A Veteran Remembers

Giving thanks to those who served
by Bob Mulholland

Sunday, November 11, 2007 marks America’s annual recognition of our veterans. Why November 11?  Because that date is symbolic of the end of World War I -- on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918.

Of the 24 million current American veterans, about 3.2 million served in the military during World War II.  Sadly, we lose more than 1,000 of these WWII veterans each day as they move on to their next assignment in the great sky.

Who are veterans?

They are Americans -- although some went into the military not as a U.S. citizen; many were draftees, and some had spent 30 years or more in the military, although during the last 35 years, all joined the military to serve a two to four year stint.

Some of these veterans were Officers, but most were not; they served in the air, on the seas or on the ground, and had assignments that ranged from mess hall duty to driving a truck or tank to “living” in a foxhole.

These veterans had no routine hours – the term “24/7 probably came from the military.

Until the early 1990s, the only real communication with one’s family was good old-fashioned mail (i.e. snail mail) and in a war zone, it’s free for the troops to send.

Most of us who served in Vietnam were young and unmarried.  Nineteen year olds had the highest number of casualties of the 58,200+ who were killed in Vietnam. 

A good many of our troops serving today (soon to be veterans) are married.  I can only imagine the stress this causes for all involved, especially for those being sent into Afghanistan and Iraq for a 12-month tour, which is extended to 15 months with only a six-month break home before being sent back for a second, or even third tour. 

Time while on a tour of duty can pass slowly, whether you are serving the midnight shift at a DMZ outpost in Korea, or sharing a bunker in Afghanistan splitting two-hour shifts with a fellow troop.  Having to be on constant look-out for attacks and getting only two hours of sleep at a time (and praying you won’t fall asleep while on duty) is awfully tough.

Many promises are made to a military person.  In exchange for the military controlling your life day and night for years, the U.S. government will provide you with a lifetime of needed health care, some education benefits, and if disabled, a monthly check.

In 2003, Bush Jr. broke a big promise when he decided most middle-class veterans would no longer be entitled to use a VA health care facility.

Like the veterans who were severely wounded in Vietnam and then abandoned in VA hospitals, we have seen some of the same outrageous and cruel treatment of those who were severely wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq.  Walter Reed was not an isolated case.

I would urge those Americans who have not served, but display the “I support our troops” (or veterans) bumper stickers on their cars, to actually show that support by not voting for candidates who don’t really give a damn about veterans in need.

Remember our veterans (more and more are women) this weekend and give thanks to them for answering the call to duty and for their sacrifice in serving our nation. 

And remember the families of these veterans as well.  While their loved ones were away from home, keeping our country safe, these wives and husbands, mothers, fathers and children had to make many sacrifices of their own. 

Bob Mulholland, Campaign Advisor for the California Democratic Party, served with the 101st Airborne in Vietnam (1967-68) and was wounded.