Veterans Candle

Combat Veterans Candle

Honoring a debt that can never be repaid.

                            “You've never lived
                                    ‘Til you've almost died.
                            For those who fight for it,
                                    Life has a savor
                            The protected will never know.”
                            Anonymous, Circa 1968 - Vietnam

    After extensive, but not exhaustive, research, I have concluded per Internet consensus that credit for the quote on the candle belongs to an anonymous Special Forces soldier in Vietnam around 1968. *(See "Quote Origin Research under the candle's picture.) This was certainly my father’s belief when he hand-inked this and another saying (one he authored) onto large magnetic signs that he proudly displayed on his vehicle until his death. Both now grace my refrigerator door and are pictured below.

    Our father, Dr. (MAJ) G. R. “Chap” McCahan, DVM, USA-Ret died in February 1987 from leukemia that he, and we in his family, always believed was attributable to Agent Orange exposure during his Feb. 1968 – Feb. 1969 tour of duty with the 5th Special Forces (Green Berets). Dad was involved in airlifts of water buffalo and elephants (click for picture and click for article on "Operation Bahroom") later highly fictionalized as a Disney Movie, "Operation Dumbo Drop"), as well as patrolling with troops and serving as a sometime medic (although he was a veterinarian, not a medical doctor).

    The names of more than 58,000 brave men and women, including two McCahan cousins, who died in Vietnam or are still missing are etched into the black granite walls of the Vietnam Memorial. Dad's brother, COL A. R. “Mac” McCahan, USA-Ret, also served in Vietnam (two tours).

    Due to Department of Defense policies, the names of those like Dad who died as a direct result of Vietnam, but after service there, cannot be inscribed on the wall. Instead, the “In Memory” plaque was erected to honor those who died OF Vietnam but not IN Vietnam.  Dad is one of many “hidden casualties” honored by name at a website dedicated to that purpose.

    The Veteran’s Administration did not recognize a link between Agent Orange and chronic lymphocytic leukemia until 2003; final regulations recognizing the association only took effect in October 2010.

*QUOTE ORIGIN RESEARCH

In whole or part, the quote has been variously attributed to Teddy Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Guy de Maupassant, an individual Marine (L/CPL. Edwin L Craft), and inscribed on the wall of American POWs in North Vietnam. It was widely known to be the motto of the 5th Special Forces Group (Abn) and was arguably authored by a member thereof.

Available for Purchase

For any Combat Veterans Candle purchased, twenty percent (20%) of the net price paid will be donated to the veteran’s non-profit of your choice.

We owe all of our veterans – including and especially those of our more recent wars – a huge debt of gratitude.
They face a multitude of challenges and deserve our full support.

Written by Dr. (MAJ) G. R. “Chap” McCahan, DVM, USA-Ret

Hand-lettered by Dr. (MAJ) G. R. “Chap” McCahan, DVM, USA-Ret.

Personalize Your Own Veteran's Candle!

As pictured, the above 6 inch candle is available for purchase. Click here for more ideas.

The hand-drawn (by G.R. McCahan, Jr.) "Green Beret" image may be replaced with an image supplied by the purchaser. As with any UCandle™ Light, the candle can be custom-designed to your specifications. Examples include adding to the second side a picture of an individual you with to honor, their name, dates of service, location of service, etc. You are only limited by your imagination.

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©2011-Present. Kim McCahan Batson, Dèjá UCandle™ Co. and ucandles.com, Chapel Hill, NC. Unless otherwise noted, all photography, text, content, and images are created by and the exclusive property of Kim M. Batson. All rights reserved. Please contact [email protected] for reprint permission.