That'll be the Day
I didn't come here to America
To give up the ghost and die
--Five Points, Black 47
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To give up the ghost and die
--Five Points, Black 47
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Since Purple Heart Magazine published Ranger's Anti-Warrior stance last month, he is going to push the envelope with a new challenge:
Dear Ed,
It is my contention that the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) should be dedicated to the principal that there should not be any more Purple Hearts (PH's) being awarded in our current meaningless and endless hostilities in Iraq and AFPAK. This means advocating for ending the wars.
In the past, PH's purchased freedom and liberty, eventually leading to victory and success. The last Victory Medal awarded was 1945. Since then, the volume of PH's have not bought the American taxpayer anything except political compromise and open-ended conflicts. The MOPH should not glorify such actions, and should do everything possible to end the misery and suffering caused by combat wounds that benefit naught.
It is clear that DVA policies are broken and will continue to provide marginal care to the returning wounded and disabled. In the face of the inadequacy of the DVA -- with a current backlog of almost a million disability cases -- how can fraternal organization like the MOPH continue to glorify and support the current wars, in which victory is undefinable and therefore unattainable?
Our efforts need to be reassessed and realigned to protect those that need not be needlessly sacrificed to a false concept of freedom or liberty.
What a revolutionary move it would be if the MOPH adopted a posture opposing continued U.S. involvement in the current phony wars on terror. This is the leadership required of old soldiers in the face of degenerate national policy.
These are harsh words to speak to fellow patriots, but as Justice Brandeis said, sunshine is an excellent disinfectant.
Sincerely,
Jim Hruska
Labels: fraternal military organizations should oppose the open-ended wars, MOPH, MOPH magazine letter
posted by rangeragainstwar at 7:28 AM
6 Comments:
The issue with this stance as I see it is the Michele Malkin crowd will claim you hate the troops.
I understand the nuanced position and metaphysical stance you have taken in regards to the PWOT, which my friend labeled the War to realign the Middle East to conform to American business and military interests, by simultaneously protecting Israel and Saudi Arabia, placing a puppet regime in Iraq with which to gain access to their oil reserves and possessing force projection ability towards both Syria and Iran.
But, the problem is those unaffected by the war's actual toll and for those who desperately want to and need to believe their government did not and could not engage in a phony war for money and power are easily swayed by the false patriots invocation of Glory, Honor and Bravery and Rally 'round the Flag rhetoric.
"It is my contention that the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) should be dedicated to the principal that there should not be any more Purple Hearts (PH's) being awarded in our current meaningless and endless hostilities in Iraq and AFPAK"
Ranger, I understand your anger about the politics of War. What I fail to understand is the logic of the above paragraph. To extend this logic, the Combat Veterans of the Vietnam war; 58,000 dead, 300,000 wounded, did not earn their Purple Hearts. Well, that's bullshit. Of all the 'salad' I earned in my 20 month tour Vietnam tour, my Purple Heart is the only medal I treasure. I saw your CIB on your blog, I know 'leg's treasure that. Maybe you have or have not in a hospital full of war mangled bodies, I have. War sucks but do not dishonor the wounded Veteran. Pardon my anger but I failed the 'stress test'.
Fire for effect tough guy.....
UH1Charlie,
You are rightly proud of your PH, as is Ranger of his.
But there is nothing in his comment which denigrates the validity of the award. I believe he is only saying, it is wrong to send men into the meat grinder for a futile and unclear mission. Some wars are just; the current hostilities are not.
That is our position, but again, it has no impact upon the work of the soldier, whose efforts cannot be lauded loudly enough, IMHO.
UH 1 Charlie,
Words are so feeble- i do not denigrate the award or the person- my position is that there should be no opportunity for good people to get wounded for no reason. This means we cannot support phony ill-conceived open ended wars.
I hope you read my long term writings as I always champion vets and their issues but i will not wave a flag-nevermore says the Ranger.
My position has a built in weakness. Lisa feels that it's unfair for me to deny others the opportunity to get A &D in combat situations.And that is what i'm saying
Did you ever fly out of Long Thanh North AAF?
jim
UH1,
I missed this- yes i was in 24th evac and went thru their surgery ward for injuries incurred in training. Yes I saw the results of combat on the ward.
I visited 3RD field frequently as we always had reason to be there.
I really hope my words are clear since i have full respect for the recipients of the PH but i do not respect the MOPH's position of oohra support of the war.
jim
UH1Charlie,
You are rightly proud of your PH, as is Ranger of his.
But there is nothing in his comment which denigrates the validity of the award. I believe he is only saying, it is wrong to send men into the meat grinder for a futile and unclear mission. Some wars are just; the current hostilities are not.
That is our position, but again, it has no impact upon the work of the soldier, whose efforts cannot be lauded loudly enough, IMHO.
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