Do our troops need and deserve our support? Absolutely! Regardless of your political affiliation and your position on the war in Iraq, our combat troops need your support. These young men and women, members of the all- volunteer military force, understand their duty and believe in their mission. They operate under conditions that are impossible for most Americans to visualize. Just imagine, if you can, spending Christmas thousands of miles away from your loved ones, eating prepackaged food instead of a turkey dinner, risking being gunned down or blown up by a roadside bomb. That is Christmas for our troops.
Although they are “on the other side of the world” the troops hear and see through Armed Forces Radio and Television what American media are saying about them and the war. They see the TV news. If that news is disheartening to the American public, can you imagine how demoralizing it is to the soldiers “in harms way?”
As a veteran of perhaps the most unpop?ular war in American history, I understand how important support of the “folks back home” can be. Sometimes the only encouraging word comes in an infrequent letter from mom and dad or maybe a spouse left back home. The troops in this increasingly unpopular war have to be asking themselves, as we did in Vietnam back in the 60s and 70s, have the American people abandoned us? Have they once again grown weary and ready to quit?” You can help. Send a letter, a greeting card or package to a member of the military. Don”t know how? Here are two suggestions: Visit the website http://anysoldier.com/ Contact VFW Post 2015 Ladies Auxiliary at http://www.vfwpost2015.com/
Herman W. Hughes, Ph.D.
Captian, USNR (Retired)
Lakeport
