This is precisely why I signed up with you, Will--to get to know you and your people better. Yes, we're all Americans, but I don't carry your and Marvin's particular burdens. I know more than some about veterans as my father was a Bronze Star combat engineer in Korea, but I know zero veterans of the Stans and Sandbox. Reading you, and particularly stories like this, help me understand. Thanks.
One of the unfortunate aspects of national security is the requirement that certain operations must remain classified indefinitely in order to protect sources and methods. It is for this reason that ordinary Americans do not know about shadow operations and that they cannot know. Of course, this requirement is also abused at times by those who have a personal or political agenda and those responsible for such abuses must at some point be held accountable for them.
Having said the above, in my opinion it is incumbent on all of us to know what we can know about what our government does in our name and bear some Responsibility for the outcomes of those actions. Part of taking on this Responsibility is to listen to the stories of those who have borne the battle and incorporate those stories according to our individual values so that we might make better choices in the election of our fellow citizens to positions in our government. Far better than a glib 'Thank You For Your Service' is an informed decision not to vote for anyone who evaded service or who denigrates those who have served honorably. YMMV.
To bring this a little closer to home, my father served in WW II as a Radio Officer in the U.S. Coast Guard assigned to provide communications aboard Liberty Ships operated by the War Shipping Administration. He was denied veteran status by our government until a Republican, Ronald Reagan, eventually recognized the service of those similarly situated by awarding them veteran status. We only located his discharge papers issued during the Reagan administration after his funeral.
I’m listening. I loved hearing of Marvin’s 32 year career. You are right - I never knew many veterans until you started writing. Many thanks for sharing.
so true -- after acquainted with several military veterans while being civilian volunteer Member of U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary since March 2002 ... most nearly 100% of the time, one is not at all aware of the veterans who were and still are so unselfish
This is precisely why I signed up with you, Will--to get to know you and your people better. Yes, we're all Americans, but I don't carry your and Marvin's particular burdens. I know more than some about veterans as my father was a Bronze Star combat engineer in Korea, but I know zero veterans of the Stans and Sandbox. Reading you, and particularly stories like this, help me understand. Thanks.
One of the unfortunate aspects of national security is the requirement that certain operations must remain classified indefinitely in order to protect sources and methods. It is for this reason that ordinary Americans do not know about shadow operations and that they cannot know. Of course, this requirement is also abused at times by those who have a personal or political agenda and those responsible for such abuses must at some point be held accountable for them.
Having said the above, in my opinion it is incumbent on all of us to know what we can know about what our government does in our name and bear some Responsibility for the outcomes of those actions. Part of taking on this Responsibility is to listen to the stories of those who have borne the battle and incorporate those stories according to our individual values so that we might make better choices in the election of our fellow citizens to positions in our government. Far better than a glib 'Thank You For Your Service' is an informed decision not to vote for anyone who evaded service or who denigrates those who have served honorably. YMMV.
To bring this a little closer to home, my father served in WW II as a Radio Officer in the U.S. Coast Guard assigned to provide communications aboard Liberty Ships operated by the War Shipping Administration. He was denied veteran status by our government until a Republican, Ronald Reagan, eventually recognized the service of those similarly situated by awarding them veteran status. We only located his discharge papers issued during the Reagan administration after his funeral.
I’m listening. I loved hearing of Marvin’s 32 year career. You are right - I never knew many veterans until you started writing. Many thanks for sharing.
A powerful story
Thank you for writing this
Thank you for being one of the people willing to share your, and others', stories.
so true -- after acquainted with several military veterans while being civilian volunteer Member of U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary since March 2002 ... most nearly 100% of the time, one is not at all aware of the veterans who were and still are so unselfish