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Peace at any cost is a prelude to war!
Voice of the Grunt, 1999-11-10-B
====================================================
ARTICLE 3, Continued:
"It was about three or four months later that those feelings began to come
back and I cried over the loss of my father and sister," he noted.
Readjustment and trying to rekindle his life with his wife and then
eight-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son was tougher than the
incarceration itself, McDaniel said.
"For the incarceration, you're there, you're a warrior, a military man, you
have an oath to keep, a job to do -- remain true and faithful to your
country," the retired Air Force colonel said. "Do your job, hang in there,
and stay true and loyal to your fellow prisoners. You live or die. You
resist the enemy. You return with honor. That was it. Pretty simple."
There are myriad choices when a former POW returns home: Stay in the
military or get out? Stay married? A lot of military men and women who have
been separated from their families for seven months find it tough to get
back together, McDaniel said. A forced seven-year separation presents many
more challenges, he noted.
He calls his wife, Jean, 59, "a super troop" for keeping him alive in their
children's minds during his captivity. But, he said, when he tried to
correct his son and daughter, they didn't want to hear it. His son adjusted
in about five months, but his daughter rebelled for years.
For example, when his daughter was 14, she wanted to do something and he
told her he had the right to say no because he's her father. "She just
looked at me very defiantly and sincerely and said, 'I don't have a
father!'" McDaniel said. "With other children having their fathers around,
evidently she had gotten her mind fixed on, 'I don't have a father.'" It
took another five years before he and his daughter, Crystal, now 34, began
to share a father-daughter relationship.
"It has improved over the years and now we're the best of friends," he
said. Crystal was married to Warren Clark in October 1997, and her wedding
has been aired on the TV Learning Channel's "Wedding Story" since March
1998. His son, Christopher, 37, is an Air Force major stationed at
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, as a civil engineer.
McDaniel said a lot of people thought the former POWs were going to be
vegetables and would become wards of the state. "A few of us had problems,
physiological and otherwise, and a few still do, but the majority of us
have done quite well," he noted. "Those who had close family ties adjusted
better than those who didn't."
Growing up with eight siblings in a sharecropping family on the outskirts
of Fayetteville, N.C., McDaniel knew his parents couldn't afford to send
him and the others to college. He planned to join the military to earn GI
Bill benefits, but a couple of his teachers encouraged him instead to go
directly into college.
"They felt I should stay in school because if I got out, I might not go
back in," McDaniel said. After graduating as valedictorian from Armstrong
High School in Cumberland County, N.C., the teachers helped him get a job
at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University to work his
way through college. He graduated cum laude in 1959 and was a distinguished
military graduate of the Air Force ROTC program.
Armed with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, McDaniel went on
active duty as an Air Force second lieutenant in June 1955 and planned to
get out after a three- or four-year hitch. He decided that if he stayed for
10 years, he'd stay for the other 10 years to retire.
"When I hit the halfway point, I was sitting in prison in North Vietnam, so
I didn't have much choice," the former POW said.
After returning home from captivity, he went on to earn a master's degree
in systems management at the Florida Institute of Technology in 1975
through the Air Force Institute of Technology program. He was a
distinguished graduate.
McDaniel said he feels an obligation to share his experiences with others.
He established a business in Fort Washington, Md., called Motivation
Assistance Corp., which provides motivational speakers and workshops on
motivation, self-esteem, goal setting and personal and organizational
improvement.
McDaniel, "the luckiest of the unlucky," said he hopes no one will ever
again be subjected to the kind of POW experiences he endured. But, he said,
"if a person's values, priorities, commitment, and faith are right and
strong, that person could endure as I did."
====================================================
ARTICLE 4
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BE CAREFUL HOW YOU USE "HERO"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SUMMARY: A Vietnam Veteran reminds us of who we are and where we come from.
**********************************
By The Old Soldier
In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson declared November 11 as Armistice Day, to
focus public attention on the sacrifices of all who contributed to ending
World War I. In 1938, Congress made the day a federal holiday.
In 1954, Congress changed the name to Veterans Day, to honor all who served
faithfully in our armed forces. While all who served deserved to be
honored, all who served cannot be considered "heroes."
According to Webster, "a hero is any person admired for his courage,
nobility, or exploits, especially in war." A hero is also "any person
admired for his qualities or achievements and regarded as an ideal or model."
Like many veterans, I am appalled by the lack of public appreciation for
those who have given so much to this nation. The recent tragic death of
five Army anti-drug warriors is a good example. These brave soldiers were
all family men and women. Their loss cannot be measured or expressed in
terms their families will ever understand.
