This is a small painting from a few years back that is titled Currahee, a word I first heard in the WW II series, Band of Brothers . It is a Cherokee word that means “stand alone” and it immediately struck me as a real word with some sort of innate power. It was the battle cry for the 101st Airborne Division, the group of troops portrayed so well in Band of Brothers. It stands for a sense of self-dependence with which I can identify so felt a connection with the word and my paintings, which are often primarily about the idea of standing alone.
The reason I mention this is that I recently saw a segment on CBS news about a soldier severely injured in Iraq, losing both his legs and suffering brain injuries which left him totally unresponsive. Back here in the States in the hospital, the soldier was visited by General David Petraeus who talked with the young man and after a bit, getting no response, turned to leave. He turned back and yelled out the word. Currahee.
The soldier immediately tried to sit up, trying to utter the word.
Amazing. Since then his progress has been remarkable and he is walking with the aid of two prosthetic legs and is speaking. He recently appeared with Petraeus at, I believe, the New Jersey Hall of Fame. You can see the original story here.
I am always in awe of the power of certain words and icons, how we place such personal meaning to them that they become ingrained in us, triggering instant emotion at the mere mention. That is real power.
Currahee…
Redtree Times 
The fraternity of warriors is close and their intent, though violent, is honorable, motivated by duty and a shared sacrifice.
I have spent a great deal of time in their company but even at my best I was, as my father described me, a civilian in uniform.
My father-in-law was with the 82nd, dropped into Normandy on June 6. I regret that he died before I had a chance to meet him.
Thanks for this, and thanks for the link to the story.
David– I have always admired soldiers and their willingness to put themselves in harm’s way. I am often humbled in the presence of old vets who fought without a second thought in the wars we’ve waged. I figure the best way to honor them is to listen closely, let them know they’ve been heard and carry their tales forward.