Phillip Leveque has spent his life as a Combat Infantryman, Physician and Toxicologist.
(MOLALLA, Ore.) - I had the rare privilege, along with about 500 others, to see excerpts of Ken Burns new 14½ hour series, “THE WAR”. It is certain that the excerpts show in ghostly detail what the whole war series is about. Only frontline combat Veterans had the dubious privilege of suffering through this before.
When I survived World War II, I decided I did not want to do that again—EVER. It took me about thirty years before I could even think about my experiences, and I’m not over it yet—neither the war itself or Ken Burns movie excerpts.
The artillery barrages had me almost diving under the theater seats they were so real and brought me back sixty-two years crossing the Rhine River under German tire of every kind of weapon they had—heavy artillery, antiaircraft guns, machine guns, mortars and hand guns.
My Battalion of 1,000 lost about 150 men in a few hours and a few Infantry companies were almost functionally destroyed. This was nothing like the D-Day at Normandy when 1,200 were killed but that was about 60,000 attacking men.
If anyone wants to see what war is like—this is it. Battle Veterans like myself will most probably have difficulty experiencing it. It will be the time to honor your combat buddies who didn’t make it home.
Thank goodness we will be able to watch the series at home and not have to weep in a public theater. Whoever said strong men don’t weep. We earned these tears the hard way.
*******************************************************
You can email your questions to the doctor: newsroom@salem-news.com
More information on the history of Leveque can be found in his book, General Patton's Dogface Soldier of Phil Leveque about his experiences in WWII. Order the book by mail by following this link: salem-news.com/pages/Dogface_soldier.
If you are a World War Two history fan, you don't want to miss it.
Watch for Dr. Phil Leveque's video question and answer segments about medical marijuana with Bonnie King.
Other articles and video segments about medical marijuana on Salem-News.com:Oregon Medical Marijuana Doctor Tells All: Q&A Part 6 (VIDEO)Medical Marijuana: Treatment for Marijuana DependenceMedical Marijuana Medical ConditionsMedical Marijuana Medical ConditionsConnecticut Governor Vetoes Medical Marijuana BillMedical Marijuana: PTSD Medical MalpracticeMarine Combat Vet Discusses Iraq, PTSD and Medical MarijuanaThe Most Dangerous Man in OregonMedical Marijuana: What it's AboutOregon Medical Marijuana Doctor Discusses PTSD Treatment (VIDEO)PTSD: Life-Long Challenge For Growing Number of VeteransMedical Marijuana: A California Success StoryOregon Medical Marijuana Doctor Tells All: Q&A Part 3 (VIDEO)Medical Marijuana: The Replacement for Very Dangerous DrugsOregon Toxicologist Says Treatment for PTSD Should Include CannabisMedical Marijuana Doctor Responds to Written Comments (VIDEO) (Originally titled Oregon Medical Marijuana Doctor Tells All: Q&A Part 3)Oregon Medical Marijuana Doctor Answers All (VIDEO)
WORLD WAR II by Ken BurnsSalem-News.com