happy Memorial Day, thank you for your Service. “If you don’t stand behind our soldiers then stand in front” .
I had been told... by the head of "Company Grade" Officer assignments, USACE OPO, the Pentagon, that I had been FORBIDDEN an assignment in 'nam. Had a higher priority. "Multiplier effect" of training others only the unclassified part of that.
Pulled strings. Told the brass I had no certainty - good as they were - that all 53 Officers I had generated - nor six as were ALREADY Officers I had
upgraded - would avoid that fool war.
And, as not the first generation in the "family bizness" - just how TF was I expected to be able to SHAVE without cutting my own throat if even ONE didn't make it back. Whilst I never even WENT
at all?
Got my choice of five Command slots. Took the hardest one. Naturally.
Didn't lose even ONE man of my Command. Nothing else matters now.
That did. And still does. To them and THEIR families and offspring, multiplied. Not just
one of me.
"Citizen soldiers". Merely "TDY" to fields of battle. And the deadliest kind of all.
Impatient, y'see. VERY!
We want the wars WON, DONE, and ENDED, so we can go
home, make babies, money, BUILD a house, a career, or all of the above - a LIFE, if you will.
And not HAVE to "destroy" such things. Our own. Nor anyone else's either.
In our weary millions we hold the hope that will be "good enough" for yet another generation. Even when it isn't, quite.
No "war lovers", we. PEACE, rather!
Unless it cannot be helped. Of course.
Never confuse "reluctant" with "unable".