In Dec 2006 Al Gore, former Vice President of the United States of America, called the Iraq war the “worst strategic mistake in the history of the United States”. Let me now take you to January 16th 2007. On this day I boarded a chartered DC-10 that was taking me and about 190 or so other Air Force members to Qatar and then onto Iraq for many of us. We were all leaving the comforts of home and our families. We were not sure we would come back. We left because it was our duty. Our Commander in Chief had sent us so we were on our way. When we arrived in Bangor Maine for a fuel stop, the first person I saw, as I exited the plane, was an elder gentleman proudly sporting a World War II Veteran cap. He shook everyone’s hand that walked off that plane. He was not alone there were many other Veterans of Foreign wars as well as well wishers without hats. They shook everyone’s hand and then applauded. They thanked us for our service to our country and wished us well. They had cell phones for anyone who needed to call family and had a shop dedicated to commemorating what soldiers had done filled with snacks and treats. The greeters shared their stories and wanted to hear ours. When we returned to the plane, they all lined up again and wished us well and shook all of our hands. It was after midnight before we left. The last person to greet us was the World War II Veteran. Imagine if your were leaving your family and friends and the comfort and safety of home. As you are preparing to leave you hear that you are about to be engaged in the “worst strategic mistake in the history of the United States”. How would that make you feel about the sacrifice you were about to make. I would imagine just about everyone reading this would say it would make it much more difficult. Earlier Senator Kerry accused the military of terrorizing Iraqi women and children in their homes. To say that you support the troops but do not support the war is meaningless drivel. Those comments showed absolutely no support for what the armed forces is doing and makes us feel as what we are sacrificing and dying for is a useless campaign.

In 2005 I wrote about a Patriot detail where we honor the fallen as their flag draped casket is loaded on the plane for the trip home. I was able to go to one such detail during my four month tour. The name of the service member was Spc Travis Andersen. As I looked at the items the greeters had in front of their store, I saw a large three ring binder. I was curious to see what it contained. I thought it was probably pictures that service members had given, instead it was the names of all of the fallen. I turned a few pages and then found the name I knew. My eyes teared as I thought of the day when his flag draped casket passed by and I rendered a very slow and somber salute. The greeters knew what it was like to fight for freedom and have lost friends who had given it all. They new how painful it was to remember the horror of war and live with the memories of: sights, sounds and smells that would never go away. The greeters supported us and we felt it. The hand shake and the kind words of the World War Two Veteran made me deem irrelevant the careless and callous thoughts of men without honor.

Politics stops at the waters edge, especially when US Service Members are in harms way.

More thoughts to come

Solis Deo Gloria