The Few, The Proud

I have been follow this blog for a few weeks now and I always walk away with a deeper appreciation for a military I am already intimately in love with.

Today I read a post that the blog writer linked to with passages like...

It is a fact that our country today is in a life and death struggle against an evil enemy, but America as a whole is certainly not at war. Not as a country. Not as a people. Today only a tiny fraction of American families—less than a percent— shoulder the burden of fear and sacrifice, and they shoulder it for the entire nation. Their sons and daughters who serve are men and women of character who continue to believe in this country enough to put life and limb on the line without qualification, and without thought of personal gain and they serve so the sons and daughters of the other 99% don’t have to. No big deal, though, as Marines have always been “first to fight” paying in full the bill that comes with being free…for everyone else. As a friend of mine wrote recently when offering condolences to a family who’d lost a son in Afghanistan: “service to and sacrifice for the nation have become a legacy affair for a relatively small number of families. This nation is blessed to have families who are willing to accept the responsibilities and endure the sacrifices that sustain a way of life cherished by many, but sustained by few." 

 and like...

As I close , I have the name of the most recent hero killed in Afghanistan only a few hours ago but I cannot share with you his name because the a Marine Officer and Navy chaplain have not yet executed their honored duty of notifying the next-of-kin of the death of their son. That family, right now, somewhere in America is in the final minutes of blissful ignorance before their entire lives change forever. I know God will help them bear this inconceivable burden—a burden I am told by those who know never goes away or even gets lighter—and help them find comfort in the fact that their son was doing exactly what he wanted to do, was doing it with the finest men on this earth, and for a cause that meant more to him than his life. The reality is, however, it doesn’t matter if we are comforted, or if we accept it or not, it only matters that he did.

Those words were spoken by John F. Kelly Lieutenant General, U. S. Marine Corps Commander, Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces North. I would encourage you to go read the whole thing.

I will be honest, I am not sure what I believe about being in Afghanistan. I know I am sick of war and I am sick of death, but I am mostly sick of the leaders in this country who don't seem to have a clue what they believe. Those that say they believe in taking the fight to the enemy, don't seem to let our men and women fight to win and those who claim to want to bring the troops home, don't. Both sides looking for what is best for them. What I do know is that we, as Americans are putting an awfully big burden on the people we ask to give their lives in service to us. I wonder when we are gonna get fed up and demand better in service of their lives. I am guessing right about the time the enemy comes looking for us over here, again.

*My husband just called me after reading this post to tell me that General Kelly's son. Lt. Robert Kelly, was killed in Afghanistan in 2010. When the young Corporal Kelly was trying to get commissioned, my husband sat on his board. My husband found him to be extremely qualified and extremely cocky. My husband did recommended Cpl Kelly for commission. He kind of likes those qualities in a Marine.