10/25/1415: Agincourt & St. Crispin

[Ray Newman]

For my comrades whom I served with in RVN:

"That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made
And crowns for convoy put into his purse:
We would not die in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is called the feast of Crispian:
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian:'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispin's day.'
Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day:
Then shall our names,
familiar in his mouth as household words;
Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day."

--Wm. Shakespeare, "Henry V"

Read all 'about Agincourt:
http://www.geocities.com/beckster05/Agi ... paign.html

 

[M. HALL]

I couldn't agree more and to all those that have and do serve; Thank you!

It is a very moving and soulful piece.

If you search for the speach on you tube it is well performed by some of the British actors very well!

Matt

 

[WendyZXZ]

Thanks for posting this, and thanks to you and all veterans for the service to this country.

 

[Otony]

You must watch this speech as done by Kenneth Branagh. Stirring, to say the least.

Thank you, from one of the Ruger band of brothers

 

[don44]

Thanks for posting. Makes a person think about it.

 

[Blackmore]

You must watch this speech as done by Kenneth Branagh. Stirring, to say the least.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAvmLDkAgAM

Olivier (1944). All the more poignant during WWII

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9fa3HFR02E

 

[M. HALL]

Thank you all again!

 

[SamV]

Well if you are going to use Kenneth Branagh's film, you really have to add in the musical score;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPXXuEel0fU&feature=player_embedded

Even if you are not a Shakespeare fan, you would probably like that Henry V

 

[Hugh]

Ray, thanks for the post.

MACV(SOG) July 1965 - August 1966, Driver, RO, Courier
MACV(SJS) May 1968 - May 1969, Courier

 

[308dave]

Also on 10/25:

1854 - The charge of the Light Brigade (Crimean War)

1944 - The battle of Leyte Gulf

 

[M. HALL]

Bump.

 

[Phoenix too]

Mr Hall! I was thinking about you just the other day. Hope things are going OK.

My very Great Grandfather was an archer in Henry V's army, serving under the Earl of Huntingdon. Family lore has it that Richard was Knighted for valor (rescuing said Earl). I've not been able to document that, but there were 'Sirs' in that line of the family.

http://www.icmacentre.ac.uk/soldier/database/

 

[Blackmore]

My second most favorite scene from the Branagh version.

 

[M. HALL]

Worthy of the annual bump. Thanks Ray for the initial post.

The links by members are great!

 

[contender]

A timeless piece.
While I am a wee bit too young to have been to RVN,, I went in soon after. My brother served 2 tours in Nam. My dad,, well, he was in the battle of Leyte Gulf.
"Lest we forget"

 

[Cooperhawk]

Aye, brothers all are we.

 

[stevemb]

A Thank You to the OP. To those that have drawn sharp steel and stepped up, another Thank You. Too many will not understand.

 

[Cooperhawk]

Just Wednesday I took the dagger that I carried in VN to show my shooting friends. I had mentioned it once, and they asked to see it. They said it was beautiful, and I think it looks horrible. It was made for me over there by a local. It is sharp steel and I hoped never to use it, and I did not.

 

[Colonialgirl]

The FATES that rule the world sent me to Korea in 1967 instead of RVN and I got to live through the Pueblo crisis. On leave to go to Hawaii, I spent several days in Tokyo and met those that were are leave/medical leave and a Army photographer who was a really nice guy. Sadly I read of his death in the S&S several months later.

 

[M. HALL]

Hello again, friends.