Brief word re:Iraq-and our young vets (USAR's & NGs too)
Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 3:55 pm
Being a Vet of Gulf 1, I would like to express a thought.
I can say from experience, even if (EDIT: some of the folks, like) you don't understand or agree with the politics or reasons or cults of personalities who put us there yet again with an ever-increasingly vague and mentally-hopscotched position politically and militarily, know this:(Edit: Neither do all of the young troops doing our bidding, however,)
The most imporatnt thing is, without question, the unencumbered support our member's of the military (The Reservists and National Guard troops too). I can say without question, this is what singularily makes the daily morale difference to our unbelieveably brave troops. They read and see tha news. They are acutely aware of public sentiment here. Problem is: How can one trust the media reports? Well, we can't, so, what the soldiers look for is mr. or mrs. schmoe in the backgrounds of reports giving support, or burning flags and feelings, not ever really understanding how it affects the sleep and waking thoughts of REAL troops who wake up every day and wonder if they will be back to have the bag of cheetoh's in their footlocker tonight. They perform, everyday, what most of us would crap our pants to even contemplate. And, they do it willingly, we owe them our support, regardless of our personal politics. As a soldier, when you are on patrol, facing your own mortality and some dissentor's face or word's enter your mind, it's distracting, and, that's the easiest time to "get popped". When there is no question of daily support, troops are hyper-aware, they act as our ambassabor's, and we could be blushingly proud of even the youngest, fresh-faced private. They all take it, deadly seriously folks. How many innocent lives never acheived will it take before we do this together?
Please,,,do anything, but, the simple act of writing a paragraph or two letter to a unit in Iraq, WILL save a LIFE today, I guarantee it.
I don't agree with all the rhetoric either, but I do believe in the folks we are choosing to send our message.
You want to thank me, cool. I give you y permission to thank me by taking the little bit of time to write and tell a unit or soldier that you believe in them, you are behind their group or individual effort. They put "it" on the line every day people, they deserve our words and occassional time. It's so very little and it means so much.
To you all who do, and to those of you who now will. I say,,thanks, to YOU.
One grateful Vet.
I can say from experience, even if (EDIT: some of the folks, like) you don't understand or agree with the politics or reasons or cults of personalities who put us there yet again with an ever-increasingly vague and mentally-hopscotched position politically and militarily, know this:(Edit: Neither do all of the young troops doing our bidding, however,)
The most imporatnt thing is, without question, the unencumbered support our member's of the military (The Reservists and National Guard troops too). I can say without question, this is what singularily makes the daily morale difference to our unbelieveably brave troops. They read and see tha news. They are acutely aware of public sentiment here. Problem is: How can one trust the media reports? Well, we can't, so, what the soldiers look for is mr. or mrs. schmoe in the backgrounds of reports giving support, or burning flags and feelings, not ever really understanding how it affects the sleep and waking thoughts of REAL troops who wake up every day and wonder if they will be back to have the bag of cheetoh's in their footlocker tonight. They perform, everyday, what most of us would crap our pants to even contemplate. And, they do it willingly, we owe them our support, regardless of our personal politics. As a soldier, when you are on patrol, facing your own mortality and some dissentor's face or word's enter your mind, it's distracting, and, that's the easiest time to "get popped". When there is no question of daily support, troops are hyper-aware, they act as our ambassabor's, and we could be blushingly proud of even the youngest, fresh-faced private. They all take it, deadly seriously folks. How many innocent lives never acheived will it take before we do this together?
Please,,,do anything, but, the simple act of writing a paragraph or two letter to a unit in Iraq, WILL save a LIFE today, I guarantee it.
I don't agree with all the rhetoric either, but I do believe in the folks we are choosing to send our message.
You want to thank me, cool. I give you y permission to thank me by taking the little bit of time to write and tell a unit or soldier that you believe in them, you are behind their group or individual effort. They put "it" on the line every day people, they deserve our words and occassional time. It's so very little and it means so much.
To you all who do, and to those of you who now will. I say,,thanks, to YOU.
One grateful Vet.
