I am a Veteran, and a Gold Star Father..
My son KIA in 2004.. For what???
To make the world safe for Opium Profits???
Is it worth it??? NO!
Not right now anyway..
My Grandfather fought in WWI, my Father WWII, I fought in Vietnam, had my son lived, I’m sure he would have marched off to one or other of America’s wars. Eisenhower warned of the “Military Industrial Complex”, we as a nation failed to listen, to busy earning a living from it I guess.
This nation’s pursuit of war has bankrupt the country and taken a toll on its greatest resource our youth. I returned from Vietnam after 18 months with only minor wounds, never to have to return. I was lucky, today’s boys have to do multiple tours , being exposed to the trauma over and over.
Its time this National gets out of the business of war. My exposure to agent orange was evidently extensive, resulting in actual gene damage . I can only imagine the horror that awaits our modern warriors upon their return. I truly am sorry for the loss of your son. I do understand how difficult it is to bury a son. I know you served, perhaps in your grief you may have forgotten why we serve. It’s not for love of country, Mom and apple pie, or the girl back home. It’s not for DuPont , Ford or General Motors and it’s definitely not Profit. We do what we do in combat for the man on our right and the man on our left, for the guys we worked , trained and fought with, we fight for each other . Because at that moment they are our family, truly a band of brothers.