Barlow, whom Humphreys would work with later in life as a diplomat in Europe. Humphreys briefly entertained the prospect of a teaching career in Connecticut and then moved to a tutoring position in New York at the Philipse Manor. It was here that Humphreys diverted from his life as an educator to take up arms for his fellow countrymen.

Joining the Fight

In the summer of 1776, David Humphreys left his position as a tutor to join the Continental Army. He was attached to the 2nd Connecticut Regiment stationed in New York as a militia adjutant. Humphreys reportedly saw combat in the Battle of Ridgefield (1777) and during the Meigs Raid on Sag Harbor (1777). As a writer, Humphreys reported on the two actions and rose to the rank of captain, before eventually being promoted to Major. During his military service, Humphreys most notably served as the aide to Generals Samuel Parsons, Israel Putnam, Nathanael Greene, and eventually George Washington. Humphreys finally attained the position of “aide-de-camp” to General Washington in 1780.

Israel Putnam by David Humphreys — David Humphrey was a lifelong writer and often wrote about his personal experiences, such as when he served under General Putnam.

From this point on, David Humphreys accompanied George Washington everywhere, writing hundreds of communications for the general. Humphreys made his home at Mount Vernon with the Washington family due to the intensity of his work. He transcribed all the letters dictated by Washington, and it was around this time Humphreys began to write more poetry. The first of his most notable works was Address to the Armies of the United States of America, published in 1779. It was a long piece of poetry commenting on the many battles of the Revolutionary War, the sacrifices made for the country, and the joys of peace rewarded unto the new nation for their victory against tyranny.

To bolder deeds, and vict'ry's fierce delights,
Your country calls, and heav'n itself invites.
Charm'd by their potent voice, let virtue's flame,
The sense of honour, and the fear of shame,
The thirst of praise, and freedom's envied cause,
The smiles of heroes, and the world's applause,
Impel each breast, in glory's dread career,
Firm as your rock-rais'd hills, to persevere.
- excerpt from Address to the Armies of the United States of America (1779) by David Humphreys

After the British surrender at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781, Humphreys was entrusted to deliver the British colors to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. The war ended, and Humphreys was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He remained an attaché to George Washington and accompanied the general when Washington went before Congress to issue his resignation following the end of the war. In the years that followed, Humphreys entered into a new line of service to his country as a diplomat. He joined John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin as part of the Secretaryship to the Commission for Negotiating Treaties of Commerce with Foreign Powers.

General George Washington Resigning His Commission by John Trumbull with David Humphreys shown standing immediately behind Washington.

Diplomatic Service

Humphrey’s years as a diplomat brought him all across Europe. He served as a representative to the United States in France, England, Spain, and Portugal. During this time, he wrote another of his famous works, The Glory of America (1783). In 1786, he would be recalled to the States and was presented with an ornamental sword for his valiant service during the Revolutionary War. Humphreys returned to Mount Vernon to serve as Washington’s secretary when the latter was elected president, and he was also made the head of the Connecticut state militia and helped safeguard the newfound nation’s territory from native incursion, as the British and other European forces continued to support the natives in a proxy war against the United States. Humphreys nearly saw action again when he marched his troops into Massachusetts to help suppress Shay’s Rebellion, but the situation was resolved before they arrived. Humphrey then wrote his next notable work, The Anarchiad (1787), which commented on the dangers of democracy.

Lo, THE COURT FALLS; th' affrighted judges run,
Clerks, Lawyers, Sheriffs, every mother's son.
The stocks, the gallows lose th' expected prize,
See the jails open, and the thieves arise.
- excerpt from The Anarchiad (1787) by David Humphreys

David Humphrey returned to Europe in 1790 as a diplomat and spy for the United States. War was brewing between Spain and England. Humphreys gathered crucial information about the situation and relayed it back to the United States. He also took part in negotiations to free American prisoners held by the Algerines, along with help from Joel Barlow. This success earned Humphreys prominence in Spain and Portugal, allowing him to become the minister of the United States to Spain and a member of the Royal Society of London. During this time, Humphreys also learned about the breeding of merino sheep in Spain and brought this knowledge back with him to the United States when he was recalled from his post.

Life of General Washington by David Humphreys — David Humphreys continued to write and publish works throughout his life, even while serving his country during war and relative peace.

