Dear Military - Thank You

Welcome to Service – The Action Form of Love

I’ve been absent for a few weeks, taking some time to be with family, taking a vacation and generally recharging my batteries.

This evening, my wife and I stayed home and watched one of a set of DVDs called “Vietnam Combat”. It’s a documentary with several segments about the men and women who, whether by choice or by draft, served our country in the Vietnam War.

The segment we watched tonight finished with some of the helicopter pilots telling what it was like to come home from war. Most of them talked about having similar experiences coming home. One veteran said that he was very proud of what he did in Vietnam but he couldn’t carry that pride home. All of the veterans interviewed echoed that same feeling.

As I watched, I realized that I could almost predict the words and phrases these men used when talking about coming home from the war. I could do this because I have an older brother who also served in Vietnam. He had the same experiences when he returned home, too. He was confronted with the same slurs, the same insults as these men were.

He was spat upon, called horrible names and subjected to indignities unfit for any veteran of any war, regardless of the justness of the cause. He could not wear his military uniform in public. He couldn’t talk about the war.

He couldn’t show his pride for having done what his country asked him to do.

Watching the end of the documentary brought back a lot of memories of long talks with my older brother. Those talks have been few and far between, and understandably so. How could I, who was just a toddler when he went off to war, possibly relate to what it must feel like to have to face death every single day? How could I possibly comprehend what it was like to know that in order to come home alive, you must be willing to kill someone else? How could I possibly understand war when all I’ve ever known in my life is peace?

To those things, I can’t relate.

But, there are things I do understand.

There are things I can relate to.

I can relate to love for my country.

I can understand heeding the call of my country when called upon to serve.

I can comprehend the idea that a soldier serving his country did not start the war he was sent to fight.

The Vietnam War is something now taught in American History class. There are, however, other wars that are current events.

We have men and women now serving our country in Iraq, Afghanistan. They are our brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers and children. We know them as neighbors, coworkers and acquaintances. We hear about their deaths now on the back pages of the newspapers because there have been so many killed. We rarely hear about those with traumatic physical, psychological or mental injuries. And, unless we’re related to one of them, the only time some of us stop to think about them is when we hear about yet another deployment from our community.

They’ve answered the call of duty, every one of them a volunteer. Unlike previous wars, not one of the men or women currently serving in a United States military uniform has been drafted. They serve and protect for many reasons, but they know they’re fighting in an unpopular war. They know many of the American people have lost faith in the reason we’re at war.

And yet they serve.

With honor.

With distinction.

With pride.

I’m sure by now you’re wondering if I’m ever going to get around to today’s service challenge.

Here it is:

Today, if you see someone in a military uniform, thank them for serving.

Regardless of your opinion of the wars we’re fighting, please remember, they didn’t start it. Remember that in addition to fighting in Iraq, in Afghanistan or wherever else they may be deployed, they serve to protect you and your freedom to disagree with governmental policy.

Remember that they fight so that you and I can sit in our local Starbucks, sipping our morning beverage and leisurely read blog posts by authors who think they have the world’s problems all figured out.

Remember that they are human – a fellow brother or sister who misses the comforts of home when they’re deployed. Remember they have feelings and family and…

Well, just remember that when it comes right down to it, the person you see in that uniform would lay down their life to protect you, your family and your freedom.

Don’t you think that merits a quick “thank you”?

I do.

Thank you for reading today’s blog post.

Thank you for being willing to share it with others.

And most especially, thank you for remembering that Service is The Action Form of Love.

James

Veterans

Who do you know that served in the Armed Forces? Most of us know one, if not more, veterans.

We work with them, we worship with them, we may even visit them if they’re in our family.

In my family, there are three veterans I’d like to tell you about.

The first is my father, Stan.

He’s one who was part of what Tom Brokaw called The Greatest Generation in his 1998 book of the same title.

Dad is one of those who volunteered to join the United States Navy when he was really too young to enlist. But, seeing the dangers from the Nazis and the damage that our then-enemies, the Japanese did to Pearl Harbor, he felt both compelled and impelled to do his part.

