Why Not Join the Fight?

[Spâtha]

When the attacks of September 11, 2001 happened we were all stunned. Some of us were moved to action. I remember my good friend and I going down to the recruiting office and walking in the door expecting to sign up right away. The welcome we recieved was not what we expected. The First Seargent behind the desk just said, "Out!" and pointed to the door. Well we had a good laugh and a cup of coffee and talked about the events of that day.

You see, I was 56 then and my friend was 61. I was Army he was Air Force. We thought for sure they could use us... but we were told to go home.

Ever since that day I have wanted to say to every young person I saw, please join the services! We are fighting a desparate war and we need your support to win it! Well, I never have said those words, maybe I should have, I dunno.

But David French is saying them... so here they are, at last!

Why Not Join the Fight?
And make sure it never happens again.
By David French

It is now seven years since the towers fell.
Seven years since Congress sang “God Bless America” on the Capitol steps.
Seven years since our grief turned to rage, and a tidal wave of patriotism swept the land.

But things are different now. September 11 marked the first day of a long war fought on two primary fronts. We’re all too aware that the nation is and has been bitterly divided about Iraq.

While we are far more united about Afghanistan, partisan fingers point over perceived losses to the Taliban and over our failure to find Osama bin Laden. There may be an end in sight in Iraq, but in Afghanistan?
The long war promises to get longer and more intense.

What does all this mean?
I think it means that there has never been a better time for a patriotic citizen to join the fight.
After spending almost a year in Iraq, I perceive two central — and competing — truths about this war:

First, because our enemy is more evil than I imagined, losing is simply not an option.
Second, the strain of multiple deployments is very real, and any given individual can only give so much before the hardship is simply too great.

And so, we face a dilemma.
As we confront an enemy who will shoot infants in the face to “send a message,” individuals who would be happy to slice your head off on videotape and who are full of the most racist, extreme, and depraved hatred, we rely on the same people to come back and fight again . . . and again . . . and again.

In my unit, 2d Squadron, 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment (LTC Paul T. Calvert, Commanding), men who have been “blown up” (in vehicles hit by IEDs) seven, eight, and even eleven times still wake up each day, put on their boots and go outside the wire. How many more times must they be blown up before someone else takes their place?

One of the men I respect the most in our Squadron is the “Ops Sergeant Major,” Sergeant Major Charles Taylor. He was here during Desert Storm. He’s been here twice before. (A tremendous mentor to young officers, Sergeant Major Taylor will sometimes pull them aside and say, “Sir, I was over here when you were in elementary school writing ‘Dear hero’ letters. Now, listen to your hero . . . “)

How many more years does he have to spend in Iraq? Or can he come home and teach you how to fight?

My friend and Troop Commander, Captain Greg McLean, is the father of young children. A tremendous leader, he wants to make the Army his career, and is more than willing to do what it takes. But how many Christmases will he miss? How many school plays, youth football games, and Cub Scout meetings?

Isn’t it about time that someone else missed their child’s games, just to spread the burden a little?

While Americans are amazingly willing to “support the troops,” and I have been personally overwhelmed by the outpouring of support through cards, letters, and packages, we are much less willing to “become the troops.”

“I’m too old,” some say, but — truly — you’re not if you’re less than 40 years old.
“I have a family,” say others. But so do most soldiers. Our squadron commander has young children. My troop commander has young children. Many of even our youngest soldiers have new babies at home.
Yet they are here.

“I’m not in the kind of physical condition to withstand training and deployments.” Join a gym, or just buy a good pair of shoes and start running.

“But my career is taking off.” Join the Guard or Reserves. As a reservist myself, I’m grateful to have a supportive employer waiting for my return. I’m also grateful for the chance to come here and serve.

If we have to win this war — and we do — then people have to fight.

In a strange way, I think many well-meaning citizens wrongfully separate themselves from Soldiers by defining them as something “other” — heroes or victims.

In reality, Soldiers are normal people who have made one extraordinary (and extraordinarily good) choice: to serve their country during war.We have good days and bad days. We make mistakes, and we do some things right. We have family problems. We deal with fear, despair, and sometimes shocking and horrific loss.

Sometimes things go so well that we swell with pride, and other times we shake our head at incompetence.