Transition to Civilian Life

Now late in his life, Humphreys focused on the importation of merino sheep to the United States. He became a successful merchant and boosted the wool production of the U.S. with his new methods. As he often wrote poetry commenting on his life, he began to write poems about the raising of sheep and connected the experience to his values of patriotism, conservativism, and federalism. He took in boys off the street from New York City, training them and educating them personally, turning them into a small military outfit, teaching them to read, and helping them find jobs. Humphreys ran a farm which became quite successful and helped found the Agriculture Society of Connecticut. His wool mill produced coats of “golden fleece” which were worn by several subsequent presidents. Though he never again saw military action, David Humphreys was commissioned as a brigadier general during the War of 1812.

After living a long and prosperous life, General David Humphreys passed away on peacefully February 21, 1818.

A Patriot’s Legacy

David Humphrey was a prime example of a warrior poet from the Age of Revolution. He began his career as a teacher, wrote a wealth of poetry and prose, rose through the ranks to become a general, and settled down for the quiet life of a sheep farmer near the end of his days. He lived a life full of service to his country from his earliest days to the very end, and commanded both the use of both the pen and sword. His words inspired others to stand against darkness unending, both on paper and from his tongue as he stood beside others against the fires of battle. Yet, when his country called for him to serve in a more subtle and deft capacity, he served just as admirably.

David Humphrey was an accomplished writer, poet, author, warrior, leader, diplomat, and spy. He was also a prosperous teacher, farmer, and entrepreneur who left behind more in his one life than one could hardly dream. While he is perhaps not as well known as some other prominent figures throughout history, his story is as inspiring as any other, if not more so.

Many men have been great scholars, writers, and teachers, guiding others to greatness through their finesse with words. Many men have been great warriors, soldiers, and leaders, storming the gates of Hell and facing fears which would take the hearts of most. Just as well, many men have been great farmers, producers, and entrepreneurs, giving back to their communities by building, producing, and showing others new ways of living. Yet, few men have lived such a life to embody all these things, and that is exactly the sort of man David Humphreys was.

We do not know when or to what occasion we shall be called to arise and serve our God and our country. Nevertheless, it is our duty as human beings, as men and women, to walk surely and briskly through the flames of shadow wherever they may burn. In so doing, the light of our courage may serve as a beacon to others fumbling in the dark. Such was the way of warrior poets like David Humphreys who found himself born into times of great strife, and yet, who strove toward excellence in all he did and always found a way to thrive. The rest of us can only hope to be so brave.

All posts by The Pen and Sword are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Narrow Is the Way

This is an ABAB poem I wrote in rumination on the meaning of Matthew 7:13-14. The passage speaks of the importance of taking the more difficult road in life, for the easy path is the one many take, and it leads them to into ruin. It reminded me of how we must stress our bodies and our minds to keep our wits sharp and hands quick, for a dull blade cuts not when it is needed. So too, it must be said, a dull mind and a weak body fail in times of strife. As such, through hardship we gain strength, and through strength, we do gain victory.

Narrow is the way to set one free
Through fire and shadow it passes
Few make their way and fewer shall see
The path to soft green grasses

Enter we must, through the narrow gate
To find our road to love and life
For love is sly and eludes hearts most faint
And the circle of life is one full of strife

Enter we must, through the narrow gate
Lest we become of the horde in passing
For wide is the way to an untimely fate
And many are ensnared by its dazzling

Many will enter the path most wide
And cast themselves into the void
How easy it is to give way to one's pride
So easy is beauty destroyed

Slim we must be to pass through the gate
Discarding our false truths and idols
For narrow paths do so dictate
Passage shall not be made by vandals

Righteous we must be in all our ways
To walk the path most true
And live to the fullest of our days
Doing that which we ought to do

Our duty it is to do what is right
So our kin may learn as we do
To find their own path, narrow and tight
And muster the strength to pass through

All posts by The Pen and Sword are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keepers of the Flame

“Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.”

― Gustav Mahler

A poem inspired by these words, the tides of history, and the importance of conserving our traditions to the maintenance of civilization.

Traditions pass from ear to ear
A fateful guide to the lost soul
An eternal binding we find most dear
A tie between that keeps us whole

One may wonder why it feels so fond
To be reminded of days long ago
That which shapes our nostalgic bonds
And beckons us to preserve what we know

To preserve the fire, we must teach those who will inherit it to keep it as we do.

An inborn feeling deep inside
Driving us to protect our roots
A love for our past is a trusty guide
Steering our people to bear great fruit

Our traditions bind us in unity and strength
For one fights fierce for what they love
We prepare to go to any length
To preserve our future, we rise above

Learning takes time, which is why we those with a head start gain the largest lead.

