Stripes letters: Promise in the dark/No complaining? Why not?

[lebkuchen]

Promise in the dark

The unit I’m assigned to has just been informed that we’ve been extended once again. We were 48 to 96 hours away from flying home after being in Kuwait and Iraq for almost exactly one year. I’ve served our country and the Army for 26 years. It would have been 35 years except that I took a nine-year break in service. I’ve seen 13 months in the demilitarized zone in Korea with the 2nd Infantry Division, a one-year tour of duty in Vietnam with the 196th Light Infantry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, and 35 months in Germany with the 3rd Infantry Division when the Berlin Wall was still dividing that country.

My main concern and outrage is that our coalition leadership has waited this long to attempt to take control of Fallujah and the other hot spots in Iraq. Months ago when numerous attacks began on our aviation units, motor transport units and others, I said this was what needed to be done to take control of those towns and root out the enemy.

It seems to me that we evidently have no general staff officers in the coalition forces of a higher echelon who served in Vietnam. If there are, they more than likely were in the rear echelon and saw action only from a stool in a bar on Tu Do Street in Saigon. The lives of too many good people have been lost on both sides because of the inaction of those who could have taken action months ago.

I also place the blame on the Pentagon and the Department of Defense, which more than 20 years ago said that we could afford to close military bases, downsize the military, and still handle two separate conflicts throughout the world successfully. Which one of them should get the biggest slice of humble pie to eat?

Those leaders who could have taken action before now who wear the Vietnam Service Ribbon and Vietnam Campaign Medal should strip themselves of them, because they have evidently forgotten. I haven’t! For my part, I just hope that the nightmares and the crawling out of bed stalking my prey while still sound asleep, causing my wife to worry about my sanity, don’t return.

On all of my past tours of duty, myself and others were informed of when we’d return home to our families. This tour of duty was promised to be only 365 days in country. My unit has done 359 days as of this writing. This has been just another promise in the dark. May God have mercy on us, as he’s the only one right now who probably will.

Staff Sgt. Walter Larsen
Camp Virginia, Kuwait


No complaining? Why not?

This is in response to the letter “Conditions demand GIs stay” (April 18). The writer appeared to think that complaining is un-American and that we’re in Iraq for a just cause. He must be brain dead or from another world. We’ve had too many influential people disclose too much information about the questionable actions of a few government officials. These are actions that landed us in a no-win situation called Operation Iraqi Freedom. And if any people think Iraq is a winnable situation, they should just take a look at Israel and the Palestinians. It will be like looking in a mirror. Of course, some people have their heads buried in the sand and refuse to recognize reality.

Complaining is a privilege that has a long military history. Some say we should not complain because it will demoralize the troops. Don’t judge the troops by what they say, but on what they do. The troops in Iraq are the best in the world and deserve all the support we can give them. That support includes honest leadership that is dedicated to the ideals of truth, justice and honor. These are values we all grew up with and cherish as being at the core of our national character. Where would America be if George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock and others had not exercised their right to complain about imperious leadership?

People say we cannot cut and run because it would be unpatriotic. But if we’re in Iraq for ill-begotten reasons, then why not? We can stay and use brute force with American blood and U.S. dollars. But then who will decide when enough is enough? How many disasters must we go through before the pain becomes intolerable? It took more than 58,000 lives in Vietnam before we woke up.

There is something very controversial in what we are doing, and as a result more and more Americans are beginning to question “our” motives. I’m sorry if the letter writer and other obstinate conservatives object to that, but that’s the way it is. What evil empire do those folks want to take on next? Syria? Jordan? Iran? Colombia? North Korea? Or maybe our old favorite, Cuba?

Clifton J. Jester
Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan


Chinks in the armor exposed

Why would there be any delay in getting armor to the battlefield? I would hope money is not the issue. If money is the issue, then the American system in total is askew. Troops need the proper equipment to do their jobs.

We should send them whatever they need when they need it. If it is not enough, it is better to develop better equipment as we go — not wait until we have the perfect solution before we do anything. With a son in Iraq, I am outraged that the situation concerning vehicle armor has not been rectified.

Do we, the parents and friends of our servicemembers, need to pay for these items out of our pockets? It is truly a sad day when a Third World terrorist can find such a simple way to bring casualties to American troops, and we cannot eliminate that threat.

Rusty Bishop
Inman, S.C.


http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=21875

[MissMarple]

1. This is breaking my heart.

Especially after seeing how poorly equipped some of the guys are on C-Span last week. There was a letter to the editor in the Denver Post today about how we should hold Congress accountable because they are reneging on their responsibilities to the troops. That we should vote them out of office. Well, there's an original thought.