My Son and War

Painfully typed in from the American Legion Magazine, Vol, 156, No. 1, pp. 30-31 | January 2004 | Frank Schaeffer

[elbucko]

"Have we wealthy and educated Americans all become pacifists? Is the world a safe place? Or have we just gotten used to having somebody else defend us?",

Yes, no, and yes, respectively.

[Burkeman1]

Really? The military has been nothing but a curse to my family. One dead at Iwo Jima. Another insane for the rest of his life. My father had his life messed up because of his service. My Great Uncle who was a Captain Chaplain Catholic Priest in WWII and got the Silver Star was a near zombie by the end of his life as he couldn't deal with what he had seen.

Yeah- conscription is great! Try and get me or my sons for your army and wars.

[Cold Heat]

To support it is to be a sycophant of government and tyranny!

I would rephrase that to say "is to be alive and free from sycophants and tyrannical governments."

You just got it backasswards.

[dpa5923]

It's not that the "ready rough men" are any rougher, it is that those who peaceably sleep, work, study, have become softer.

You, sir, have nailed it. The protected are soft, because the protectors are rock hard.

[armymarinemom]

Fantastic article.

[oh8eleven]

Yeah- conscription is great! Try and get me or my sons for your army and wars.
We don't want you, your sons or anyone like you.

Semper Fi...

[Burkeman1]

Thanks.

[Burkeman1]

Good.

[elbucko]

This makes me sick.

This is good.

[dpa5923]

Who said anything about conscription?

The dead at Iwo Jima is indeed tragic, but it would be more tragic if the Japanese unchallenged slaughter more innocents.

I cannot speak of your father or the cause of him being messed up or your Great Uncle's issues. But if you want to throw out useless anecdotal evidence, I can easily show you millions of men who look back at their service with pride and nostalgia.

[MEG33]

Great article,Speak Out is linked to Kerry's VVAW and the anti Bush people slamming Bush about the 911 ads,Peaceful Tomorrows,funded by Theresa Heinz Kerry through Tides Center.

[Burkeman1]

Really- most who saw combat don't talk about it much. And they don't glorify it.

[cynicom]

Excellent letter.

However,there are two glaring omissions.

Firstly,for one so "educated", why did it take the actions of a son to enlighten a Father.

Secondly, the author overlooks plain everyday cowardice. Nowhere does he factor in that human trait.

[RAY]

Thanks "mountaineer". This post and your "reply" bring tears to my eyes. When I was a child during WWII, my heroes were the solders and aviators flying the P51s and B17s.

Joining the Guard in 1960, I was never called up for a war situation. We were close to it several times - and stood in full gear to go - as part of our leader's show of force when dealing with foreign trouble. A number of other Guard units were activated during that time -- all prior to the real build up in Vietnam. I don't regret missing the Koren or Vietnam wars, but I do respect those who served then and now.

We, and the parents of solders, must remind ourselves that those who do join, know full well that they may be called on to serve in combat and be exposed to the dangers therein. However, my prayer is that they are ordered into danger only when it is necessary. At this point in our history, it again appears necessary!

God bless them all, including their families at home.

[rdb3]

[xsrdx]

more fundamentally, about the traditional warrior role of young men.

Bingo. Upper class America has somehow completely obliterated 4000 years of elite leadership of the warrior class - duty today is "get your law degree"; in the past young men were expected to prove themselves in physical combat. Nancy boys were not tolerated, let alone voted into political office.

If Gabriel ever read "Huckleberry Finn," he related to the robust protagonist the way a chubby goldfish trapped in a small glass bowl might gape incredulously at a 600-pound Blue Fin slicing his way through the open ocean.

Outstanding imagery; right on the mark.

[rdb3]

But if you want to throw out useless anecdotal evidence, I can easily show you millions of men who look back at their service with pride and nostalgia.

Amen.

HOOAH!

[xsrdx]

I can't wait to get to the part about military aviation.

"You're not happy unless you're going Mach 2 with your hair on fire".

- Top Gun

[Fawnn]

Thanks for the ping attempt, MoJo! (Fawnn has 2 n's, you know. LOL)

Thanks for the ping, Tonk!

Great article bump!

[xsrdx]

Try and get me or my sons for your army and wars.

Fear not - others will ensure your safety, no need to get your hands dirty; it's always best to leave such things to the bold.

"A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight...is a miserable creature with no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions and blood of better men than himself" - J.S. Mill