Our history is our closest bedfellow
Showing who we are and why we are here
From whence we came points where to go
For with our past our future is made clear

When we fail to recall from whence we came
So too do we fail to conserve
The spirit of giants who lit up our flame
And who built our pastures of our reserve

What this little one lacks in trigger discipline, she makes up for in spirit!

And when tradition fails, so too shall we
For tradition is the preservation of fire
And when fire fades darkness is set free
Then may our situation become most dire

And so we must raise keepers of the flame
To carry on our history and ways
To ensure we need not fight to reclaim
What was built, but lost in a daze

Passing the torch to the next generation is not only our duty, but is our chance to bond and grow together.

When we tend to the flames of our founding
We not only care for bodies and our souls
We tend to the fabrics of our worlds binding
And put our children in reach of their goals

Give heed to that fire of Humanity's being
Keep it fed and alive as one keeps their own
Keep it safe and guarded from all freezing
Do this and you'll find you are never alone

The torch must always be passed if the flame is to persist, for we are only its bearer for but a brief time.

Blessed are those who keep to the flame
The flame of our souls which guides the way
Blessed are those who know His name
For never shall they find themselves astray

And though trouble may come in one's day
From those who see flame with fear
The keepers shall wash the wicked away
And once again light the path most clear

All posts by The Pen and Sword are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

And So Comes A New Year

And so passes another year on this journey of ours we call life. We carry on, hoping to be better moving forward than we were in the past. For many, that is the goal, and so it should be. Without that drive to continually improve ourselves, we lay stagnant and decay. Atrophy sets in and obliterates any chance of progress and growth, if we allow it. Yet allow it, we must not. We must push forth and push right, never straying with willing steps onto the path of dismay.

Ice Age humans — The darkest time in human history was arguably the last “Ice Age” over 10,000 years ago, when nomadic hunter-gatherer humans survived on Earth during a time when the planet was a barren wasteland.

Many have struggled with times passing by, and will struggle with times yet to come. Such is our lot in life as human beings. We, the chosen ones who have weathered so many storms through which so many more have perished. Ice ages, supervolcanos, plagues, famine, and wars that shook the foundations of the world. Humanity stands apart from so many other forms of life on Earth that would have been whisked away by the winds of change so very long ago. To endure is thus our lot in life as the inheritors of the Earth standing above the rest.

Fall of Rome — Political instability, supervolcanos blocking the sun, plagues, famine, and constant war saw the apex of Roman civilization during a time of great strife for Humanity, and yet humans rose from this era of tragedy to achieve even greater heights.

Many have questioned since time began why suffering, strife, and hardship may be permitted to persist across time and space. If benevolent forces rule the world, why does the world seem a perpetual haven for the sinister and the depraved. For me, I have long understood that without suffering to challenge us, we become weak. Without strife to threaten us, we become slow. Without hardship to sharpen us, we become dull. The darkness in the hearts of our fallen brethren keeps us growing stronger to continually save the world from being consumed. And by keeping strong out of need to keep the dark at bay, we remain with the strength we need to withstand the trials of nature and disasters born not of our hands, which would wipe away any weak-willed people with not the resolve to live through hell.

French Revolution — The Age of Revolutions saw mass chaos and bloodshed grip the Earth as discontent arose with the monarchical systems of governance which prevailed for a time, and yet humans came together when the dust settled and found peace once again in spite of all the madness.

Sure as it is the sun will rise the next day, so it is sure the days ahead will be filled with as much strife or more as those we have thus far endured. And while many have endured so much in recent times they may feel they do not know how much they can bear, I know in my heart of hearts the will of the people to endure and overcome has not yet been pushed close to the brink of defeat, and there is so much more those people can do. As darkness rises once again for the great challenge of this century, we are each of us being trained to darker times ahead by the shadows we face today.

D-Day solider — Prior to the invention of the atomic bomb and the advent of nuclear deterrence of invasions, political instability once again led Humanity into a series of conflicts which culminated with the Second World War that shook the peoples of Earth like never before, and yet still Humanity rose up once again and continued moving onward.

Looking back at the darkness Humanity has endured in ages past and in the times at hand, I cannot help but anticipate what we might be preparing for. I see all hardship endured as training for conflict and crisis yet to come. With such tremendous shadow abound, I imagine the free peoples of Earth must either be on the verge of achieving great victory over tyranny once again, or perhaps we are being prepared for new battles with evil yet to come. Whatever the case may be, we must face those times with courage and conviction, never waning in our dedication to liberty, truth, and justice in the face of oblivion. There is no greater honor than to face the evils which may threaten our children and push them out with the light at our side, sparing our progeny from the troubles of our day.

