Sent to me by one of my liberal colleagues. Read this, whiney
Americans, as we walk through this war that our children and
grandchildren will be paying for long after we're finished working and
playing. Then, ask yourself just how fat a neocon has to be before he
forgets what a pussy he is?
Christmas in a War Zone
by Bob Mulholland
Guest Columnist, Capitol Weekly
This Christmas I (and I hope many Americans) will be thinking of our
troops in Iraq and Afghanistan who are facing not only the ongoing war
but also the emotional strain of being away from their families at such
a time.
I was in Phuoc Vinh, Vietnam with the 101st Airborne for Christmas of
1967.
We were young paratroopers, most of whom were single (unlike today's
military where many are married and have kids) and my unit, along with
10,000 other paratroopers, had flown over in C-140 cargo planes during
a 30-day period.
Most who served in Vietnam flew over and then got assigned to a unit
which was rotating people in and out, but we were like a family that
had gone on a trip together.
I had scrounged up a scruffy tree, some paper decorations were added
and a couple of guys sang Christmas songs. In one way we were lucky -
at least my unit was on base that day to "enjoy" Christmas, while
many other guys were out in the field.
I don't recall if we got attacked that particular day, "incoming"
being such a common occurrence, meaning rockets and mortars were coming
in. There are no day-offs in war zones - it is constant work. You may
be on guard or on patrol all day followed by a night on the perimeter
with one other guy in a bunker taking one or two hour shifts. Your body
is demanding sleep, but your brain is telling you no sleeping on your
watch, otherwise it could be your final sleep.
The irony of my Christmas in Vietnam was that it was hot, but
thirty-three years before on Christmas in 1944, my dad was in General
Patton's army in the Battle of the Bulge in the coldest, snowiest
weather in memory in Europe. It was the largest land battle of WWII
with over one million men total on both sides.
The other irony was that my outfit -- the 101st Airborne -- was also
there in 1944 and ended up being surrounded by the Germans in the city
of Bastogne. When the paratroopers were told to surrender, the American
general replied, "Aw nuts," which confused the Germans.
The allies won the Battle of the Bulge and five months later
ultimately defeated the Nazis and saved the world. But the deal created
the Cold War between the Soviet Union and China versus the United
States, which led to the Korean War, lasting three years and the
Vietnam War which went on for over
a decade.
As we celebrated Christmas in Vietnam we had no idea what was ahead of
us and what was happening back home with our families - remember there
were no phone calls home and email had not been invented yet.
Just five weeks later, on January 30, 1968, the Tet Offensive opened
up and in one month 2,000 Americans were dead and more than 10,000
wounded.
After that, President Johnson announced he would not run for
re-election; Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated; Robert Kennedy
won the California primary and then was immediately assassinated; there
was turmoil at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago; and
finally Richard Nixon was elected as President.
Some of the guys gathered around that makeshift tree in 1967 were
celebrating their last Christmas, as they would be dead in a few
months. Others, like myself, would be wounded.
During this holiday season, let's think of our troops, and also
contribute to the USO's "Operation Phone Home" fund so some of the
troops can call home over the holidays. To make a donation, go to
www.uso.org or call 1-800-876.7469.
In some tragic cases it will be the last contact these brave service
members will have with their family, but it will be remembered by their
families for a lifetime.
Oh yes, we will see this weekend video of troops in the war zones
"celebrating" with turkey dinners and a Christmas tree, but they will
be the exception - most of the troops will not have such a day.
(End letter)
You head the man, give to the USO:
www.uso.org
