In 2010 it is very difficult for me to put words to paper and ideas into digital form as I reflect on the U.S., our past wars, our military, and our veterans. I am not a Veteran. I was born at a time when the vast majority of citizens shunned military service during the decade following the fall of South Vietnam to the North in 1975.
My only direct connection to the U.S. Military is that my father served in the Navy during WWII. He was an assistant navigator on an aircraft carrier from 1944 to 1946 in the Pacific. He also served in the occupation of Japan after its surrender ending WWII. He was never injured nor ever in grave danger at any time during his tour of duty. He returned to New York City, attended Colombia University on the GI Bill, and became an architect and much later an appointed public official for a large Ohio City. At the end of 2001, he died as a result of complications due to advanced Parkinson’s Disease. I think he let go of life a few months after the 9/11 attacks because he no longer wished to live in such a drastically changed world.
I knew other men my father’s age who served in WWII or in the Korean conflict. I only personally knew of two men about 10 years my senior who served in Vietnam. I have not been personally close to anyone who has served in our U.S. volunteer military forces during the past 20 years. I have become well acquainted with some veterans of different ages through various legal cases and a few social occasions. I have no direct personal connection to anyone who has served in Afghanistan or Iraq though I have met a few at various places in Arizona. These veterans are all much younger than my 50 years. Many veterans are stoic and silent about their military service. They are often far more mature and focused than their contemporaries who did not serve in the military.
I admire every person who volunteers to serve our country in the Military. I probably did not feel any similar admiration back during the 1970’s and 1980’s when I confused the individuals with the disputed military and political policies. However everyone should grow and change, and eventually see the world and those around us in a larger context.
Over the past decade, I have viewed many television presentations and read many articles concerning the great suffering some veterans must endure as a result of their participation in the current two Mideast wars and occupations. They are missing limbs, various senses, and some brain faculties most people take for granted. Others are so emotionally scarred from their experiences they cannot function the way the rest of do. Their families must permanently endure special trials caring for these injured veterans. I have observed the great sense of loss felt by families whose sons, fathers and siblings died in various military operations. I have been moved to tears when visiting various cemeteries to see the patriotic trappings we affix to their gravestones on holidays.
However I must admit that my life and its mundane challenges become dominant and I put these veterans and their huge suffering out of mind as do many other Americans. I am unsure if outsourcing most of our military operations to a small group of volunteers is in the best interests of our nation. Should not the important national endeavor of waging war be accompanied by shared sacrifice by everyone to risk life and provide adequate financial support through our taxes?
Veterans may be the only identifiable group in our nation that deserves special treatment. Almost every ethnic, religious, racial, economic and social group in the U.S. is perpetually demanding it deserves special treatment at the expense of everyone else. Those claims are wholly meritless when compared to veterans and their families who made the supreme personal sacrifices on behalf of our nation – whether we agree with the overall military policies or not. Long-term veterans care, including physical and emotion treatment for their injuries, plus special educational and job assistance may cost our society financially but we really owe them such support without much partisan debate.
As far as what we should do with respect to our nation’s foreign policy, defense spending, and overall military strategy in the 21st Century, those debates can wait for another post.
Every American should directly or indirectly make some personal sacrifice on behalf of one or more of our veterans. Simple words of encouragement or silent prayers are insufficient. We should also encourage our public officials to provide all the necessary public financial support each veteran rightfully deserves for as long as he or she may live. Anything less is a travesty to our history, shared beliefs, and human consciousness.
Submitted 11/11/10 by Marc Pascal in Phoenix, Arizona.