“If I don’t then who will!“
That is the answer that my son Lance Corporal Phillip West gave me when he decided to go Infantry in the Marine Corp. I had asked him if he knew what he was doing by picking Infantry? He had scored well on the Aptitude test and he had other options- Linguistics, Air Traffic Control, and Embassy Security had been discussed. He said “dad, If I don’t, then who will”? It may seem like an arrogant answer, but it was a testament to his deep desire to fight for his country. Phillip was killed in Iraq on November 19, 2004. He was doing one of his hundreds of building sweeps that he had done with precision and accuracy hundreds of times before. When he entered a building and was ambushed, shot several times, hit with two hand grenades, he crawled for cover and continued to fire his SAW machine gun. He suffered broken legs, arms, shot through the chest lost his lung, then after continuing to fire till empty, his last act was to throw a grenade into the insurgents and inflict injury on them to try and save his brother Marines that were advancing behind him. In the end his spine and spinal cord were severed. That’s what appears in an autopsy.
He died with his best friend in the Marine Corp behind him trying to save him. I outline the suffering that was inflicted, because all too often we hear 14 died, 7 died and it becomes numbers versus people, no reporting of the suffering that these heroes endured.
Every one of these men and women that died did so for this country. The press glibly announces 7, 4, 14 killed! There are over 1800 families that know the pain that my wife and I and our two remaining kids know. The horror of seeing the service at your door, with a message that is not one you want to hear. It changes you for ever.
Amongst all this you have a suffering mother that has chosen to use her son’s suffering and sacrifice and commitment to his cause and Country as a soap box, a chance at 15 minutes of fame! She should be ashamed. She creates an image that this is how “all” families feel! She forces us to speak out against her and her types, or leave our son’s commitment and sacrifice tarnished and demeaned! Phillip sacrificed and made a commitment to protect us, I will not let him die without defending his honor. The Cindy Sheehan’s of this country have used our son’s images and names in various anti-war protests. This supports the insurgents and they use this against our own troops. It is traitorous That is something that I will not rest until I have stopped, for my son.
I don’t know about the Cindy Sheehan’s and others that are catching headlines today. I don’t know if their loved ones were not able to comprehend that the purpose of the military is to protect the country and engage in war when needed. Phillip was bright enough and intelligent enough to understand that he was going into danger. I actually asked him once- “let me understand that you want your mom and I to know that if something bad happens to you, we should know that you are doing what you wanted to do.” His reaction was “hell yes dad”.
President Bush did not lie to Phillip or anyone else. President Bush did not force my boy to sign on the dotted line. It is my understanding that Casey Sheehan had re-joined after being discharged, it is also my understanding that he had requested to go to Iraq. He was a young man that made decisions and performed for his country- thank you- you are a hero.
President Bush did not force Phillip to join the Marines and he did not force Phillip to pick the Infantry. It was the love for his country that my son joined and served and gave his all.
The same country that is now being denounced as “not worth fighting for”? I take that as a challenge. If Phillip was willing and able to defend our country, what will become of our country when we at home safe and sound are no longer willing to defend what those that died for us did?
If a Fireman or Policeman is killed it is a tragedy, but it is not the fault of the police chief or the fire chief! It is disrespectful to Phillip and all the lost soldiers and Marines to even suggest that they were following blindly against their will, to stupid to know they were headed to war if they joined the military! That is an insult.
We can not pull out now or they died in vain. Phillip would not want to stop after his sacrifice! They saw the evil and they know it! To pull out now will accomplish nothing and will leave Phillip dead in vain.
In closing I understand what Cindy Sheehan is going through. I do not know her, but I know what she is suffering. I and my wife and kids and our families are going through it. There are only 1800+ families that know what we are all going through. Cindy, you already appeared in John Kerry ads, and you already have the attention you desire, now let the dead rest in peace. Every time I hear the headlines, Sheehan says- I relive that night Friday November 19. It brings it all rushing in. Every time I hear 1, 4, 7, 14 dead, it brings that image of those Marines walking to my house to my mind. This is not some stupid political disagreement between Democrats and Republicans. When I hear those headlines, I know what those families are living through. This is personal! It hurts and haunts- don’t make us go through this every day in vain- WIN, LIBERATE, DEFEND, come home, that is the message I have for President Bush.
In closing, we have not had the privilege of meeting the President. If anyone should be protesting maybe it should be us. However, we understand that this is not about us- it is about the decisions that our son and 1800+ others made and the commitment to their country and the sacrifice that they made and then ultimately we made. The heroic acts that we are still hearing about. The soldiers that told us that Phillip saved their lives! If he was not in Iraq, they would not be with their families. We are proud of Phillip and all the others that have gone and served.
President Bush is a very busy man. I’d be honored to meet you some day, but for now run the war, get the changes done in Iraq, then get our boys back in that order. Do not let our son die in vain. Then I’ll cook you a steak crack you a beer and we would love to tell you and Mrs. Bush about Phillip Gordon West- Lance Corporal United States Marine Corp, Life Guard in American Canyon, want-a-be football star, brother & son.
I’ll talk about him for ever-
Edward West
American Canyon Calif.