How do you answer when someone asks why we have to study history?

Maj Kim Patterson — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 02:26:42 -0400

These photos were taken last week. They are taken at our nation's capital, Washington DC. Most are monuments to remind us of the things we must never forget. And these days, I think we might need a reminder just to be sure that people can see why we need these monuments and museums. If I have missed one you think should be included, please post it with/as your comment.

When someone asks why we have to study history, answer:

"Because History Repeats Itself When We Begin to Forget!"

SP5 Mark Kuzinski Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM A1C Eric Skaggs Capt Private RallyPoint Member Col Val Finnell, MD, MPH SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SrA Edward Vong, SFC Zach K

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2016 2:30 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 02:30:29 -0400

I tell people because it's a true story, very, very interesting

Response by PO1 Tony Holland made Jul 11 at 2016 2:38 AM

PO1 Tony Holland — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 02:38:28 -0400

I would have added the Wall and the Lincoln Memorial as well.

Response by SPC Jim Johnson made Jul 11 at 2016 2:40 AM

SPC Jim Johnson — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 02:40:33 -0400

People need to know the past so we do not repeat the same mistakes. Shows why our country is free today. Because of all the work people have done before us.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jul 11 at 2016 3:00 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 03:00:30 -0400

"Those that don't learn from the Past are Doomed to Repeat It" George Santayana. History is my Passion My Love. To Not want to know your History is beyond my comprehension. My Catholic Ancestors that settled Eastern Maryland escaping the Protestant Reformation in the 1650's. Great Scotsman William Dawes, GrGrandpa that rode with Paul Revere on that Famous Night. The Nagels, Weslings and Ronsieks Part of the Great German Migration to Missouri in the 1850's. What is not to love about History. Lietz's Converso's to the Catholic Faith to Escape the Progroms in Germany and those that died as Jews at the Hands of the Germans. If you don't know where you came from how can you know where you are going?

Response by TSgt Joe C. made Jul 11 at 2016 5:27 AM

TSgt Joe C. — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 05:27:59 -0400

Learn from mistakes made from the past. If not, we will surely make the mistakes again. Can't learn the mistakes unless you know history.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jul 11 at 2016 6:29 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 06:29:38 -0400

If we don't study about the past we are prone to repeat it all over.

Response by SCPO Jason McLaughlin made Jul 11 at 2016 7:11 AM

SCPO Jason McLaughlin — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 07:11:20 -0400

Because there are people/organizations who want to revise history to support their rhetoric. An educated populace is required to prevent this kind of historical engineering.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2016 7:43 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 07:43:37 -0400

I reply with the same answer I gave to my CSM when I attended a NCO of the Month Board.
"To remember the PAST, honor the PRESENT, and preserve for the FUTURE."

Response by SP5 Mark Kuzinski made Jul 11 at 2016 8:02 AM

SP5 Mark Kuzinski — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 08:02:09 -0400

This photo was taken in Aug 1966 when I was at AIT just outside DC. It was my first visit to the Mall and the visit brought me back to all of my History lessons - Th Mall is so very inspiring and yes the biggest lesson in history is that it will repeat itself if we forget. Thanks for the fine post and reminder Maj Kim Patterson.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Jul 11 at 2016 9:33 AM

SrA Edward Vong — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 09:33:06 -0400

History is what makes us who we are. It has shown how we as a society has evolved. It shows our mistakes, and what works. By studying history, we can make well informed decisions based on past experiences.

I can understand why some may believe that history is not important. Some parts of history may not be considered significant to know.

Response by Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM made Jul 11 at 2016 10:21 AM

Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 10:21:49 -0400

I concur Major and what beautiful pictures too. Yes, ma'am History does repeat itself and what we allow will continue.....

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2016 2:11 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 14:11:23 -0400

Problem #1: Academia has focused too much on dates and specific names and not enough about the benefits and consequences of actions and inaction. History should be the study of the effects of poor decisions and the benefits of good decisions.