Thanks to a few influential politicians and some veterans, Congress is
becoming more aware of the true sacrifices demanded of all who answer the
call to arms. U.S. Representative Silvestre Reyes, commenting on the death
of the five anti-drug warriors, put it best when he said;
"We often speak about the sacrifices our soldiers make for our country.
Today we are reminded about just how great those sacrifices are."
Yet, there are some misguided souls who would anoint hero status on those
who clearly have not met hero standards, such as the three would-be
warriors captured near Kosovo in March. Heroes do not surrender when they
have the means to fight back. The unfortunate captured soldiers, being
exploited by some in the business community, were in an armored vehicle
(HUMVEE) equipped with enough fire power to defend themselves.
Why they surrendered remains a mystery to all who survived like situations.
Not since Vietnam, has our armed forces enjoyed declining public support,
fueled in part by politically motivated misuse of our armed forces.
Columnist David Hackworth put it best when he wrote, in a letter to
President Clinton; "In 52 years of hanging around soldiers, I have seldom
seen the cutting edge of our fighting forces so dull, nor morale lower.
The last time it fell so badly was during the Vietnam War." Forty-two years
ago, when I took the oath of a commissioned officer in the Regular Army, I
was proud to become a member of a very large team with an outstanding
history and tradition. After devoting my entire adult life to this team, it
saddens me to witness its demise, all in the name of political correctness,
diversity and social experimentation. Once the most powerful fighting force
ever assembled since World War II, today's armed forces are shackled by
political influences that have eroded team work and confidence in the
senior leadership.
Leaders who should be concerned about training and readiness issues are
instead obliged to concentrate on feel good, politically correct issues
such as diversity training, feminization policies, superficial inspections
and social services. As a result, more than 50 percent of today's active
service members say they have had enough and plan to leave at the end of
their current hitch.
For much too long, our armed forces, since Vietnam, have relied on the
economic disadvantaged to fill its ranks. To restore public confidence,
respect and support, military ranks must be filled with a representative
number of qualified individuals from all eligible households. We all must
share the burden and sacrifices required for national defense. The nation
owes an unpaid debt to all who answered the call to arms. The price of
honor, truth, is a significant part of that debt.
The Old Soldier
====================================================
ARTICLE 5
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OUR UNDERPAID TROOPS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SUMMARY: A former USAF enlisted man lets us know his thoughts on military
pay.
****************************************
By Kipp Nave, USAF (Ret)
I wanted to attach a copy of my email to my representatives after I saw the
NBC nightly news this Saturday on enlisted personnel living on food stamps
and government assistance due to their low pay. I was enlisted for 22
years. I remember under the Carter administration when I was called to my
orderly room to have my First Sergeant explain that some of us (E-3 and
below) may be eligible for food stamps and other assistance based on our
income -- and that we should not think of it as a "handout" but as part of
our monthly compensation from the government for serving our country.
That's not how I was raised -- to take handouts.
Although I was financially in good shape for an E-3 -- my wife had a full
time job and we had no children -- not everyone was as fortunate. It made
me resent the enlisted pay then, and it still does today. Percentage raises
only help those on the commissioned end of the pay scale. Any percent of
very little is very little. I'm reminded of my tour of duty at Langley AFB,
listening to a Lt Col and a Major crying about their poor pay and the fact
that their children may have to attend public college vs. private college.
Meanwhile a TSgt in the same unit was trying to figure if he had enough
money to go to the commissary on payday.
The distance between the haves and have-nots has widened to a point that
the officers that lead the enlisted troops have no idea about their lives
-- and scarier, the pampered princes, as you call them, don't even care. As
noted in my email, when I got out after 22 years, as a Senior NCO, I was
making the salary of a Second Lieutenant. That told me my government
thought nothing of my years of experience and maturity that I bought to
work every day. I was barely worth the same as a 21 year old kid fresh from
the latest frat party.
When I was a junior enlisted person, I knew many a bitter old NCO. I
decided then that if I ever got that way, I would retire -- and I did. I
did not want a bad attitude to ever effect those enlisted troops entrusted
under me. So, that being said, here's my email to my congressmen/woman.
Dear Representative (or Senator):
Shame on you. Shame on you all. You have enlisted personnel on food stamps
and you're concerned that Bill Gates has too much power. So you approve a
4% pay raise -- FYI, 4% of nothing equals...nothing. How about a pay raise
just for enlisted personnel of a dollar amount -- say three or four hundred
dollars a pay period. Thirty years of percentage raises have made being
enlisted equal to a life of poverty.
I retired after 22 years of service when I could no longer stand the fact
that I had been serving my country that long and was only worth what a snot
nosed second lieutenant makes.