Political instability led to the Fall of Kabul when the Pentagon prematurely pulled air support and logistics prior to evacuating civilians during the withdraw from Afghanistan, leaving many trapped with little hope of escape from the Taliban and the influence of their communist allies in Beijing, prompting private citizens and non-profit groups to mobilize privately chartered planes to insert into the hostile zone and extract civilians in an impressive display of human ingenuity to overcome adversity in the face of extreme challenge.

Happy New Year to all the free peoples of Earth fighting battles both big and small, within themselves and with the world around them. May all the warriors of light find victory and strength this new year as liberty and tyranny continue their never ending clash across the ages. Stay brave. Stay strong. Stay true. Happy New Year.

All posts by The Pen and Sword are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Christmas Miracles: The Collapse of the Soviet Union

On December 25, 1991, the red flag with a hammer and sickle flying over the Kremlin was lowered, never to be raised there again. Numerous Soviet states had already announced they were leaving the Union. Intolerance of any political dissent, the centralized economy, and constant conflict with the rest of the world had finally worn down the totalitarian regime. After the population under the control of the Communist Party had endured decades of theft, starvation, censorship, and terror, the people the Soviet Union needed to support it reached a point where they were no longer afraid of being whisked away to the gulags in the middle of the night or executed outside their homes for daring to speak out. When the people’s fear of the consequences of compliance outweighed their fear of the consequences of non-compliance, the communist chains placed upon their minds were broken, and countless souls began to break free.

Reforms introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev years earlier allowed the wheels of change to finally be set in motion towards a brighter path. The secret police were disbanded, elections began, and criticism of the regime was finally allowed. With no international support to draw upon after waging a war against the world for so long, the reforms were a death knell for the communist regime as it reeled with the daily issues of governing it had long ignored. As George Washington once said: “Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.” And as Mikhail Gorbachev said of the reforms he introduced: “The old system collapsed before the new system had a chance to start working.”

changing of the Russian flag — On December 25, 1991, the Soviet flag over the Kremlin was replaced with the flag of the Russian Federation.

The Cry of Freedom May Not Be Held Forever

A coup had been attempted to remove Gorbachev months earlier in August. Years before that in 1989, the Berlin Wall had come down already. Conflict broke out between the Red Army of Moscow and the peoples of Lithuania and Latvia. With many Soviet states in open revolt or simply refusing to continue to work with the central government, the Soviet Union ceased to exist. Word spread of the machinations of the secret police and the gulags as free press cropped up and began to speak out openly. The United States, under the executive control of the W. Bush administration, opted to roll back many active measures and react to what was happening instead. Elections in the Soviet Union led to a split of political support with disparate interests clashing internally.

The Red Army was pulled out of Germany and the Eastern and Western halves of the country reunified. Germany even resolved to join NATO, a move which would have been physically impossible and most likely suicidal years earlier. To many, peace seemed to be settling over the world as the threat of mutually-assured destruction with nuclear weapons which gripped the hearts of people across the globe began to dissipate for many. Conflicts across the globe, big and small, carried on. Yet, for many, it seemed this was a time of peace. All the more fitting it was the Soviet flag over the Kremlin was lowered for the last time on Christmas Day, a day of peace on Earth.

Berlin Wall coming down. — The Berlin Wall being torn down. The collapse of the Soviet Union was no sudden event, but a slow, drawn out process.

A Battle Won in a War Yet Waging

Many heralded December 25, 1991 as the end of the notorious Cold War. Of course, this was not the case, as the center of communist power simply shifted from Moscow to Beijing, as the Chinese Communist Party still retained control of mainland China and carried on with its war against the world as if little had changed. In truth, from the perspective of the communists, the Cold War never ended, and the collapse of the Soviet Union was both a setback and a boon for the rising darkness in Beijing. The Chinese communists and the Soviet Union had worked together at times, such as when they both committed to supporting the communist front in the Korean peninsula. At others times, they fought, experiencing border clashes with casualties which threatened to bring the USSR and the PRC to all out war. They shared the goal of conquering the free world and banishing liberty from the Earth, yet both wished to be one on top.

Now, as darkness rises once more, the free peoples of Earth are waking up to how the Cold War never ended since the communists were never fully defeated. The communists in Beijing grew their forces in a continuance of the Arms Race. The Cold War carried on with the Third Taiwan Crisis of 1996, the Scarborough Shoal Standoff of 2012, the Fall of Hong Kong in 2019, and many other other geopolitical disasters for the valiant peoples of Earth fighting against communism. Many sacrifices have been made and the stakes continue to be raised back to where they were before Gorbachev took over the Soviet Union those many years ago. A new era dawns for the free peoples of Earth in their longstanding fight against the dark forces of communism.

