My Heart on the Line

the Washington Post ^ | November 26, 2002 | Frank Schaeffer

[MudPuppy]

one of the reporterettes going through media boot camp at Quantico finally learns why the military does what it does:

"I friggin' love these guys," says one sergeant. "I don't care what anyone says, when we are out here we aren't fighting for our country, we are fighting for each other."

Here's what they don't friggin' like: the movie "Windtalkers," and the movie "A Few Good Men."

"They friggin' make us look like friggin' psychopaths," explains the Marine.

Let the record show these are not friggin' psychopaths. These are committed, underpaid, brave and physically fit young people who endure privation and follow any order issued to them under terrible conditions by their superiors, no matter how hare-brained, as long as it is lawful. It is not a job I would want myself, nor am I capable of it.

But out here under a cold moon next to a warm fire being addressed as "ma'am," I can't help but be impressed with their willingness to do it.

http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20021122-085414-2271r

[JosephW]

I believe you're right. Frank (aka Frankie) Schaeffer is the son of Francis Schaeffer.

Francis is the noted Christian evangelical, who is pretty much a written counterpart to Billy Grahm's oratory evangelations.

Frank is a convert to Christian Orthodoxy who in many ways should be seen as a contemporary to Franklin Grahm.

As you stated, it is wrong to call him a Liberal, but rather he should be viewed as a not fully enlightened conservative. Morally he is there, but there is a secular side that often needs finding in men of the cloth. I believe he is making great progress based on this article.

[AnAmericanMother]

You hit the nail on the head with this.

I think universal service to the nation is one of the great common bonds between classes, regions, etc. And it was recognized at the time.

Here's a great Christy poster from WWI:

There's also a Bill Mauldin cartoon that I can't find a copy of on the web . . . a bunch of WWII combat soldiers in a bull session somewhere a short distance behind the front. One soldier is telling the rest in expansive tones, "America couldn't have won this war without allies like Ireland and Texas!" It caused a slight flap at the time it was published, but Mauldin was used to that. He is absolutely one of my favorite cartoonists, my dad served with him and says that his cartoons are so close to the truth as makes no difference.

[mountaineer]

Unlike his father, Franky is not a "man of the cloth" - he's an artist, writer and film director. The only "political" subject I ever heard him discuss was abortion, and I know he's not liberal on that topic. It may be that the question of who is protecting America just never entered his thoughts until his son made it "personal" by joining the USMC. Now that he's had to deal with it, it's good to see that he appreciates the military, unlike many of his effete and elite Massachusetts neighbors!

[JustAmy]

Thanks for posting this. It helps to bring into focus the price of freedom. Freedom is not free!!

[SES1066]

... my dad served with him ...

I'd be curious as to what outfit your Dad was in because my Dad also served and was friends with Bill Mauldin. My Folks have visited with him out in New Mexico on at least one occasion several years ago.

A great many of his cartoons have been donated to their regimental museum in Oklahoma City and my Dad has a personal Cartoon dedicated to him by Bill of contrempts between town cops and their training camp MPs before the war. It occupies a place of honor on my Dad's wall.

[SES1066]

... I would much rather have people who have volunteered to be in the military than some of the 'protestors' subverting the process ...

I agree strongly. The military as a whole has been GREATLY improved by the all-volunteer implementation. The nightmare drug and gang problems at the end of the draft era went away and the esprite-de-corps came back in right behind it.

My problem is that this may be a case of what is good for the military is bad for society. My Dad was career Army, my Brother graduated from USMA and I was ROTC until my eyes made me 4-F. So when I wish for something that forces a mix of our social classes, it is something that I was willingly subject to at that time.

The 'young adult' in our society is an equal mixture of high idealism and selfishness. The draft had the ability to take this man-child [draft being all male] and show him the achievements that disciplined group efforts could accomplish. We have no current substitute for this currently and it is missed.

[Issaquahking]

Thanks for the Ping! Good read as to exposing some "moderate"-liberal thought processes and how they actually view the world.

More power to the military that the kid(s) actually got it! Thinking like they do will help keep America "home of the free"!

[Gritty]

Great article!

[AnAmericanMother]

Dad was with a company of Heavy Engineers and then with Combat Engineers in N. Africa and Italy. I wish I could remember the exact designation (all that info is at home) but I do know that it was first an infantry brigade originally out of Texas, with a red cow's skull on a black shield as their insignia, and then later an Iowa NG unit. For awhile his unit was attached to a battalion of the 79th Cameron Highlanders ("you blokes sure leave a messy battlefield") but that's another story. I think he met Mauldin once or twice but didn't know him personally.

I sure hope you have heard about Bill Mauldin's current situation and the efforts that have been made to help him out. I alerted my dad when I read the column in the Orange County Register (it was posted here on FR) that Mauldin was very ill and that only visits and cards from his fellow soldiers from WWII seemed to cheer him up. Dad lives near one of his old Army buddies (they served all through the war together until his friend got shot in the knee in France) and they sent a card and letter out to California.

[Zack Nguyen]

A weird man, this writer. He writes like a hippie yet he's the editor of a Greek Orthodox newspaper called The Christian Activist.

This is the Frankie Schaeffer? Are you sure?

[glock rocks]

thanks for the ping, Tonk.

Thanksgiving bump for those who put their lives on the line for us.

[sneakypete]

IMHO,people like that are all cowardly bastards.

Yup,and we have a lot of them living here. If they aren't coming here to avoid the draft in their own countries,they are coming here to make money. Either way,they ain't coming here to be Americans,and they have no intention of "earning" the right to live here.

[TEXOKIE]

Thanks for the ping, Tonk! Semper Fi!

[MHGinTN]

May God bless the parents who've raised their children to value duty and honor so that our patriotic defenders have the world in better focus. Would that some in politics had even 1% as clear a vision of what is truly valuable enough to fight for and risk dying for.

[Squantos]

Back at ya Troop !! Hope all is well in your world and your holiday is spent well with family and friends........ watch out for too much pie !

Stay Safe !!!

[MeekOneGOP]

"Excellent read" is correct TGYC !

Thanks for the post and the ping, folks !!

[sneakypete]

Thanks for the link. Amazing to see a reporterette write
a positive story like that.

[Artist]

Very interesting. Thanks.

[MudPuppy]

guess some time in the mud and humpin' a pack had some impact.

Maybe they can begin to truly be in awe of the Pride and Dedication our military has to do their job in the toughest of times and climes.

Did you like the "name" of their platoon??
classic :)