Please turn your attention to the quality of life of our enlisted people --
monopolies mean very little when the people who maintain our freedom live a
life with little dignity and on government handouts.
I sometimes wonder where your priorities are.
===================================================
ARTICLE 6
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"MEDIC! DO I HAVE TRICARE?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SUMMARY: Somewhere, somehow someone in Government has to grow a brain.
****************************************
By Col. Darlow Inberg, USA (Ret)
I recently called the Ophthalmology clinic at Brooke Army Medical Center for
an appointment. I've been followed in that clinic for glaucoma for the past
sixteen years.
In May my physician asked me to return in six months. The first time I
called, the appointment clerk asked me if I had Tricare. I said no but I do
have a valid ID card that indicates that I'm retired with thirty years and
that I'm authorized medical care in military hospitals. She said that makes
no difference, the Surgeon General put out the word that all appointments
would be given to Tricare patients first because the hospital gets paid to
treat them and does not get paid to treat me.
She said I could call back at the end of the month to see if there were any
appointments left that Tricare did not use. I was reluctant but said I
would. On 29 Oct I called back and was able to get an appointment for the
end of Nov. However, the clerk said that if I don't get Tricare this would
probably be my last appointment, after 1 Jan 2000 the only patients treated
would be those who have Tricare. I talked to two officers during a recent
Retirement Services Day at Ft Sam Houston and they basically said the same.
So now it appears that military hospitals are fee-for-services facilities.
They are no longer being totally funded by DOD appropriated funds but are
using funds from insurance sources. Our Congress has been very vocal about
not dipping into Social Security funds to balance the current budget. But
they are using Medicare funds (for those retirees in the Tricare Senior
program) to fund our military hospitals.
I would like to know the amount of Medicare funds that are being
transferred to military hospitals. I have always thought that the Tricare
program was designed to eliminate retirees from the military medical
system. I think everyone holing a valid ID card should be authorized
treatment if staff and facilities are available. I think Congress should
fund medical facilities at a level so that they can adequately provide
medical care to the military community they are supposed to serve. All
retirees should be treated the same whether they have Tricare or not.
>> Have a happy Veterans Day
==================================================
MEDAL OF HONOR ARTICLE 7
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BUSH, RICHARD EARL
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rank and organization: Cpl., USMCR, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 6th Marine
Division. Place and date: Mount Yaetake on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, 16
April 1945.
Entered service at: Kentucky.
Born: 23 December 1923, Glasgow, Ky.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life
above and beyond the call of duty as a squad leader serving with the 1st
Battalion, 4th Marines, 6th Marine Division, in action against enemy
Japanese forces, during the final assault against Mount Yaetake on Okinawa,
Ryukyu Islands, 16 April 1945. Rallying his men forward with indomitable
determination, Cpl. Bush boldly defied the slashing fury of concentrated
Japanese artillery fire pouring down from the gun-studded mountain fortress
to lead his squad up the face of the rocky precipice, sweep over the ridge,
and drive the defending troops from their deeply entrenched position. With
his unit, the first to break through to the inner defense of Mount Yaetake,
he fought relentlessly in the forefront of the action until seriously
wounded and evacuated with others under protecting rocks. Although
prostrate under medical treatment when a Japanese hand grenade landed in
the midst of the group, Cpl. Bush, alert and courageous in extremity as in
battle, unhesitatingly pulled the deadly missile to himself and absorbed
the shattering violence of the exploding charge in his body, thereby saving
his fellow marines from severe injury or death despite the certain peril to
his own life. By his valiant leadership and aggressive tactics in the face
of savage opposition, Cpl. Bush contributed materially to the success of
the sustained drive toward the conquest of this fiercely defended outpost
of the Japanese Empire. His constant concern for the welfare of his men,
his resolute spirit of self-sacrifice, and his unwavering devotion to duty
throughout the bitter conflict enhance and sustain the highest traditions
of the U.S. Naval Service.
====================================================
ARTICLE 8
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MEDAL OF HONOR MEMORIAL DEDICATION
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SUMMARY: This was sent to us by Thomas E. Ricks, Pentagon Reporter for The
Wall Street Journal and author of the best selling book MAKING THE CORPS.
*******************************************
By Staff Sgt. Kathleen T. Rhem, USA
American Forces Press Service
RIVERSIDE, Calif.-About 85 of the 150 living Medal of Honor recipients
attended the dedication Nov. 5 of the Medal of Honor Memorial at Riverside
National Cemetery here. Ten widows of recipients also attended.
