This was written by a relative of mine. Her daughter is 21 and joined the Navy in 2000. Her son is in the Air Force and is 19. Her father-in-law served in WWII, is 84, and was a POW taken by the Germans. He gave an interview last week for his local paper. His daughter's story picks up where he left off...
She writes:
It is impressive what he went through and survived when so many didn't. Through him we can remember the horrors of WWII and what Hitler was doing to the Jews and anyone else he didn't like. GrandDad fought to save us from Hitler doing the same to us and other countries. He fought to stop the evil from spreading across the world like the evening shadow. He has forgotten why he fought; only remembering that he fought and suffered. I honor him for what he has given for our country.
And now people have forgotten 911 and the days following. The horror was short-lived and we want to go back to our complacency and ease of life and drive-through instant meals. We don't want to see the shadow spreading. We don't want to hear the terminal cries of the people of the land of Iraq as they die because they are of a different belief than the man who leads the country into destruction and waste. Many didn't want to hear the cry of the Jews either. The difference is that the war with Hitler wasn't a Jihad for him. It is for Saddam Hussein. That means it goes until the death of them all and those who die for Saddam believe they go to a Heaven populated with virgins for them to rape for eternity. It means to us that this will be a war to end all wars and will be appalling for us because they follow no one's rules but their own. They will use their own people for our destruction. And we march down the middle of the road like the Red Coats during the war of Independence trying not to hurt the innocents as we do so. We took pot shots at the Red Coats from the ditches and the trees, not following the established rules for warfare. We chased them out and won the war. Our leaders have a tough job ahead of them with the press embedded in the ranks of the soldiers and the world watching every move- judging. From what I see- the only way to win this is to fight dirty like they do- or just push the button and turn them into a glass parking lot which no one really wants. It’s horrifying what may happen. The Iraqi innocents harbor wolves dressed in their clothing who will strike out at us whenever they can and who also will take the aid we give to the innocents for their survival for the use of their own. We will be feeding Saddam's army as well as the innocents. Our troops are already finding supplies short at times. It’s heartrending the innocents suffer the most.
I don't want Saddam's shadow spreading over the entire world. I don't want to hear the pleading cries of those who are dying. I don't want my children to die. But I am proud of my children in the service. My son will probably be safe since he's working in a lab in Tacoma, unless they get bombed. My daughter will be in harm's way on her aircraft carrier. My son-in-law is in harm's way on his submarine. None of them want to die. But they salute our flag with joy as do I. I weep when I say the Pledge of Allegiance. The thoughts of all those who went before who have made it possible for us to stand up in public without fear and say the pledge run through my mind as I say the pledge. I honor them.
I read yesterday that three bloody female uniforms were found in a building we captured. Along with those uniforms were batteries and other things found that lead to the belief the women were tortured. Their bodies were not found. They are probably still alive being tortured. Do we want this to continue happening? It has been happening all along, just not to Americans, but to their own women. And there are some Americans who want to turn their backs on them. We prosecute people in our country who do that to women and children- we are horrified yet fascinated with the stories we hear of what demented people will do to other people. You see it any day you drive past an auto accident and see 'rubberneckers' craning to see a bit of blood on the pavement or a body on a stretcher. You see it at games where fights break out and people yell and try to egg the fighters on. It's the pack mentality, the blood lust. Saddam has his lusting followers who brag about how cruel they were to their victims. They try to top each other at how cruel they can be. And Saddam is the pack leader. He must be stopped.
It’s not an easy decision going to war. Bush has many advisors and a great deal more information at hand than does the general public to piece together from which to make his decisions. He does not make those decisions alone. This is not a war of Republicans versus Democrats as many would have it to be. This is shadow versus light. What do we want for our future?
I know you want to live in the light and freedom. The only shadow I want waving over me is the shadow cast from our flag as it waves freely in the sunshine.
--Valarece Claypool, with her permission
Link to her father-in-law's interview, WWII POW reflects on experiences:
http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/main.a...SectionID=&S=1
~Shirley
"A BRW Original"
