One Iraq veteran

[Eugene Coyle]

A young friend, about 20 or so, spent time in Iraq during his on-going 4
year enlistment in the Air Force.  He's now stationed in the states but
will go back to Iraq in February.
The conversation with him was depressing.  He denounced Kerry because of
his association with Jane Fonda -- and repeated the stories of Fonda --
totally bogus as I understand them -- of betraying prisoners in Hanoi.
He'd never heard that Bush was AWOL.
On another note, listening to the car radio up through the Chico area
and into Oregon, I heard Vietnam vets calling in to radio shows,
relaying the information that the post-war depression of many was
because they had been spit on when they came back.  No doubt they
believed what they were saying.  And of course they denounced Kerry
because of his post-Vietnam posture which several interpreted as an
attack on all who served in Vietnam.
The spin is frightening.
Gene Coyle

Re: One Iraq veteran

[Dan Scanlan]

Title: Re: One Iraq veteran


A young friend, about 20 or so, spent
time in Iraq during his on-going 4
year enlistment in the Air Force. He's now stationed in the
states but
will go back to Iraq in February.

The conversation with him was
depressing. .
The spin is frightening.

Gene Coyle

The following Other Voices column appeared in this
morning's Grass Valley CA The Union...

The Union, Grass
Valley CA http://www.theunion.com



Mother sees
tough side of Iraq war

Susan and William Porter
August 12,
2004


Last year I sent my son to war. During the seven months he was in
Iraq, he experienced fierce combat, lost friends to death and injury,
saw and did things that no human being should ever have to see or do
- things he'll have to live with for the rest of his life. He was
barely 18 years old.

It was the worst seven months of my life. Every morning I woke up
grateful that no one had come knocking on my door during the night.
The crunch of tires on gravel or headlights shining through the
window caused the entire family to hold its breath until the unknown
vehicle passed by our drive.

Each and every day was a struggle to maintain some sense of order and
sanity while knowing my child was in harm's way. Sleep was something
to do only when the body gave out and couldn't stay awake any longer.
It wasn't until he was back on U.S. soil last September that I was
able to get a full night's sleep and not flinch every time I heard a
car drive down the lane.

My peace was short-lived. He was home less than a month before the
battalion was told they'd be going back. For the better part of a
year, I've been living with the dread of going through this nightmare
again. His deployment draws near. Sometime in the next month or so,
I'll be sending my son to war for the second time.

Recently I nailed a John Kerry poster and a yellow ribbon to a tree
on my property. Nailed it securely. As an American, I have the right
of free speech, and as the mother of a Marine, I've more than earned
the right to my opinion that the current leadership of this country
has got to change.

Within a matter of days, the sign was missing, stolen by someone who
has no respect for the rights and freedoms my son has sworn to
protect.

I have a few questions for this person, so quick to show his support
of Mr. Bush. How many letters and care packages have you sent to Iraq
to show your support for the troops? How many letters of condolence
have you written to the over 900 families who've lost a son or
daughter, father, brother, mother, sister in this idiotic war? How
many mothers have you comforted with your words and actions of
support?

Your behavior
leaves little doubt as to your character. Do you really think
violating my rights, trespassing on my property and stealing from me
exemplifies the values and moral clarity your
party is so quick to claim?