Problem #2: Many History teachers are crap story tellers.
Which would get the attention of most people especially of school age …
“Hey wanna listen to a lecture about a battle 2500 years ago?”
“Hey wanna watch 300?”

“Hey wanna listen to a lecture about a 1965 battle?”
“Hey wanna watch We Were Soldiers …?”

My step-son couldn’t tell you much about the Vietnam War but he damn sure understands why those 7th Cav guys in the Ia Drang were willing to fight and die for one another. I later filled him in on LZ Albany aftermath and cautioned him that movies may spark your interest but may or may not give you the whole story.

When teaching TAITC, we often required remedial training for those would be instructors who could recite the subject but could not motivate a class … This practice would probably benefit the career of teachers and those in their charge.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jul 11 at 2016 6:29 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 18:29:13 -0400

Because history provides us lessons on how to approach problems that we may face in the future by looking at how folks in the past addressed similar ones and how they fared.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2016 11:49 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 23:49:56 -0400

Maj Kim Patterson We have to study history so we do not forget the lessons of the past. My father served in Korea and WWII. He was killed in 1956 when his plane crashed during a training flight. My uncles all served in WWII. When I was growing up, the Space program was starting up. As a kid, I learned all that I could about WWII, Korea, and the Space Program. In High School, I used my electives to take History classes, and kept up with the War in Vietnam, and felt that assisting South Vietnam was a just cause. After training, I experienced Vietnam up close and personal. After my discharge, I set out to obtain my degree and work on the Space Program. I was fortunate to have a 33 year career with the Space Shuttle program. I love to study history, especially military history. I also like to keep up the Space program.

If someone asked me why we study history, I would find out what they are interested in, to see if they have studied it. It helps to feel a personal connection to what you are studying.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Jul 12 at 2016 1:05 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 13:05:14 -0400

Maj Kim Patterson, of course, the correct answer has been well articulated by you and others on this thread. However, I thought I'd post this photo, and although not as historic as some of the other photos posted, it does have historic significance to me. This is my photo of the "Green Beret" taken at Fort Bragg, NC (of course). It's now known as The Special Warfare Memorial Statue or "Bronze Bruce". The significance to me is that I was assigned to Special Forces Training Group when I took this photo in AUG70, and it had been in place for less than a year.

Response by MSgt Art Busch made Jul 14 at 2016 12:53 PM

MSgt Art Busch — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 12:53:10 -0400

Because it shows those that study history the faults and greatness of humanity that we all share. We all have it and are affected by it. Also, that history is as narrow or as comprehensive as you choose. Additionally, history is the sum total of knowledge of that time put into action...or not. History is choices made or not made and the rewards or consequences of those choices or non-choices.

Response by PO3 Steven Stinnett made Jul 16 at 2016 4:03 PM

PO3 Steven Stinnett — Sat, 16 Jul 2016 16:03:13 -0400

Don't even get me started on that, I taught U.S. History, World History, retired, one great technique I used was to take students to U.S. historical sites & Europe on a History Tour, I did that for 18 years and I still have positive responses from students today, many in the military with fond memories.

Response by Correy Twilley made Jul 16 at 2016 10:30 PM

Correy Twilley — Sat, 16 Jul 2016 22:30:11 -0400

I teach a portion of our Captain's Career Course staff ride and get the same question every time. It might not be in the form of a verbal question but it's in the body language of the men and women that sit down expecting me to drone on about some "stupid" piece of history.

History is more than a lecture. It's more than even a story. It's the ability to learn from mistakes and successes. When you wake up in the middle of the night and stub your toe, you grit your teeth with a long line of obscenities but you learn the lesson of avoiding that obstacle at night. Pain is your body's way of cementing a negative outcome into your mind.

Our Nation's military has had a lot of successes since our inception. It has also made a lot of mistakes. Every other nation, city-state, tribe and gathering in the history of humankind has had successes and failures. The study of history is a perfect opportunity to learn from those mistakes without suffering the consequences.

