Conservative Blues
American Soldier 08/18/2009
 
“The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.”  These words were written by the English philosopher and logician John Stuart Mill in the 19th century.  These words ring evermore true today. 

 

As the best America has to offer fights and dies in the burning sands and dusty villages of Iraq and Afghanistan against an implacable enemy filled with religious fervor, they are forced to contend with forces allied against them at home.  Even as families await the return of their brave sons, daughters, fathers or mothers, they are faced with such miserable creatures as Senator Harry Reid.  All remember his sage pronouncement that the war on terror had been lost and the wise advice he gave any camera pointed in his direction to bring our troops home.

 

Such has been the lot of the American Soldier, Sailor, Marine, and Airman since the days of Woodrow Wilson and his League of Nations.  When American might and leadership has been required even demanded by our allies and other freedom loving people around the world, it has been the American Military which has borne the burden of sacrifice while most of the population scarcely notices and even more actively campaign to subvert their efforts.

 

Following the “War to End All Wars” the military faced a staggering reduction in forces and materiel.  All the while Germany was rebuilding their military machine.  As a direct consequence, America faced an uphill battle refitting and rebuilding her military to fight off Fascism and National Socialism.  Even as American forces returned home in victory, their ranks were being eviscerated once again.  Less than five years later, the American Soldier found himself fighting in a far away land for the cause of liberty.  Korea became the first episode in what would come to be called “Limited Warfare”.  An insidious term used to justify the lack of will on behalf of the politicians to actually defeat an enemy, but to find a way to live in an uneasy truce with him. After battling the North Koreans and the Communist Chinese to a standstill, American forces were again reduced and equipment mothballed.  Less than ten years later in the jungles and cities of Vietnam, the American Military would again be called upon to fight a “limited war”.  It is during this conflict that those who truly hate America began to take the forefront.  As Americans fought and died in the fetid jungles of Southeast Asia, their brethren at home cursed them as baby killers and spat on them in airports. Even though the American Military never lost on the battlefield, political pressures forced them to accept a truce in 1972 and ultimately defeat in 1975.  The following decade saw American morale and readiness at its lowest level during the 20th century.  This was turned around with the advent of the all volunteer force and the rebuilding of American might under Ronald Reagan and continued under George H. W. Bush.  These events, along with an unyielding diplomacy, brought Soviet Communism to its knees and left America as the world’s sole “superpower”. 

 

What lessons are we to learn from these events?  What is the nugget of truth that has escaped generations of supposedly learned men?  How many more times must this cycle repeat?  Freedom is not free.  It was purchased at the battles of Lexington and Concorde; at Gettysburg and Shiloh, on Omaha Beach and Midway Island, at Chosin Reservoir and Pusan, at Da Nang and Saigon, in Baghdad and the Tora Bora Mountains.  It was purchased with the blood of those better than us.  It was purchased with the sacrifice of the families that will never see their loved one again.  It was purchased with the service of men that Senator John Kerry believes had no other options but the military.  National security is the bedrock without which no other freedom can exist.  We should guard it jealously and faithfully.  We should ensure that the men and women willing to fight to keep us free have the money, equipment and training to do so.  We should also give them our unwavering support regardless of one’s stance on the war. Abraham Lincoln once said “Beware of rashness, but with energy and sleepless vigilance, go forward and give us victories”.  The American Soldier has stood and continues to stand vigilant to make and keep us free.    

 

Kerry L. Shelton

Spartanburg, SC

 
 


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