I remember that feeling closely. The thoughts and reflexes that govern your life in Iraq are alien to the average American. I was practically unfit to drive for the first two weeks back. While half asleep on my way to work, I reflexively reached back to tap my gunner's leg, to alert him of something or other that aroused my sleepy suspicion, and realized that I was in my Honda, not a Humvee. A few days later, close to the 4th of July, I had nearly taken cover behind my couch when some neighborhood kids started playing with fireworks in the street outside. Reflexes die hard.
While the little habits that dominated your daily life fade and pass, and the foreign feel of America dissolves, it's replaced by an uneasy sense of knowing too much. Of not being able to explain to people what you learned, and what they don't understand. Concern about being judged by the ignorant and the willfully wrong. Lots of people have strong feelings for or against Iraq, and practically none of them understand it. It's far more complex than many people realize, and folks generally latch on to one aspect of it, and think they understand the rest. Those are the hardest to talk to, because they think they get it, but they don't.
Iraqi vets are an interesting bunch. We're probably on track to be like the WWI vets. Good friends from an unpopular war, close knit, and not really talking about it years later. Most of us wear the disdain of our critics with pride, but keep it to ourselves. We already know our place. We won't be lionized the WWII vets, won't vanish like Korean vets, and won't linger darkly in the public imagination like Vietnam vets. There aren't so many of us, like in wars past, but we're used to the numbers being against us. Many or few, we'll make our way, and we'll be fine.
WWII will go down as the only "good war" in our history for a number of reasons.
First, for its world-wide scope. Second, because it hit us "out of the blue" like 911 did, despite clear warnings on the horizon for those not blind.
But liberals love it because we were "allies" with Stalin, and because almost the entire society was reordered by the government towards the war effort. Socialists love the idea of a regimented society taking orders from on high, even it we weren't in a war for our very survival. So everything about it makes it the only "good" war they'll ever own up to.
Through the Hobbit Hole's troop support activity, I've had the privilege of chatting by email with a couple thousand troops, from stateside desk jockeys to a few who later died in combat. It was my privilege to learn all the new stuff that has changed since I was in in 1970. We have given away knives, binoculars, radios, first aid gear, breaching equipment, flashlights, helmet upgrades, and just about anything else within our budget that we could legally send through the mail.
The guiding principle was, "would I trust my life with that piece of equipment?". That, in turn, led me to gain a better understand of what the grunt, truck driver, or pilot needed or wanted. Except for the set of chef's knives we sent to an Army mess sergeant. I depended on a buddy's recommendation for that.
There are hundreds of support organizations out there that do a lot more than just put a magnetic ribbon on their cars. It's not like being there, but it's a way to choose to be more connected. Our troops have earned that much from us, as they have in every other war, even if the war doesn't have the liberal seal of approval.
You and your brethren are in a unique position to change that, and I believe there are plenty of patriotic Americans who would be happy to listen and learn. (Yes, I read the rest of the sentence.) What, when, and where you say anything is your call ... but if you think nobody wants to listen ... think again.
Thank you, and God bless you.
It's far more complex than many people realize, and folks generally latch on to one aspect of it, and think they understand the rest. Those are the hardest to talk to, because they think they get it, but they don't.
Iraqi vets are an interesting bunch. We're probably on track to be like the WWI vets. Good friends from an unpopular war, close knit, and not really talking about it years later. "
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Thanks for your little screed. Thank you, and all your mates, for serving us, and our country. Rest assured though, some of us realize that we only comprehend a little of what occurs ... and respect you all the more for that reason. I hope we have a continuing conversation about this in the future. I believe this will prove in the end to be more a "controversial" war, than an "unpopular" war, and that you will always have people like me in your corner defending you and what we have done in Iraq. I also strongly believe that history will find more and more people jumping on the bandwagon saying "I always supported Iraq - even before 2008 when it was not popular to do so" as I believe that in five years this will be evaluated to have been a very successful engagement.
folks generally latch on to one aspect of it, and think they understand the rest. Those are the hardest to talk to, because they think they get it, but they don't.
A poetic interlude from 1968.
"I know", she said.
"I know", He said.
Together they said, "WE KNOW!".
Then I said, "Don't tell me, I'm not HERE,
I'm in VIETNAM BABY!"