Take Custer for example. Custer was an idiot BUT every leader in the military has the ability to study his tactical and moral mistakes and learn from them without having to lose a platoon, company or regiment in the process. Same goes with Jackson and his Shenandoah Campaign as a positive example. It's a phenomenal study of tying up an overwhelming force with inferior numbers, surprise and speed. Both are lessons learned without consequences.

"Our ancestors gained wisdom, so learn from them. Our own time is short, like a fading shadow, and we know very little. But they will instruct you with great understanding." -Job 8:8-10

Response by Maj Kim Patterson made Jul 19 at 2016 2:46 AM

Maj Kim Patterson — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 02:46:45 -0400

I went for a walk last week following a volunteer dinner appreciation in our beautiful botanical gardens. I snuck out before the fun and games but watched as each volunteer was recognized. Down by the Keeper of the Plains, probably the most iconic landmark in Wichita (Golden photo of The Keeper By Douglas Clay Hahn,) there are several memorials, many not mentioned in this post. For example, The Korean War seems to be all but forgotten in discussions of war and history. We seem to jump from WWII to Vietnam to Cold War and the Space Race to Desert Storm/Shield, OIF, OEF, to 9/11 when war was brought to Amercan soil again. It may surprise some people, but 9/11 was not the first time war came to North America. And then to Boston, the Marathon... And to New Orleans ..I'll stop here, but they won't. We forgot to pay attention to history. And we are looking at global war because we got lax. They waited til we were distracted by Donald Trump's hair and Hilary's emails. They were ready... Would anyone else care to use the soapbox?
RallyPoint Shared Content SP5 Mark Kuzinski Col Val Finnell, MD, MPH COL Mikel J. Burroughs, SSG Private RallyPoint Member

Response by PO2 Bruce Lacillade made Jul 21 at 2016 12:49 PM

PO2 Bruce Lacillade — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 12:49:00 -0400

A person needs to understand where he/she came from. This means going back to the beginning of homo sapiens. Not just the history of the US, but the study of tribes and cultures.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Jul 23 at 2016 11:02 AM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Sat, 23 Jul 2016 11:02:13 -0400

Maj Kim Patterson Its very simple if you are in the military - for the lessons learned and how to keep from making mistakes that will cost lives. For our politicians that never served or Presidents that never served, it is a good way to undertand the military and the power they poscess for this nation, and how to best utilize them. Alos, they can see what mistakes our civilian leaders as well as our military leaders have made in the past, so they don;t make the same mistake. Finally, to understand and honor those before us that have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Young generations need to this history big time in my opinion - that's my story and I'm sticking to it Kim!

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jul 25 at 2016 6:39 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 06:39:05 -0400

Great pictures Maj.

Response by CMSgt Mike Esser made Jul 25 at 2016 4:21 PM

CMSgt Mike Esser — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 16:21:39 -0400

history repeats itself, you have to know where you have been to know the best path forward. Plus, we stand upon the shoulders of those who came before us!

Response by Col Rebecca Lorraine made Jul 29 at 2016 8:12 AM

Col Rebecca Lorraine — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 08:12:08 -0400

I just spent a week with my granddaughter (15) in DC. I was really excited to introduce her to a little bit of our history as a nation. We toured the White House, the capital, the Library of congress, Mt Vernon, museum of Natural History, Air and Space and the botanical gardens. She even stood in line with the Miss America contestants waiting to tour the White House. All of that in 6 days! We have much left to tour!

Response by Maj Kim Patterson made Nov 28 at 2016 10:29 AM

Maj Kim Patterson — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 10:29:18 -0500

SP5 Mark Kuzinski this thread is the one I was referring to.

Response by SFC George Smith made Nov 28 at 2016 3:17 PM

SFC George Smith — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 15:17:07 -0500

to learn from the past... so not to make the same mistakes again ...

Response by TSgt Melissa Post made Jul 21 at 2017 6:31 AM

TSgt Melissa Post — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 06:31:39 -0400

Because life is too short to make all the mistakes in the world ourselves, and if we don't learn from others then we are bound to repeat. Why endure the heartache?