Readiness of our u. S. Armed forces. Today we are joined by nearly 1000 who have registered for this very important event. Despite our attention being focused on other things in the lead up to the election there may be no more vital of a topic for our country then this. Americans have had the good fortune of living in unparalleled freedom and prosperity for nearly 250 years and these gifts are maintained by a powerful and ready military that prevents our adversaries from destroying what so many of us as americans have had the opportunity to experience. President Ronald Reagan said that a truly successful military is one that because of its strength and ability and dedication wouldnt be called because no one would dare provoke it. He calls it peace through strength and that is how we won the cold war against the biggest enemy in history. Yet, in a time when those nations are reeling from a deadly disease outbreak, racial unrest and economic upheaval to many citizens and lawmakers argue
The readiness of our u. S. Armed forces. Nearlywe are joined by 1000 who have registered for this very important event. Despite our attention being focused on other things and the lead up to the election, there may be no more vital of a topic were our country than this. Americans have had the good fortune of living in unparalleled freedom and prosperity for nearly two it or 50 years. 250 years. By a gifts are maintained ready military preventing our adversaries from destroying what so many of us as americans have had the opportunity to experience. President Ronald Reagan said that a truly successful military is one that because of its strength and ability and dedication would not be called upon to fight because no one would dare provoke it. Peace through strength. And that is how we won the cold war against the mill the biggest enemy in history. Yet, at a time when this nation diseaseng from a deadly outbreak, racial in just an economic up evil, of people, upheaval but, we know we cann
Ivy where did they emigrate from . Joseph italy . Ivy any siblings . Joseph 11. Ivy are you oldest joseph im the youngest. Im the 12th one. Ivy oh, my goodness. Made you decide to enlist . Mother died when i was for, my father died when i was seven. Some brothersith and sisters that take turns and so by the time i was 15, i wasnt too happy. All my brothers, all my brothers served in the military. All five of my brothers were in world war ii. I always would have liked to join. So i falsified my baptismal certificate and went to work trying to enlist first in the marine corps. They knew i was underage and didnt let me in. And they to the army accepted me. Off to campy, i was breckenridge, kentucky. Ivy same day . Joseph yes. Wasnt aime, it school, it was just the 101st airborne. Ivy do your member what day . August 26. Ivy the day you enlisted in the day that you went . What year . Joseph 1948. Ivy were you going to school at the time . Joseph it was during Summer Vacation and i was a fr
Listening in washington and around the country and around the world. I am mike ohanlon at the Brookings Institution. We are honored to host mark esper who, after being introduced by my boss, retired general john allen, he will offer remarks on how the covid19 is affecting the armed forces and anything else. I will ask questions and then i will hear from you. If you have not already submitted your welcome to do so. Apologies that we may not get to all questions. Ado, let me hand the body the baton to john allen. Good morning. My name is john allen and i am the president of the Brookings Institution and it is my great pledge to welcome you all to , featuring dr. Mark esper. Esper was sworn in as the 22nd secretary of defense on 2019. 0 323, he served as a secretary of the toy from november 20, 2017 the summer of 2019. He is no stranger to service. He is a 1986 west point graduate and upon graduation he was commissioned in the infantry and that makes at least two infantrymen on this call.
Generation. The stories of word war 2. You can enhance your lessons and have a more personal understanding of what these gentleman and their compatriots have been through to get here today. We know that the gentlemen here in front of us, and the other events that we do, we have a short time to tect to them and understand them and the fact that they made it through one of the most significant experiences in history. We also want to make sure that erin everyone in the audience can ask questions that you will find valuable in your classrooms. Ly probably step forward to make sure i can hear you properly, repeat the question so the audience can hear, and the cspan audience can hear, and the honor res can hear as well. First to the left, in the handsome red blazer, charles mcgee. He was in the United States air force for 30 years. He holds a record 409 fighter combat missions flown in korea and vietnam. To his left, who i met on my very First World War ii event, he landed on the beach in no