thedrifter
02-12-07, 04:53 PM
The Burden of War
Joseph Kinney | February 12, 2007
The other day I received an email from Jack Cox, a soldier's soldier if there ever was one. Cox has lived much of his adult life in Fayetteville, coming there after he graduated from West Point in 1946. It is no surprise that Jack is the father of another West Pointer, his son Kendall, who recently returned from Iraq.
What Jack wrote reminds me of the burden of war that so many carry: ”Whether it be in peace or war, each of us can remember beautiful and heartfelt experiences. I still ask myself if I served the members of my platoon in Korea as I should have and if was I there when I was needed.”
Jack struck a nerve with me. He is a veteran of both Korea and Vietnam. He reminded me that a warrior's truest service is to other warriors, especially those placed in one's trust. While we can look to the rank that we wear on our shoulders for a measure of how the world has seen us, the most meaningful measure comes from within and how we have served those closest to us.
Outstanding military leaders like Cox know that service to one's unit is a commitment. It is not dependent on good feelings, but rather on consistent and courageous decisions to extend oneself for the well-being of another. That commitment then produces good feelings, not the other way around. And the commitment is independent of other forces, including what some may think of what we do — as in fighting wars.
Can you imagine what kind of auto industry we would have if we blamed the autoworkers for Ford Motor's misfortunes?
Public support for the War on Terror is waning. Suddenly there seems to be a race in Washington among lawmakers to remove us from Iraq. But no one advocating an end to our presence is giving us a vision of what Iraq will be once we are out. That really doesn't seem to matter. I must say this is rather like playing a football game without wanting to know the score.
Most soldiers do the job that they are asked. Generally, that is good enough in life. After all, what more can one expect? That said, I worry for our Soldiers and Marines. If we end the game without knowing the score, what will it mean for future readiness?
A couple of nights ago I watched a History Channel program about the early battles in Fallujah. The stories were incredible. I saw Marines and Soldiers fighting a fierce and often-evil enemy with boldness and courage. They didn't check with Washington on the content of the sound bites. The quality about these men and women that stucks out in my mind is that they believe in themselves. This is not a cocky self-confidence but a deeper belief that they will get the job done. I was inspired by these well-led young men who took the battle to the enemy. Their fathers and grandfathers would be proud, I am sure.
I don't know what is going to happen with the War on Terror. Somehow, my mind keeps racing back to the idea that those we fight are the same fellows that flew planes into buildings on 9/11. If they aren't, nobody has bothered to tell me or the warriors who fought in Fallujah.
God bless you Jack Cox for your caring.
May you and the others who have worn our colors rest easy.
Ellie
Joseph Kinney | February 12, 2007
The other day I received an email from Jack Cox, a soldier's soldier if there ever was one. Cox has lived much of his adult life in Fayetteville, coming there after he graduated from West Point in 1946. It is no surprise that Jack is the father of another West Pointer, his son Kendall, who recently returned from Iraq.
What Jack wrote reminds me of the burden of war that so many carry: ”Whether it be in peace or war, each of us can remember beautiful and heartfelt experiences. I still ask myself if I served the members of my platoon in Korea as I should have and if was I there when I was needed.”
Jack struck a nerve with me. He is a veteran of both Korea and Vietnam. He reminded me that a warrior's truest service is to other warriors, especially those placed in one's trust. While we can look to the rank that we wear on our shoulders for a measure of how the world has seen us, the most meaningful measure comes from within and how we have served those closest to us.
Outstanding military leaders like Cox know that service to one's unit is a commitment. It is not dependent on good feelings, but rather on consistent and courageous decisions to extend oneself for the well-being of another. That commitment then produces good feelings, not the other way around. And the commitment is independent of other forces, including what some may think of what we do — as in fighting wars.
Can you imagine what kind of auto industry we would have if we blamed the autoworkers for Ford Motor's misfortunes?
Public support for the War on Terror is waning. Suddenly there seems to be a race in Washington among lawmakers to remove us from Iraq. But no one advocating an end to our presence is giving us a vision of what Iraq will be once we are out. That really doesn't seem to matter. I must say this is rather like playing a football game without wanting to know the score.
Most soldiers do the job that they are asked. Generally, that is good enough in life. After all, what more can one expect? That said, I worry for our Soldiers and Marines. If we end the game without knowing the score, what will it mean for future readiness?
A couple of nights ago I watched a History Channel program about the early battles in Fallujah. The stories were incredible. I saw Marines and Soldiers fighting a fierce and often-evil enemy with boldness and courage. They didn't check with Washington on the content of the sound bites. The quality about these men and women that stucks out in my mind is that they believe in themselves. This is not a cocky self-confidence but a deeper belief that they will get the job done. I was inspired by these well-led young men who took the battle to the enemy. Their fathers and grandfathers would be proud, I am sure.
I don't know what is going to happen with the War on Terror. Somehow, my mind keeps racing back to the idea that those we fight are the same fellows that flew planes into buildings on 9/11. If they aren't, nobody has bothered to tell me or the warriors who fought in Fallujah.
God bless you Jack Cox for your caring.
May you and the others who have worn our colors rest easy.
Ellie