THINK about WAR @thinkaboutwar - Tumblr Blog

Agent Orange is the last remaining obstacle to full reconciliation, Searcy said, “and I think the fiftieth anniversary of the start of the war gives us a real opportunity to close the book on it, in ways that give us some small measure of satisfaction, a recognition that finally we did the right thing.” For those in Vietnam who still feel resentment, the terms on which the book is closed will probably involve some reluctant concessions. On my last day in Hanoi, Searcy and I went to see retired Gen. Nguyen Van Rinh, the head of VAVA, who fought in Quang Tri during the siege of Khe Sanh and came under the spray several times himself. I asked him what it would take for the United States to make amends. Admit the truth, he said; acknowledge that a great crime was committed here. It was hard to tell him that this was never going to happen, that America didn’t make a habit of apologizing.

mmflint

Before I post my more general thoughts later today or tomorrow about the ruckus of the past week regarding the response to my heartfelt comment on twitter about my uncle who was killed in World War II by a sniper - and how I was taught to despise snipers of any stripe - I would like to...

Follow the personal lives of different soldiers as they attempt to reintegrate into society, establish new identities and -- for many -- find a new mission. Each episode of this new three-part series focuses on a different stage of coming home. COMING BACK WITH WES MOORE premieres Tuesday, May 13, 2014 @ 8/7c on PBS. The series is a part of PBS' Memorial Day 2014 program lineup.

#pbs #Veterans #war

Excerpt: He said he and his fellow Marines were told they were saving Fallujah from terrorists who had taken control of the city, and that they would take it back and return control to the people. "In fact, it was really just the opposite," Caputi said. "The people who were fighting against us weren't terrorists, they were locals who objected us laying siege to their city and they were trying to defend their city." Indiscriminate bombing leveled about two-thirds of the city -- which is about the size of Boston -- killing about 3,000 civilians and creating about 200,000 refugees, he said. "And we were treated as heroes for this operation," Caputi said. "The scale of that lie was so mind-blowing and frustrating that I felt like I had to try to do something." Read more: http://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/news/ci_25238400/he-survived-iraq-his-assumptions-didnt#ixzz2udaj5p8l

PTSD and suicide are two major issues among veterans returning home from our current conflicts and the military isn’t doing enough to help these soldiers.

bibliophile1887

"The war’s ultimate tragedy, of course, is that it led – quite directly – to the even more terrible Second World War. In other words, the 1914-1918 war was to no purpose. Its unparalleled suffering led the British and French to believe that they could never fight again; but for the Germans, their very failure to win convinced them they must have another war to prove that the Great War was not fought in vain."

#vietnam #Veterans

My heart is racing and my skin is cold. Another night in battle. I have to ask myself, Will it ever end? The answer is no, I know that. This is my job…. This is what I signed up for right? A defender of freedom and democracy? I like to tell myself that, But I know the truth. I was nothing but a foolish kid who could be manipulated into pulling a trigger. It’s always been that way, war for profit. one old man orders a young man to kill another young man and gets paid. God bless America My punishment for what I've done Is forever. Dreams of faces both friend and foe haunt me. I see and hear them every night. I wake up in so much pain and fear that I sometimes wish for death… But it never comes. Forced to hear the screams of children and families mourning for the ones they lost. Brother and sisters gone away never to be held again. Echoes of mortar shells and tank fire rings through my head, I can always hear them, eternity on the battlefield. This is my punishment.

Tommy Lee Butler, 88M Army, Iraq

#Veterans #war guilt #volunteer army #military recruitment #military

[Veterans Day, 2013] I wrote and delivered this speech at a 2010 Peace Rally. It seems fitting for today. Let us have a moment of silence in honor of the Americans that serve our country and send your thoughts and prayers out for the safety of those who are currently serving in harm’s way. Somewhere in America last night a mother cried. She cried because her son has been gone for far too long. Somewhere in America last night a baby cried. He cried because his mother has been gone for far too long. Somewhere in America last night a father picked up the phone to call his son. Then he remembered that no one would be answering that line anymore. Somewhere in America last night a little boy tossed a baseball in the air and caught it himself. He is practicing to play with his Dad when he finally comes home. Somewhere in America last night a little girl tried to brush the knots out of her hair herself, while she longed for the smooth brush strokes of her mother’s hand and wished Mommy was not thousands of miles away. Somewhere in America last night a new widow cried as two formally dressed service members approached her front door; because she didn’t need a premonition to know what they were going to say. Somewhere in America last night a Veteran screamed in agony as she fought through the pain in the limb that still feels pain, but is no longer connected to her body. And somewhere in America last night a veteran drank himself to sleep. He drinks himself to sleep because every time he closes his eyes he sees the desert sand stained with the blood of his best friend. He smells the unmistakable odor of burning flesh rising in the searing desert heat and he hears the screams of his friends and his enemies and he wonders why he was spared without so much as a scratch. When we have to beg our leaders for armor and better protection, and we have to beg our leaders for health care for the tens of thousands of young American troops whose lives have been damaged by the wounds of these wars; American troops suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injuries– the special and often hidden wounds of these wars, then it is time to say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH Because they certainly didn’t have to beg for volunteers! This people who wear the uniform of this country, and they wear that red, white, and blue proudly, in spite of the neglect of our political leaders, are the true hero’s of our time! And don’t ever let anyone tell you that if you don’t support the war you can’t support our troops! The only way to support our troops is to scream at every street corner every chance you get to Bring them Home.

Kenneth Meador (Army medic in Iraq)

#Iraq #Veterans

Veterans Day is almost upon us, and while it is most certainly a day to honor the brave man and women in our military there are many ways we can do that. I believe that one of the most helpful things we can do for the people who fought for this country is bring attention to issues that impact them. One of those issues that most adversely affects returning soldiers is PTSD or post traumatic stress disorder. Unfortunately, PTSD is not the only problem they face because with PTSD comes suicide. Suicide among our veterans is at an astonishing high and the government is not doing enough to prevent it.

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