Fighting,There and Here

Smart lad, to slip betimes away,

From fields where glory does not stay,
And early though the laurel grows
It withers quicker than the rose.
--To An Athlete Dying Young, A. E. Housman

I had a brother at Khe Sanh
Fighting off the Viet Cong
They're still there, he's all gone
--Born in the U.S.A., Bruce Springsteen

One of the biggest things I've learned is that
the country wants heroes, but doesn't necessarily
want to pay for the consequences of having heroes
--Cpl. Stephen C. Sanford
_________

Distinguished Service Cross recipient Stephen Sanford is a true American hero, and he is not happy about what he sees now that he is on the other side of the fight.

Though medically retired following action in Iraq, he continues his heroism speaking out for veterans' benefits. You can surmise something is awry when the normally submissive fraternal magazine DAV chooses to run the following:

"I've heard the damn "h" word [hero] a few times. Honestly, it's an honor to receive the award. I'm humbled by it. But at the same time, in reality, it's just a two-ounce piece of bronze." Sanford said. "If it means anything, I think, it means that I have a responsibility to use this time in the spotlight to help my fellow soldiers and veterans who've also been wounded or become disabled through their service."

"One of the biggest things I've learned is that the country wants heroes, but doesn't necessarily want to pay for the consequences of having heroes," said Sanford. "There are a lot of people making tremendous sacrifices, and the process of healing and recovering isn't fast. People think that once the stitches are out the wound is healed. And it's not. Recuperation is a long process, and many people will be affected by their injuries for the rest of their lives. While an injured soldier is just starting to learn to cope with a wound or disability, many people have already forgotten about him ("Honoring the Brave").

Truth. He is saying, what a cost, and for what? Four soldiers from his squad were medically retired following that fight. That afternoon will cost the American taxpayers many millions of dollars over the lifetimes of the soldiers involved. Is securing a Mosul street that important for the security of America that we'll continue to pay for that fight well into the 2060's?

The action for which Cpl. Sanford received his DSC was a call for backup for Iraqi police "who were engaging an enemy safehouse in Mosul. Sanford's squad was the second to enter the sprawling residence and immediately encountered enemy forces gunfire. The initial push to assault the enemy had left the soldiers overwhelmed. The first squad to enter was pinned down and suffered a number of casualties."

Once again, a terrible firefight with heavy U.S. casualties takes place in an ad hoc manner. What ever happened to pre-planning? Why is everything thrown together on the fly? Where is the leader's recon or estimate of the situation?

Driving into a fight blind is a recipe for disaster. This is a criticism of a chain of command that appears a tad too loose, and not the engaged soldiers.

Sanford goes on to criticize an arcane medical claims process and an unfair pension process. He says he "want(s) to make it so other guys don't have to fight as hard."

Sanford sustained numerous gunshot wounds in his action, and with DAV help, recently got an 80% disability rating from the VA. The DAV will also help him appeal that rating. The article concludes with Sanford's clarion call, "We need to continue fighting for these things that really should be a given." Pity.

Young Cpl. Sanford has learned many ugly truths following his service in the infantry -- to Sanford, "the best job in the world." Freedom is certainly not free, but neither are veteran's benefits.

Every penny a veteran receives as disability compensation is twice earned -- once fighting an enemy and once fighting an erstwhile friend, the VA claims adjuster, who more often than not never carried a rifle.

Some personal observations:

[1] Why isn't this DSC being considered for an upgrade to Medal of Honor? It fulfills the requirements (you can read the citation here (p. 19).

[2] Seeing the pictures of Sanford then and now, it is obvious his wounds have debilitated him and drawn him down physically. How can any claims adjuster read these medical reports and arrive at anything less than 100% and total and permanent?

A tangential observation: It is a shame and a pox on America that the new generation can produce such fine young Americans, yet the best my generation could front for president was GWB.

Sanford is a living testament that deep down, there is still a chance for America. Thank you Cpl. Sanford. Ranger wishes you well. You have earned it.