The memorial is the first publicly accessible site that lists the names of
all 3,410 Medal of Honor recipients, said Michael Goldware, chairman of the
Riverside National Cemetery Medal of Honor Memorial Committee. In an
emotional moment, Defense Secretary William Cohen recognized the recipients
during the dedication ceremony by asking them to stand.
"America is eternally indebted to the families of our servicemen who
stood-and continue to stand-behind each of these heroes," Cohen said in
prepared remarks. "It is never too late for us, individually and
collectively, to say, 'We recognize your loss. We respect your sacrifice.
We thank you.'
"I would like to invite this amazing array of Medal of Honor recipients
here today to stand ... so that a grateful nation can honor their service
and sacrifice," he said. "I would like their family members and the
relatives of all the recipients, past and present, to also stand so that we
may pay tribute to you."
Veterans Affairs Secretary Togo West and representatives of all the
military services were also in attendance.
Goldware said the memorial was the brainchild of members of the
Congressional Medal of Honor Society, whose annual convention was held in
Riverside Nov. 3-7. He said they recognized Riverside National Cemetery as
an ideal place for the proposed memorial and planned the dedication to
coincide with the convention.
He explained that, at 280 acres, Riverside National Cemetery is still only
one-third developed. When fully developed, the cemetery will encompass 930
acres.
The open-air memorial consists of a plaza surrounded by the flags of all 50
states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, representing the homes of
the Medal of Honor recipients. Italian Cypress trees, planted in "squads"
of nine, encircle the plaza. Goldware said the $1.7 million required to
build the memorial was raised solely through private and corporate donations.
The focal point of the memorial is a water sculpture, a wall of water
created by a series of jets. The memorial's designers intended this
centerpiece to be "a cool, quiet place for reflection."
The memorial will also feature an interactive computer kiosk. Visitors can
use the kiosk to access the history of the medal, photos of recipients and
individual citations, Goldware said.
"Among these walls, we hear more than the rousing echoes of the victorious,
more than the tragic cries of the fallen. We hear the clear and distant
trumpets of battles still to come, the summons to gather our courage and
our resolve. And they bid us to preserve freedom in our time in order to
honor those who made us free," Cohen said, concluding his remarks.
Interested individuals can see images of the memorial and get more
information by visiting the http://www.cmohmemorial.org website.
=======================================================
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EDITOR'S NOTE:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
First, see references above. Second, brevity where possible.
************************************************
As a rule of thumb, please try to keep article for possible publication to
700 words or less. We do make exceptions and will not turn away an 800 to
900 word piece, but please make every editing effort not to exceed these
guidelines.
If you believe you have a story that is longer than 700 words we will
consider running it in parts. Keep the piece focused on the story you want
to express, not impress upon the reader.
Submit in OPEN format, not as a file attachment. Thanks to everyone for
keeping the communication lines open and the ideas flowing.
Semper Fi,
Bob McMahon
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.freeyellow.com:8080/members7/rlmcmahon
=============================================
HACK'S DEFENDING AMERICA COLUMN:
Many readers have asked for guidance/help/ideas for getting Hack's column
in their local newspapers. See http://www.hackworth.com -- NEWSPAPERS for
a few suggestions.
Much appreciate your effort. What we're into is getting the word to as many
citizens as possible about what is causing our military machine to sputter
like an M-4 Sherman tank.
Thanks,
Bob McMahon
=============================================
ARCHIVED DEFENDING AMERICA COLUMNS:
You can now find copies of Hack's previous columns at:
http://www.hackworth.com
These are found in the Defending America Section, under Archived Copies.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GLOSSARY OF MILITARY ACRONYMS:
We've had numerous requests from troops in different branches of the
military to establish this link so that we will all know how "all you
others" talk that talk. Please see below:
http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/doddict/acronym_index.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CONGRESSIONAL E-MAIL ADDRESSES
Congressional e-mail addresses can be found by going to (www.hackworth.com)
and accessing Congressional e-mails at the bottom of the first page.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*****CHRISTMAS BOOK SPECIAL:*****
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hack's books About Face*, Hazardous Duty*, The Price of Honor* and The
Vietnam Primer would make a great addition to any library. We are offering
this special SFTT price.
All four books, to include postage and handling for only $75.00. If you
were to pick these books up separately, you would pay $96.00. This special
is a saving of $20.00. So take advantage of this special while it lasts.
Just send the following information with your check (we are not set up to
take credit cards) made payable to: Twin Eagles Ink, via snail mail to:
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Attn: Book Orders
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SFTT SPECIAL
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The profit that these sales generate help fund this outfit. Hack lays out
more than four grand a month for payroll, phones, office costs etc. That's
what I call putting your money where your mouth is.
====================================================
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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