We all miss home terribly. In a few weeks, I will begin the long journey home. Already, my mind is dominated by thoughts of holding my wife and kids again, restarting my civilian law practice, breathing in the cool air of a Tennessee autumn, and catching up on Season 4 of Battlestar Galactica.

If, by God’s grace, I arrive home safe and sound, I know that I will see my year in Iraq as perhaps the most important, most meaningful, year of my life.

And if — like so many others — I have to go back, you can be sure I won’t be happy about it, but I’ll go.
Because somebody has to.

How can you honor the memory of those who fell on September 11?
Help make sure it never happens again.
______________________
Thanks for saying what I could not David...

[Susanna]

My granddaughter's husband was in Iraq when their first little girl was born. He headed for Afghanistan when their second one was about 7 or 8 months old. He should be home in plenty of time for her second birthday.

[Shottglass628]

Great read.
I lost several friends in Desert Shield/Storm. Serving with the 7th Marines was a great privilege. I tried to go back in after 9/11 several times but have a cornea disorder that's non-waiverable. (I have tried 3 times) I have felt downright guilt that I can't help with this burden. This was a very personal piece.

[Trance]

I've tried to get into every branch of service, but with healh (heart) issues, I was told no.

So, I do what I can on the home-front, and battle our enemies that we have within.

[Newman]

I was told in 2001 that at 37, I was too old even for the NG.....ah well.....

[Plain Old Dave]

Doin' my part....

V/R,

AO2 sends

[BillW]

On 9/11 my 20+ year old flight suit still fit the same as always, but I was told they wouldn’t even let me play with a C130, let alone anything fast. I traded my old command patches for Air Force Auxiliary patches and now have more than 250 young cadets in my Group. Every year a few make it into one of the Academies, a few more take advantage of the instant E3 offering we have, several times a year the cadets are victims or villagers for CSAR training to support our Reserve units, they are all emergency services qualified for ground teams during disasters or searches, some of them are on Honor Guards that travel the state when needed, and all of them understand what it means to serve. I now also work with the Tuskegee Airmen to recruit minorities into the Civil Air Patrol or JRROTC and show them the opportunities they have with the military. I see to it that everyone of them gets at least 3 orientation rides per year in one of our aircraft, and I have 30 of them taking a C130 to Andrews this month to tour the Pentagon and the Air Space Museum.

I can always use more help to keep these kids from becoming mall rats, show them the honor of service, and keep the pipeline open for our future leaders.

[Ronald Reagan is My Hero]

Unfortunately a I have multipal health issues that would disqualify me from Military service. Therefore I have a great deal of respect for thoes who are or have worn the Uniform to defend this country. You can be sure I will be honoring all veterans come this Tuesday and I will be thinking of thoes still on active duty as well.

I hope President-Elect Obama realizes how importiant the Soldiers of our military are in keeping this country safe.

[Vekin]

Originally Posted by Ronald Reagan is My Hero

Unfortunately a I have multipal health issues that would disqualify me from Military service. Therefore I have a great deal of respect for thoes who are or have worn the Uniform to defend this country. You can be sure I will be honoring all veterans come this Tuesday and I will be thinking of thoes still on active duty as well.

I hope President-Elect Obama realizes how importiant the Soldiers of our military are in keeping this country safe.

His voting record on veterans has been really supportive, voting consistantly to expand veteran benefits, improve and expand veteran hospital programs, etc. etc.

Though he's against the Iraq war, he was generally against cutting funding to the troops. He did, however, vote against House_Resolution_2206, saying it was basically giving Bush a blank check. He's voted to cap the number of troops in Iraq, and to make it so troops have a maximum deployment of 12 months at a time.

On Iraq, he's said he'll listen to the commanders on the ground, but that his current plan was to do a phased withdrawal over a 16 month period, which he believes will be a long enough span to perform it responsibly. That kinda falls in line with the estimates of some of the statements I've read by one of our generals, though his name escapes me. He plans to reallocate troops to Afghanistan:

"I have always said I would listen to commanders on the ground. I have always said the pace of withdrawal would be dictated by the safety and security of our troops and the need to maintain stability. That assessment has not changed and when I go to Iraq and I have a chance to talk to some of the commanders on the ground, I’m sure I’ll have more information and will continue to refine my policies." Note, this quote was taken in July, before he had visited Iraq.