Hypersonic nuclear missile launch — The People’s Liberation Army of Communist China test launching its new hypersonic nuclear missile design which travels at Mach 5.

All Ends Are Beginnings

Despite the principle actors of the Cold War remaining and continuing on with no end yet reached, the end of the Soviet Union ushered in a moment of peace in human history which blessed the Earth for over 30 years. It also symbolized a major defeat for tyranny on Earth and a significant hurdle in the long war for freedom and peace. That peace, however temporary, should always be cherished. All good things come to an end, and war always returns when the people become accustomed to peace. Nevertheless, the three ensuing decades following the collapse of the Soviet Union were a boon for the free peoples of Earth which cannot be underappreciated.

The spirit of Christmas is one of peace on Earth. In the United States, the Christmas holiday is a day to remind us of the belief in how God sacrificed his son to free the peoples of Earth from themselves. Licentiousness had displaced liberty once more as people had become slaves to their baser emotions and desires, and Jesus Christ was born to grow up and teach humans once again the path to true freedom. As those who speak the truth and advocate for freedom are always persecuted by those who seek to defend their vices, it was known that Jesus was born only to be persecuted and to die. Yet that sacrifice would inculcate the virtues of peace and love across the Earth.

Quad Naval Formation — Warships from the U.S. Japan, Australia, and India in 2020 exercising together in the Asia-Pacific.

Perhaps there is something indescribable which is responsible for so many miracles occurring around Christmas time. Perhaps what we perceive as miracles are merely coincidences. It is difficult to know for sure. Yet there is one thing I do know. December 25, 1991 is a day to be remembered, for it is a day when great peace was washed over the Earth and gave the free peoples a breath of fresh air. It was a moment of respite in which Humanity was able to catch its breath and prepare for the coming challenges of the next century.

This Christmas, I wish a happy and peaceful day to all the free peoples of Earth who fight against tyranny, communism, and any other dark forces which assail themselves against Humanity. May you all spend this day with love and cheer, surrounded by joy, friendship, and family. Merry Christmas to all, and to all, stay strong.

All posts by The Pen and Sword are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The Gift of Giving

What is it to give a gift?
The power to shape souls
An ancient art to elate and uplift
A force to make us whole

We give to others to receive
The greatest gift of all
To know in our hearts and to believe
There is no greater call

Through this act we do ascend
And rise up to our greatest selves
When unto others we do attend
Into riches Humanity delves

Not riches of gold or silver coin
Nor minted notes on paper or screen
But a fullness of heart as hands enjoin
And forge us bonds before unseen

To fill the hands of another being
We fill our own hearts up gently
All emptiness cast out and fleeing
As our homes grow full with love aplenty

The gift of giving is to receive
All the bounties of love and life
The greatest reward we can achieve
Making joy abundant and rife

With outstretched arms and an open heart
Through selfless work and charity
Our world is healed in no small part
As light shines out with honor and glory

All posts by The Pen and Sword are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Christmas Miracles: The Christmas Truce of 1914

The First World War was a major conflict for control of the European continent between the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary and the Allied Powers of France, Britain, and Russia. Many other countries came into the fold on one side or the other until most of the world was involved, and nearly the entire global economy became mobilized for the war effort. Beginning in July of 1914, many thought the war would be over before Christmas, although as the fighting dragged on it quickly became apparent this would not be the case. The opposing forces had fought each other to a standstill by that time with no end in sight. Trenches had formed along the Western Front of the conflict which turned to mud and frost with incessant rain giving way to frost with the cold of winter closing in.

brokering a truce — The Christmas Truce of 1914 was not sanctioned by the leadership of either side, but was brokered by low-ranking officers in the trenches.

Nevertheless, the spirit of Christmas prevailed when December rolled around after months of constant fighting had made the troops eager for respite. Leading up to the great Christmas Truce, Pope Benedict XI called for a ceasefire on Christmas, requesting “that the guns may fall silent at least upon the night the angels sang.” While the British and German leadership had no interest in peace at this time, word spread of the call nonetheless. Perhaps it was this, or perhaps the spirit of Christmas weighed heavily on the fires of war and kept them still for a time. The German emperor, William II sent Christmas trees to the Western Front to try and bolster German morale, and the German soldiers set the trees up along the trenches. Christmas carols were also being sung on Christmas Eve by the soldiers, and warriors from both sides soon began to sing along together to classic hymns including Silent Night, known as “Stille Nacht” in German. Friendly exchanges occurred throughout the night with the two sides exchanging good tidings and wishes of “Merry Christmas.”

soldier with a cigarette on Christmas — The British and German soldiers who participated in the Christmas Truce exchanged cigarettes and other small items as Christmas gifts.

