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Mail BagDear Traveling Soldier, Today I was threatened to be thrown in jail and wouldn’t be told why. I suspect it was because early today I had asked the question ‘why?,’ so I was then promised that my life would be made a living hell. If as soldiers we are not allowed to ask why, then I am convinced that the army expects us to be lifeless killers, for if one cannot ask the question why, then what is the point of living? The ability to ask why is the very thing that separates us from all other life on this planet. It allows us the ability to choose, which allows us the ability to be human. By taking away our choice they are taking away our humanity. Without choice we are mindless creations, no different from a rock or tree, susceptible to perform anything, which I guess is why America is capable of performing the great immorals which we speak of today. So, if you were to ask me ‘what would you rather do, spend your life in prison or murder a child?,’ I would much rather spend my life in prison. But that’s just me. Apparently I, unlike the rest of the army (or the majority of the world for that matter) still possess the ability to choose, only with my choices, killing is always one, and the uniform code of military justice is always the other. If you still have the choice, choose wisely. You just might be choosing to murder a child whether you know it or not. I would love to be on your mailing list. Thanks for reading, and thanks for caring. Being threatened by my NCO like that (especially witholding his reason for it) made me dislike the army even more that day, and it’s comforting to know there is a place where soldiers and the like can go to hear the truth, straight out of other soldier’s mouths. Which is exactly why I felt so strongly about what I wrote because war or not, the line has to be drawn somewhere. Otherwise we will be digging our own graves. Thank you again, – G.M. Ft. Hood, Texas Dear Traveling Soldier, I returned from Iraq about a year ago and spent about six months there. I was there for the initial invasion in the areas of Kut and Diwania. While I was in Iraq I got to know my Platoon Sgt pretty well. We talked a lot about family and home. After we had been there for about five months or so my sergeant began to question our purpose in Iraq and what the point was. Being in a infantry company we had a lot of time in the city on the streets. Iraqi people wanted us to leave. They asked us when schools will reopen and when it will be safe to open there businesses again. We didn’t have the answers they needed. My platoon sergeants conclusion was that when we got home he would not reenlist because of the Iraq war. This is coming from a man that has spent 15 year in the Army and a vet of Desert Storm. He was only five years from retirement and left. He figured it out and so did I as well as many of my brothers in arms. When my four year enlistment was up I left. And I was supposed to do three years but stop-loss got me. When I came home I had a lot of problems and took it out on my fiancé. She broke off the engagement and left. Now I am in college trying move on. And I am, but still have some nightmares and some problems. It is my hope that more Soldiers speak out against Bush and his polices just as I and some of my brothers in arms have. Thank you for reading this. – D.A., 101st Airborne Dear Traveling Soldier, I’m an OIF vet that spent time in Fallujah, Ramadi, and downtown Baghdad while on active duty with the 1st Armored Division. It looks like I’ll be deploying with the National Guard now. I’ve really enjoyed reading your issues and applaud you guys on your efforts. I would greatly appreciate it if you sent me the subscription. I’m trying to open the minds of the soldiers around me. – SGT C.M. Dear Traveling Soldier, I would like to send you a copy of my story, here at Ft.Campbell, KY. Man, this place is hell. – C.L. ThankyouThankyouThankyou. I’m leaving for OIF 3 in five weeks with the 56th BCT TxArNG. It sucks. The next year (or two) is about to suck a lot more. Glad I found you, – J.G.D. Dear Friends, I have just finished reading your newsletter on-line and would like to say that you have raised emotions in me that I haven’t experienced since 1971, while stationed in Boa Loc, RVN. At that time I used to receive and distribute (illegally of course) a newsletter from California called “The Ally”, it’s purpose was the same as yours, to be an organizing tool for active duty GI’s opposed to the war they were forced to be a part of. When I got out of the service the first thing I did was to join the Vietnam Veterans Against the War. My first action with them was called “The Last Patrol” at the Republican National Convention in Miami Florida, Aug. 1972. As the war slowed down and eventually ended so did my participation with VVAW. My beliefs and opinions concerning War, the military, and my government have been unchanging though. Immediately after the events of 9-11 when our government started to talk about invading Afghanistan I knew that it was wrong and started attending peace events in my area, Boston, I soon discovered that VVAW was still around and still working on the same issues so of course I re-upped. I also joined Veterans For Peace. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the bullshit rhetoric spewing from the government have given me a sense of de jai vous, and now having read your newsletter it is complete. I wish you the best of luck in your endeavor and would like to help out if I could but alas I am very broke and can not contribute financially. You have 100% of my moral support and if you know of anything besides money that I can do to help let me know. One of the members of VVAW, the one who turned me on to your website has suggested that we include a link to your site on our web page and I will support and advocate for that here. Best Wishes, Bill Leary lbigbilbo@msn.com VVAW contact, Boston, MA P.S. my contact information can be found on our web site at www.VVAW.org look under contacts for Massachusetts. Dear Traveling Soldier, My husband is in the military stationed in Pascagoula Mississippi. I just found out from him that they will be making active-duty military pay for medical. The military base in Pascagoula claims it has no meds because of the cost of the war in Iraq. Medical will not give out any medication unless it is a life threatening illness and even then it has to be ok’d by the base CO. Military members and families will also be charged for prescriptions. Haven’t they taken enough from us already? They take our family members away from us to die so they can fatten their pockets, now they want more from us. We have to do something. I have already written a letter to Donald Rumsfeld, not that it will do any good. If we don’t stand up for ourselves, this administration sure as heck won’t. – Lisa S roscleo@cableone.net  Bush salutes the troops and their families for their sacrafices.Page 5--> |
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