Obama supports a plan to deploy an additional 7,000 troops to Afghanistan:

"As president, I would pursue a new strategy, and begin by providing at least two additional combat brigades to support our effort in Afghanistan" "We need more troops, more helicopters, better intelligence-gathering and more nonmilitary assistance to accomplish the mission there" "I would not hold our military, our resources and our foreign policy hostage to a misguided desire to maintain permanent bases in Iraq," Obama said on July 14, 2008.[116]

I don't think he'd ever abandon our troops, or try to cut their funding, as president.

For my own part, I plan on joining the peace corps. I've begun to respect the troops a whole lot more in recent years as I realize the sacrifices they make, and I want to dedicate myself to the greater good, like they do. I just can't see myself trying to end the life of another person, though, so I plan on a different path.

[BillW]

Originally Posted by Vekin

His voting record on veterans has been really supportive, voting consistantly to expand veteran benefits, improve and expand veteran hospital programs, etc. etc.

Though he's against the Iraq war, he was generally against cutting funding to the troops. He did, however, vote against House_Resolution_2206, saying it was basically giving Bush a blank check. He's voted to cap the number of troops in Iraq, and to make it so troops have a maximum deployment of 12 months at a time.

On Iraq, he's said he'll listen to the commanders on the ground, but that his current plan was to do a phased withdrawal over a 16 month period, which he believes will be a long enough span to perform it responsibly. That kinda falls in line with the estimates of some of the statements I've read by one of our generals, though his name escapes me. He plans to reallocate troops to Afghanistan:

Obama supports a plan to deploy an additional 7,000 troops to Afghanistan:
I don't think he'd ever abandon our troops, or try to cut their funding, as president.

For my own part, I plan on joining the peace corps. I've begun to respect the troops a whole lot more in recent years as I realize the sacrifices they make, and I want to dedicate myself to the greater good, like they do. I just can't see myself trying to end the life of another person, though, so I plan on a different path.

Obviously you haven’t actually read any of the proposals or legislation Obama claims as proof he supported the military. Every proposal he and Dems supported were a slap in the face to every serviceman that served for more than 4 years or planned to serve longer, and was an incentive for many to leave the military early. Every business and the military have always had programs where you gained greater benefits the longer you served, but Obama’s plan did away with that because he felt someone who served 4 years deserved the exact same benefits as someone who served 20 years. That’s an incentive to leave the military, not continue serving.

Following on the heels of Frank’s pledge to cut military spending by 25%, Obama claimed he was going to match military spending with his new civilian security service. How could he fund that without cutting military spending? We have hundreds of A-10s, F-15s, F-16s, C-130s, C-5s, HU-60s, KC-135s, and many other aircraft grounded because of age and blocked programs to upgrade them. Obama has blocked the JSF, F-22, and CSAR-X programs needed to replace them – without offering a penny to get our junk airborne again. That doesn’t sound like supporting the military.

An interesting fact many don’t know or overlook. During everyone of the 8 years of President Clinton the military had more fatalities per year than we have had in any single year since 2001. How you may ask did we have more fatalities during Clinton’s so called peace time than we’ve had while fighting 2 wars. Just like Obama’s plan, Clinton cut our military training budget so low that we had hundreds dying every year in senseless training accidents. Pilots that need to fly weekly to stay current in high performance aircraft were dying because they were only given fuel to fly once a month or less – and they flew in less than ideal conditions because the shortage of flyable planes forced them to fly or lose their flight status. Aircraft were flown that had missed multiple maintenance cycles because there was no funding for parts. Senior officers were so afraid of the political fallout of not being politically correct, discipline fell apart and people died in stupid ways.

Be careful in the Peace Corp, because the only reason they can operate in peace is the threat of our military – and if it gets reduced 25% it won’t be able to protect you.