Dawn Breaks On Christmas Morn

That night, orders began circulating among the British troops to “live and let live,” meaning to not fire unless fired upon. The orders from the top on both sides were to continue fighting, and most did. However, as the sun rose on Christmas Day, it is said German soldiers along portions of the Western Front stepped out onto No Man’s Land with hands raised repeating the words “Merry Christmas” in the English language. The British at first thought it a rouse and readied weapons, but did not fire, waiting for the Germans to fire the first shot. Some shootings did occur, but the Germans did not return fire. They continued on with their hands raised as they were shot down. Eventually, the British troops realized it was not a ploy, and soldiers from both sides emerged from the trenches to meet the other side on Christmas morn.

cross on No Man's Land — The German and British warriors set up Christmas trees and crosses across No Man’s Land, symbols of hope, love, and peace used to celebrate Christmas, the day used to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

The British and German troops who observed the ceasefire exchanged gifts and sang songs together. Some took the cessation of hostilities to gather the dead from No Man’s Land and fortify their positions. A still moment of peace descended over the field of death that many described as eerie and strange, yet wonderful and marvelous at the same time. The Christmas trees were brought up and lit with candles, and the two forces even played a friendly game of football (soccer). Reportedly, the French did not participate in the ceasefire due to much animosity from earlier offensives into French territory, and the Russians along the Eastern Front saw no such truce as they were using a different calendar with Christmas happening at a later time. The truce persisted in some areas until the new year, at which point all hostilities resumed.

Word Spreads of Startling Peace

The Christmas Truce of 1914 is said to be the last recorded instance of chivalry on the battlefield between warriors. British and German soldiers wrote about the truce in letters to home before censorship of communications was implemented. Word began to spread and was met with much disbelief. On both sides, the media portrayed the other as bloodthirsty demons who one would scarcely believe might stop fighting for the sake of Christmas. Yet word of the miraculous ceasefire continued to spread, much to the dismay of military leaders who feared it might affect the will of their soldiers to continue to fight. For some time, the Christmas Truce of 1914 was treated as a myth or legend rather than a historical event, and its occurrence was disputed. After the war, it became a more widely accepted fact the ceasefire did occur, no doubt due to the circulation of photographic evidence from that day.

newspaper clipping of the Christmas Truce — Images of the Christmas Truce began to spread, in spite of widespread disbelief and censorship efforts.

With technological advances in firearms, ballistics, and explosives, chivalry eventually faded away from the battlefield as distance was created between warriors and battles protracted from brief bouts of intense melee to endless scourges of attrition. With larger economies and bigger guns brought into play, war became more and more vicious, prolonged, and desperate than ever. The First World War was one of the last major conflicts where chivalry could have been possible, and even then, it was not widely observed. The great Christmas Truce of 1914 was only possible due to the close proximity of fighting forces and the initiative of low-ranking officers to broker their own unofficial ceasefire in defiance of orders from their superiors. It was also a shocking moment which defied all expectations. The Christmas Truce was never repeated, and remains an anomaly to this day.

A Lesson for the Ages

The Christmas Truce of 1914 is a dark, yet heartwarming tale. In the midst of the fire and ice of a wintery battlefield, two groups of warriors which had been driven to hate one another down to their cores by the media they each received demonizing the other side managed to find some peace and solace, not just on their own, but together on that holy day we know as Christmas. It is a surprising and touching moment in human history that sheds a ray of hope into even the bleakest of ponderings. To me, it serves as a reminder of how important it is to set aside any trifles one might have with another when Christmas time comes around. For whatever conflicts we may find ourselves broiled in, Christmas is not a time for war or strife. As much as our nature may push us to dig in our heals, Christmas is a time for us to lay down the sword and share a moment of peace with the people around us.

All posts by The Pen and Sword are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Christmas Miracles: The Battle of Trenton

The month of December is host to many great tales. Some of heroism and bravery, others of self-sacrifice and generosity, and some tell of unsuspecting peace and tranquility. This is a special time for many when magic is in the air and the impossible is made possible. The Battle of Trenton in December of 1776 is one such tale to be told where a daring group of rebels trekked across frozen wastes into a storm of ice and fire, yet still took the day despite all the wailings of the world seemingly against them.