I’m really grateful that dad never saw action. He sure saw the results of the horrors of war, but he always seemed to be on a ship far from any battles. I know he would have fought heroically had he been “in it”, but he wasn’t.

He returned home to his hometown of Ely, Nevada, and later moved with his parents and siblings to Salt Lake City, Utah. He met a young lady who captured his heart while parking cars across the street from the fairgrounds, settled down and with mom, raised eight children.

The second veteran I’d like to introduce you to is my oldest brother, Danny.

He grew up at a time of post-war peace, but later had to endure greater turmoil in America. When the Vietnam War was just coming to the forefront of the American news, Danny joined. Like dad, he volunteered.

He signed up to be a paratrooper, and decided it would be a good idea to go to a local Utah jump ground to see what it was all about. He and his friends watched in terror as a woman plunged to her death because her chute didn’t function properly. Yet, somehow, he steeled himself and still went on to do his duty.

Some of the stories Danny has told me over the years make me realize that war is anything but a two-hour movie on the silver screen. No matter if it’s M*A*S*H or Saving Private Ryan, there is no way the actual repugnance, dread or emotional scarring war can force upon a warrior.

When he returned home, things were much different for him than for other veterans, past and future.

There were no parades.

There was no fanfare.

There was spitting.

There was cursing.

There were horrible names hurled at them as if those who used them had actually been there to experienced the appalling conditions of war, themselves.

Vietnam Vets even had to deal with infamous celebrities like Jane Fonda speaking in traitorous terms about them and their service to their country.

The third Veteran I’d like to tell you about is my cousin, Steve.

He also served in Vietnam, as a US Marine.

Danny, who was in the Army, doesn’t like to think about it much, but once when Steve was home on leave, they along with Steve’s twin brother went up into the canyons to get away from it all and relax.

During that trip, Steve got Danny alone and they shared horror stories. Steve wanted to go AWOL and head to Canada. He wanted no more part of a war that was so unpopular with his fellow Americans. He just didn’t feel right. And, he wondered, what would happen to his family if he was killed and his twin brother survived? How could you put a family through that?

Although I firmly believe it was Steve’s ultimate decision to return to his unit on time and get shipped back to the unfriendly Vietnam jungles, Danny is convinced it’s his fault he returned.

I was very young at the time, 4 or 5, if memory serves. Steve’s was the first funeral I remember attending.

There was a glass lid on his coffin, and Danny stood guard in his dress uniform. He proudly did his duty then, too. I cannot begin to imagine the conflicting thoughts and emotions that must have churned inside of him.

After the funeral, Danny returned back to Vietnam, too. He later returned to acrimony and outright hate. It’s taken him these many years to find normalcy in life again. Back then, mental health issues were considered a weakness and many vets, including Danny, were left to fight their demons largely on their own. Taking advantage of mental health services was just not something you didn’t take advantage of.

Because of the experiences of my father, brother and cousin, I have mixed feelings about war itself. I realize now, more than ever, that war is complicated. There are ideals and forces at work that I don’t completely understand.

There is one thing, however, that is crystal clear to me:

Veterans deserve our utmost respect, admiration and devotion.

When a Sailor, Soldier, Airman Marine, National Guardsman or Coast Guardsman puts themselves in harms way so that people like me don’t have to, we owe them.

They did what they were told. They did it because, whether or not the conflict was right, they had a duty to do, and they did it.

So, here’s today’s challenge:

Find a veteran and say, “Thank you for serving your country and for protecting me.”

Of all the veterans I know, not one of them would want or accept more than that.

A simple thank you will let them know you care.

To the veterans of all wars, conflicts and police actions for the past two-hundred plus years – including the war on terror our country fights now, please allow me to end this with a personal note.

Thank you.

Thank you for serving your country.

Thank you for being willing to put your life, limbs, emotions, mental health and all else in harms way so that I don’t have to.

I appreciate you.

Carry on.

And, remember, Service is the Action Form of Love!

James