[GIJoe]

It's a question I ask college age kids all the time. I see them outside Starbucks, hanging around, complaining Mom and Dad don't understand, blame Bush, etc. Less than 1 half of 1 percent of the population is in uniform of some kind and I'm sure the number of shooters to support is even smaller. I could go on and rant about this but it won't change the fact that most Americans, I hate to say it, just don't have the guts to do something like join the service. Look at WWII. EVERYONE got into one of the branches of service. My dad and his 2 best friends right after graduation went to a recruiter and signed up. Yet today, no one I know has kids joining. A friend of mine, whom I've known since childhood, has a son graduating high school who wants to join the Marines, yet she is vehemently against it during war time. (I'm urging him on, pointing him in the right direction).
As in my case, I'm facing my 3rd deployment. I was blessed to be allowed in the intitial invasion of Iraq, but have missed my second child's birth, anniversarys, birthdays, holidays, etc. At some point people will make the choice to get out. I'm doing the full 30 (makes my wife soooooo happy to hear that!) but many of my friends on the last deployment are retiring, getting out, etc. My even bigger concern will be what will be our ability to defend ourselves after 4 years of obams cutting our defense budget, equipment, etc. When we get in a major shootin' war, we are going to be in serious, serious trouble with attacks that make 9/11 look like National Guard annual training. God bless the US.

[Taylor1]

I'd just like to say thank you to all you men and women who've served the country, and lol at BillW, sorry man, you could probably still play Air Force pilot in a game but it's no where near the same! By the time I'm old enough, hopefully I'll be able to defend the country in anyway that I can. I think I know how I'm going to be doing it, but not sure.

By the way, I wish I could go to the Pentagon again SO BAD. I was 10 and being a baby at the time and didn't enjoy or respect it, now I feel terrible about it.

[Susanna]

If you read my half-brother's story about the war years - I posted in another thread in this forum, I think - you could see how the young men were "afraid the war would be over" before they got a chance to see some action. Of course, he mentions only himself, and the only one other male student in his high school class at the time.

[SparseGreyHackle]

Originally Posted by Trance

So, I do what I can on the home-front, and battle our enemies that we have within.

Ditto!

[BillW]

Originally Posted by Taylor1

I'd just like to say thank you to all you men and women who've served the country, and lol at BillW, sorry man, you could probably still play Air Force pilot in a game but it's no where near the same! By the time I'm old enough, hopefully I'll be able to defend the country in anyway that I can. I think I know how I'm going to be doing it, but not sure.

By the way, I wish I could go to the Pentagon again SO BAD. I was 10 and being a baby at the time and didn't enjoy or respect it, now I feel terrible about it.

Careful making judgments about us old guys. We just had a retirement party for a guy who turned 52 – and since he’s a special ops PJ, he did an NVG jump out of a C130 on a moonless night from 1000’ into the ICW, swam ½ mile, effected a rescue, swam back with the victim, and we plucked them out with a Pave Hawk before heading to the NCO club for drinks while the “kids” were still trying to figure out what happened.

I’ve got 1426 cadets between 12 and 18 in the Florida Wing right now if you think you can keep up. Now’s the time to start working to be accepted to Ranger SAR School for next summer. The C130 left Patrick for Andrews this morning.

[ASoldiersPinkRibbon]

[quote=Spâtha;133664]When the attacks of September 11, 2001 happened we were all stunned. Some of us were moved to action. I remember my good friend and I going down to the recruiting office and walking in the door expecting to sign up right away. The welcome we recieved was not what we expected. The First Seargent behind the desk just said, "Out!" and pointed to the door. Well we had a good laugh and a cup of coffee and talked about the events of that day.

You see, I was 56 then and my friend was 61. I was Army he was Air Force. We thought for sure they could use us... but we were told to go home.

Ever since that day I have wanted to say to every young person I saw, please join the services! We are fighting a desparate war and we need your support to win it! Well, I never have said those words, maybe I should have, I dunno.

Thank you! My hubby joined 8 months ago - and he's always said he should have joined right after 9-11. But the wife he had then was in no way supportive. I would have joined, but the jerk of a man I had for a 'husband' was a stinkin' libby and definitely not supportive.
Now we have a little boy, and my hubby's doing it for us, and his country. We're looking at a very possible summer deployment, but I'm with him all the way - even in the sandbox!
God bless our troops, may He keep them all safe!

[Spâtha]

You're welcome! Glad things have worked out for the better!
I'm sure you and I and folks like us will continue the fight until we're either too old to feed ourselves or dead.
God Bless!