Sailing the Frozen River

The Continental Army under George Washington was often plagued with low morale. Few scarcely believed they could defeat the British Empire, and yet they fought nonetheless for they knew in their heart of hearts it was a stand worth taking. Washington had brought together both boys and men from different state militias with enlisted Continental troops. They were to set out across the icy river of the Delaware under cover of storm and march almost 10 miles through the snow to attack the Hessian mercenaries at Trenton. It was a plan so perilous it seemed doomed to fail. As such, the enemy was ill prepared when the Americans arrived.

On Christmas Day, George Washington, with Nathanael Greene and John Sullivan by his side, set out on boats across the frozen river with their troops in tow. The journey over the water was long and arduous, and as such, 3,000 men were not able to make it across and found themselves forced to turn back. The air was deathly cold and the waters nearly frozen solid. Only those nearest to Washington’s formation managed to carry on to the other side, pushed onward with an unseen hand at their backs. They knew the Hessians would be drunk and hungover from celebrating Christmas and tonight was their best chance to strike. So, they pressed on.

The March of Ice and Blood

After a treacherous journey across the icy Delaware, and having already lost more men than they had left, the Americans marched through the snow and wind to the city of Trenton. They trekked nearly 10 miles from the river’s edge to the Hessian encampment. Many of the troops were without boots, and so they wrapped their feet in rags to ward off the cold and save their toes. A trail of blood is said to have stained the snow a deep red as many bled at the feet after their soles froze stiff and cracked wide open. Yet still, they marched, for they knew the cost of failing to defeat their enemy was far greater than any temporary hardship or individual death.

March Through Frozen Lands — After the test of the river, many were turned back. Less than half of those who began the journey now trekked across frozen fields on bloody feet.

Many colonists saw the rebels marching through the snow leaving their trail of blood, and volunteers came out to offer aid. They gave food, clothes, and directions to the brave young warriors on their march to fight for freedom. General Washington acquired a horse and used it to ride along the column of men, encouraging them to continue on. With this generous aid, the Continental forces managed to trek all the way to Trenton and only lost two souls to exposure on what should have been a death march fraught with hundreds of casualties. Selfless Americans came out of their homes and gave what little they had to offer the troops to keep them warm, fed, and dry as they marched on through the winter winds and mountains of snow into the unknown.

On the Eve of Battle

As they approached the city of Trenton, General Washington was informed by a courier from Major General John Sullivan that the storm had wet the gunpowder they carried with them, and it would be unreliable at best. Undeterred, Washington famously said to the courier to “Tell General Sullivan to use the bayonet. I am resolved to take Trenton.” With that, the Americans prepared themselves to attack the Hessians. Whether their guns fired or not, they would charge nonetheless, determined and as ready as ever.

The Battle of Trenton begins — Starving and cold, yet brave and bold, the American forces charged at their enemy with souls on fire.

American spies had fed disinformation to the Hessians, and the weather forced regular patrols to stay back. The German commander, Johann Rall also ignored earlier requests to fortify the positions of his troops with redoubts, feeling the Americans were no threat after previous victories against them. In response to the threat of an attack on his forces, Rall said, “Let them come … We will go at them with the bayonet.” As such, the Americans approached undetected and faced no outer defenses to slow down their advance. The Hessian mercenaries were overwhelmed as a result.

A Strike Decisive and Swift

At approximately 8:00am on December 26, 1776, the Americans emerged from the woods outside Trenton and were fired upon by Hessian outposts stationed there. They returned fire and began to encircle the small groups. The Germans saw the massive force was no small raiding party to which they were accustomed. They quickly began an organized retreat, firing on the Americans as they fell back from their positions outside the town. Continental forces surrounded the city and blocked the roads before moving in.

The Hessians tried to warn their allies in the city that the outposts were lost and Trenton was now under siege. The Americans had set up cannons outside the city and were firing into the Hessian lines to break their control over the streets. The efforts of the defenders to bring their own cannons to bear were stopped by the overwhelming amount of suppressing fire. As the fighting became apparent to the American colonists living in Trenton, they too gathered their weapons and took aim at the Hessians from their windows and rooftops. The Americans overwhelmed the German mercenaries with gunfire from every angle and broke their lines as swiftly as the battle began.

The Battle of Trenton — The battle was brief as Americans rose up from their homes and rained down fire on the foreign occupiers from every direction.

