Respect For Our Fighting Men and Women
By John E. Carey
Peace and Freedom
November 2, 2006
The morning after Senator Kerry slurred America’s fighting men and women with a clumsy insult, and then refused to immediately apologize to them, we attended a ceremony in Northern, Virginia.
Juxtaposed to Senator Kerry explaining lamely that he was only attacking the Commander In Chief in wartime (apparently Senator Kerry thinks it funny to make fun of the president’s intelligence); we witnessed this: A U.S. Army Colonel seated and waiting for the event.
Another U.S. Army Colonel of a different race came upon the scene and the two shook hands and then gleefully embraced.
This image of teamwork, camaraderie and loyalty so moved me that at the end of the ceremony we stopped to talk.
One Colonel told me the other was his son’s Godfather. These two have traveled some miles together in peace and war. And each has dedicated his life to the service of others. Twice. Both are Medical Doctors and also career U.S. Army officers.
These must be the people that Senator Kerry thinks are stupid.
I stopped another young officer, a Captain in the United States Marine Corps. I noticed he wore the ribbons of the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart on his chest.
The first is for valor. The second means he was wounded.
I asked him what happened.
“Some terrorist got lucky, sir” he explained. “Hit close to me with an RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade). I’ll set off airport metal detectors the rest of my life.”Indeed, the Captain had many scars on one side of his face.
“Oh, this whole side of my body looks like I got penetrated by 1,000 pieces of metal,” he said. “But I’ll go back to Iraq. As soon as they’ll let me.”
He didn’t seem stupid to me. He seemed honorable, dedicated, professional and proud. And eager to do more for his country.
I asked about his family.“They understand my commitment. It is difficult. But it is what we were called to do,” the Marine Captain said to us.
He didn’t want his name in the newspaper. He said, “There are plenty of people that are doing more than me. Why should I deserve special mention?”
I stopped a Navy Captain who had with him his two small sons and his wife. His wife is obviously Chinese, and I noticed because I spent a few years living among the Chinese. And my bride is Vietnamese. I have a developed eye for Asian faces.
They thought Senator Kerry’s remarks didn’t matter much.
“Nobody should listen to politicians when they lose their cool in the heat of a political squabble. They stop thinking, generally,” said the Captain.
A one star U.S. Army General passed us wearing the wings of a helicopter pilot. “We have a tremendous number of young uniformed men and women fighting, dying and otherwise making sacrifices or giving their all. I have the utmost respect for them. In fact, I love them all and their families too.”
His remarks did not sound practiced. These words were heartfelt.
There is a special breed of men and women in our country that dedicate their lives, their careers and their families to duty, honor and country. You can see their sterling character in the gleam in their eye when you ask them about their service.
“Only about 1 percent of the American population is involved in this thing….One percent of the population is shouldering the burden,” said Retired Maj. Gen. John R. S. Batiste on September 25, 2006 while speaking before the Democratic Policy Committee of the United States Senate.
That makes every man and woman in uniform pretty special, I’d say. And maybe we Americans from the Senators and the members of the House of representatives on down owe them all a terrific debt of gratitude. Most of us live our lives in peaceful splendor and almost limitless weath while about 1 percent sacrifice for us. Every day.
On the way home from the ceremony my wife and I stopped at America’s newest monument: the U.S. Air Force Memorial. Four Air Force Blackhawk helicopters passed over head, reminding us of the airmen all over the world who protect us and keep the peace.
A Lieutenant Colonel wearing the wings of a command pilot sopped us.“I’d rather be in Iraq than here flying a desk at the Pentagon. But we all have our jobs to do. We all have our duty. I don’t complain. But I do sneak up here from time to time to reflect upon all the airmen lost in our nation’s wars,” he said.
To reflect upon and thank them for their service and for giving the ultimate sacrifice I thought.
Nothing stupid about this man. He seemed to have his life and his commitments in perfect order.
And I wish I could say the same about many of our politicians.
John E. Carey is a retired U.S. military officer and former president of International Defense Consultants, Inc.
I am encouraged by how few that disrespect is "working" for, but I want to point out as often as I can that the one group that can out in a full court press in defense of Kerry was the MSM (e.g., the White House press conference yesterday, Chris Matthews wondering why Kerry apologized to a group whom he had not really offended, and on and on). Please, people, get out and vote for every single Republican on your ballot. Send a message to the MSM, and to our President and the military, and to the terrorists as well. We will not give up and you will not beat us. And thank you, John Carey, for your service.
He got 4 D's at Yale? Gee, who did he know to get in? A "D" in Geology (Rocks for Jocks) is like getting an F in reciting the alphabet correctly in High School.