My dad was a career officer in the Navy - a Mustang. He enlisted before his 18th birthday in 1945, a little too late to get into combat. He went to college under the GI bill and was called back as a Radioman 3/C in 1950, served on the USS Borie - DD-704 - in the waters off Korea. The Borie was involved in the Hungnam Evacuation in December of 1950 after the "Frozen Chosin."
He earned a commission in the MSC by examination and served until 1969 when he retired. He was boots on the ground in 'Nam - 1964. During most of his career, we barely scraped by - salaries in the Military were low at the time.
He, like millions of others, served faithfully, zealously and professionally for the best years of his life, when he could have made considerably more money in private industry.
This move in Congress is nothing short of despicable and is a sharp stick in the eye to anyone who has ever worn the uniform. Not everyone who serves in the military goes into combat, but every one of us who joined up wrote a blank check to Uncle Sam secured by our lives.
As Oliver Wendall Holmes said in his poem "Old Ironsides,"
"The Harpies of the shore shall pluck the eagle of the sea!"
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 America demands Justice for the Fallen of Benghazi! |
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O stranger, tell the Lacedaemonians that we lie here, obedient to their command.
Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)