Hall and his troops were routed, and the survivors were forced to abandon the city. As Washington lost most of his force crossing the Delaware, the enemy escape could not be completely locked down. Many Hessians fled, but most surrendered, including Hall. Wounded and dying from the fighting, the German leader asked only that Washington treat his men with humanity. Washington, an honorable man, obliged, and made sure to extract the prisoners from the combat zone rather than press further into enemy territory.

The battle was a decisive victory for the American rebels. Approximately 2,400 Continental Army troops and state militia members managed to inflict 905 casualties on the force of 1,500 Hessian mercenaries, killing and/or capturing 105 hostiles. With this feat, only 5 Americans were wounded in the battle, with none killed or captured. The outcome instilled confidence in George Washington among the Continental Congress, and among the young American rebels in themselves. It also proved something much more.

The Gift of Giving

One often hears the “gift of giving” in reference to the spirit of Christmas. This is the feeling we gain through giving unto others with no expectation of receiving in return. In so doing, we receive the greatest gift of all. With such an act of altruism and charity, we see the effect of giving on the recipient. We witness the smile on their face and the glow within their heart. While the actions of the troops under Washington’s command are quite impressive, the spirit of Christmas displayed by the American colonists who helped them along the way is also worth admiring.

As the Continental Army marched into the icy fields of certain death, selfless Americans who witnessed them on their journey came out to give aid, offering them food, shelter, directions, clothing, and any supplies they could spare. These gifts were surely never to be returned, yet the people opened their homes and their hearts to the courageous rebels on the perilous odyssey. It is through these acts of charity that Washington and his company made safe passage through the storm.

Yet the American spirit of Christmas did not cease there. When the rebels rushed into the fires of battle to oust the mercenaries occupying the city of Trenton, brave American townsfolk rose up with their guns to rain down fire from above. With the fear of death in their faces, the people of Trenton showed in the earliest days of the country what it meant to be an American, and they offered their lives in the fight for freedom in the spur of the moment. With this selfless act of courage and bravery, the enemy was overcome and driven out. The true spirit of Christmas rang out that day across the lands from every corner it was called and forever earned December 25, 1776 a spot in history as one of the great Christmas miracles of our world.

All posts by The Pensive Warrior are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Through Feast and Famine, We Give Thanks

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday this year, and it has given me the opportunity to ruminate further on the spirit of Thanksgiving. This is a holiday rich with tradition and history, even though it may often be overlooked by many as a mere family gathering every November. This prompted me to produce another ABAB poem in honor of the story of the first Thanksgiving and the meaning carried with this very special occasion. I hope you enjoy!

From Famine to Feast, and Back Again

Setting forth into lands unknown
Promise and warning abound
The frontier beckons weary bones
Fortune and famine to be found

Eager to prove our worth and thrive
We take on the world and meet our match
The lands push back on our will to survive
Testing our mettle with each dispatch

Mayflower voyage — The voyage of the Mayflower across the Atlantic was as fraught as the struggles of the pilgrims to survive after making landfall.

Hunger scrapes at the mind
And frost bites at the soul
Nature can be most unkind
Beauty and cruelty as one whole

Hostiles be both man and beast
All eager for the taste of flesh
To make our own their bloody feast
Our spirits they set to gnaw and thresh

Plymouth Rock Winter — Through cold, hunger, and all manners of danger, the pilgrims at Plymouth were tested and pushed to the brink of oblivion.

Yet hope is never lost
Nor is it ever far
Amid the pain and ceaseless frost
We must keep sense of who we are

Amid the swirl of chaos and strife
We look to our friends both new and old
We stand together and breathe new life
To rise up as one into an age of gold

Meetings between the pilgrims and natives — In times of great strife, people can often choose to either come together or tear apart. The spirit of Thanksgiving embodies the choice to come together.

Together we learn and do we grow
Facing the threats of the frontier
Sharing knowledge and wisdom both untold
Bringing about new love and cheer

A Thanksgiving Day to celebrate each year
A harvest long coming to sink winter's chill
And a feast of friendship rather than fear
Brings people together for good and not ill

George Washington kneeling to God — The spirit of Thanksgiving would be carried on for centuries and remembered by great Americans like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, reminding us to give thanks for the blessings we have during times of both feast and famine.

Yet as we return to uncertain days
Time and time again as struggle reigns
We give thanks for our blessings always
And give thanks even for growing pains

I hope you all had a momentous Thanksgiving day last week, wherever you were and whomever you were with.

All posts by The Pensive Warrior are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.