The lead story in the Veterans Day edition of the chronicle was enough to shake me out of my morning fog before my coffee could. Today is supposed to be a day where U.S. military veterans are honored for their courageous service and sacrifices for our freedom. Yet, reporter Carolyn Feibel apparently went searching for veterans to speak out against the war in Iraq.
“Their mood was somber. Returning from war was difficult for both. They fear for the military men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“It’s just another Vietnam,” Boissenet said. “They’re fighting in a desert instead of a jungle.” The two men rolled toward the elevator.”
I have a high school friend who served in Iraq. He’s rather proud of his service. Did the chronicle interview him?
I then read this comment from another brave veteran;
“That’s when I started drinking. My first (downed) pilot mission, I had to pick up a part of a right leg, upper torso and half of his head. His dog tags were still on him,”
I think the chronicle gets confused about Veterans Day. The point is to honor the veterans, not to glorify war. I remember talking to a World War II veteran years ago. I remember his story where he launched from an aircraft carrier with two Japanese torpedos racing for his ship. He managed to strafe both torpedos using his maching guns. I remember asking him if he was nervous. I’ll never forget his answer, “I wasn’t nervous, the guys on the carrier were!” Did the chronicle interview him?
Then the article gives a free plug to a group called Veterans for Peace and documents how someone, obviously upset hosed them down. Leave it to the chronicle to take a somber day like veterans day and make it a worthless editorial page. I want to say ‘thank you’ to ALL veterans, not just the ones who agree with the chronicle.
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