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Highlands Today

Don't Forget Those Fighting Our Wars

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Harry R. Oakley Jr.

Published: May 9, 2008

Memorial Day is upon us again, while our American troops wage war on two fronts. We live in strange times here in the United States.

In the middle of an extremely important election year, the candidates say little about the wars. They say even less about the welfare of the men and women who are risking their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. The pollsters declare that other issues, like gasoline prices and home mortgages, rank high in the minds of the American people. We're told the voters want to know where the candidates stand on tax cuts and immigration. Meanwhile, the troops fight on in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan — fight and bleed and die for you and me — war without a front.

Their front surrounds them on every side, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for a year that lasts 15 months in the Army, and you're lucky enough not to get killed or wounded! And maybe lucky isn't the right word. The Defense Department says the chance of psychological problems climbs by 60 percent each time one of our troops goes back into the war zones, and many of our troops are on their second, third and fourth tours of combat.

The sacrifices are harsh, incredibly difficult. Yet, our fighting men and women speak only of honor and duty. They do what's asked of them with valor in their hearts. They don't grumble about how hard this is. The troops are brave.

Let's face it though, the troops aren't going to complain. They're better people than that, better Americans. They'll just do their duty, with courage and with dignity. If they are injured, if they become sick, they'll suffer; but again, with courage and dignity. And if they die in our country's service, they'll do so with honor, and their families will bury them in privacy. Most often they'll also grieve without the support of the communities in which they live — a great change and a great loss in the culture of our country.

America's heroes, including those most recently arrived from combat, are forced to wait weeks and months to see doctors and therapists. Many express anger when they hear stories of this mistreatment of our veterans. How much of that outrage finds its way into letters and e-mail to congressional representatives and senators? Our nation's veterans, young and elderly, wait years for disability claims to wind through the Department of Veterans Affairs. In DAV magazine, we read how our organization fought the VA for 18 years to get benefits for the widow of a World War II hero.

Here's some truth with a capital T. The VA expects to treat 330,000 veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan next year. The massive number comes in addition to other eligible veterans who need the system and served during World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War, the Gulf War and a number of smaller military conflicts. There's an enormous dollar sign associated with providing that care, as well as disability benefits paid to more than one in five veterans who served one or more tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Yes, caring for our nation's veterans is part of the cost of war. We hope everyone's aware of that, especially while our troops are fighting their hearts out on two fronts for you and me right now, today. Is it any wonder, in this era of demand for lower taxes, that the politicians pay more attention to issues that have a lower price tag? It's just a whole lot easier. We cannot tell you which issues are most important as we elect the next president of the United States. We certainly won't tell you which candidates deserve your vote. We don't do that in the Disabled American Veterans. We're strictly a non-partisan organization. On Memorial Day, the best way to honor the war dead is to honor and serve those who lived and need the support of our nation's people today. That means placing America's veterans high on the public policy agenda!

We hope our nation's leaders will show their respect to those who have carried freedom's torch. When they send the men and women of our armed forces to war, they shoulder an enormous responsibility, one that must not be taken lightly. We hope America's people will urge their elected leaders on to fulfill this essential duty; because, without that public pressure, nothing will change.

May you all show your deepest respect on this Memorial Day to honor the dead of our wars. May you render due tribute to those who gave up the breath of life long ago, as well as those who made the ultimate sacrifice only recently in Iraq or Afghanistan. You have remembered what James Russell Lowell called: "The single deed, the private sacrifice, so radiant now through proudly hidden tears."

Thank you for observing Memorial Day, honoring those who preserved our nation "at life's dear peril."

Harry R. Oakley Jr., Chief Master Sergeant USAF (Ret), is vice commander of the DAV Ridge Chapter 49 in Sebring.

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