Don't Let War History Repeat Itself
Published: Aug 2, 2006
As this tragic war on terror drags on, I shudder with each TV news bulletin. Notwithstanding reports of the long-awaited demise of terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, most current TV news teams seem obsessed with uncovering the darker side of this conflict: prison horrors, bleeding children and investigations of alleged high-level coverups.
Might our network and cable reporters seem compelled to scoop the other networks by eagerly reporting the horrors of war? Could it really be, as Civil War Gen. William Sherman sharply declared, that "war is hell"? And might there be other historical examples of civilians unfairly becoming casualties in war times?
The answer is: You bet. One only has to ask military or civilian survivors of World War II, Korea, Vietnam and this latest global conflict.
'The World's Greatest Tragedies'
In 1945, my father wrote me shortly after he experienced the horrific campaign known as the Battle of the Bulge. "Son," he wrote, "war is a colossal collection of the world's worst tragedies." He was right, and he was talking about a war that World War II buffs still call "The Good War"! What a cruel oxymoron. Wherever war breaks out, it slices a bloody wake through everyone it touches.
Might it be that we on the home front are the unwitting victims of sensational news reporting? I, for one, think we certainly are. And might this be of great detriment, both to our noblest war aims and to our honored Iraq war veterans? Again, I positively think it does.
Have you heard reports noting that our troops are building schools, homes and repairing damaged infrastructure, as well as training Iraqi soldiers and citizens to rebuild their shattered country? Indeed, there is not much coverage on these very essential and newsworthy items. Sadly, uplifting stories such as these rarely make good TV footage.
On the other hand, graphic footage and accompanying sound bites are quickly altered and adapted by news reporting. This type of coverage quickly spreads hatred and loathing of our noblest humanitarian and nation-building efforts.
What I fear most is only in its infant stages. My history book tells me that we may soon be turning the corner on repeating one of America's darkest transgressions of the past century. As with our Vietnam experience, I fear we soon will once again start blaming our valiant troops for this painful war.
"Go on," I hear some say, "we'd never do that!" But not only are we capable of that, we may soon again begin victimizing our valiant sons and daughters serving in our military. Remember Vietnam? I do, and so does every veteran who served in that horrid conflict. They gave everything they had, and many Americans blamed them for it.
No Parades Or Thanks
Recently, I attended our Marine Corps League's state convention in Kissimmee. Surviving Marines of the 20th and early 21st centuries came together to remember old times and honor fallen comrades. At such a profound assembly of America's "few," one can experience the spot-on feeling associated with the time-tested expression of "once a Marine, always a Marine!"
Late one evening at the conference, I sat with several Marines who served in Vietnam. Their mood was somber, their eyes still glazed with what combat Leathernecks call "the 1,000-yard stare." As brothers in arms do when among friends and foxhole buddies, they began re-living horrors that war doles out - such as holding a buddy as his blood drains away, coupled with a nagging feeling of guilt for simply surviving.
But with Vietnam vets, there is something else - indeed, something not present among World War II guys or even our honored Korean War vets. It was something peculiar and truly heartrending: These wonderful guys are haunted by the belief that their country and the American people still hold them personally responsible for our failures in Southeast Asia.
Though welcome among their Marine brothers of other wars, Vietnam vets tend to shy away from other veterans' organizations and the boisterous retelling of their war experiences. Their experiences reverberate with a tall order of grief and sadness.
Upon returning, there were no parades, and no bands were playing. And they didn't even get as much as a thank you from the country for which they sacrificed their innocence. It's as if they had never really returned home from that brutal war. They felt unwelcome, and occasionally - my God! - some were spat upon. Many of these veterans continue to remain America's lost generation, and shame on us for allowing that to happen.
As this highly unspecified war on terror creeps along, might we again be tempted to blame our fighting troops? I tremble at that possibility.
Today, as some of our troops begin returning home, we need to reaffirm to ourselves and to them: never again. Never again shall we have the audacity to blame our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines for our world's current perilous dilemma.
God bless America, and God bless our men and women in uniform. They are the pride of our nation.
To our honored Vietnam veterans, I say thank you for your service and pray forgive us for past transgressions. Welcome home.
The writer, an east Pasco resident, is judge advocate for Marine Corps League Detachment 1124 in Zephyrhills.
