Demoralizing
the Troops?
Written by Tina Richards, the mother of a son who is a U. S. soldier
in Iraq,
to The New York Times and
The Washington Post in March, 2007.
To the Editor:
Demoralizing the troops…
Those were the words that inspired me to challenge Orin Hatch (R-UT)
in the Senate hearing a few weeks ago. Those were the words that
echoed so loudly in my mind I couldn’t, no, I wouldn't stay
silent.
Demoralizing the troops…
Today I had to drop off Polly, a friend who flew out to help me
this last week in DC, at the Baltimore airport. When we arrived,
the majority of customers waiting in line where soldiers. All in
desert camis [camouflage-Ed.]. Instantly, I thought of the days
when I saw my son off to war dressed in those same camis and tears
came to my eyes. I think the second to worse event for a mother
is seeing her son off to war, unknowing if he'll return. The worst
is when he doesn't return.
But these troops were smiling, relaxed, and relieved. Sitting down
for a cup of coffee before Polly’s flight took off, we were
mixed in a sea of beige and brown. A conversation started about
returning to family and where home is for each. One soldier was
from Springfield, Missouri. “Missouri? Well, I'm from Salem,”
I said. The soldier’s family is from Salem, Missouri and we
quickly struck up a conversation. “Is the water tower still
standing?” he asked. “Yes, right next to the High School,”
I said. He told me of his time in Afghanistan and how honored he
was to be on Nancy Pelosi’s guard duty when she was there
a couple of months ago. “She so small,” he said, “but
a great lady.” You could see the grin on his face as he recalled
stories about her. Proud to be on guard for the Speaker of the House.
When I told him why I was in D.C. and not Missouri, he hung his
head low and shook it back and forth. He told me of the year before
when he was in Iraq. He told me about a buddy who was injured in
an explosion. His friend was from Michigan and had dreamed of being
a policeman, like his dad, his whole life. Just before his dad had
died of cancer, he had left him a knife. Not an expensive knife,
but one with great sentimental value. As his fellow soldier was
being evacuated, he asked him to hold on to the knife. “You
never know what’s going to happen.” He wanted it safe.
He promised to return it to his brother-in-arms.
He kept his promise. When they met up, his friend couldn’t
move his arm from the battle injury. He couldn't become a cop either.
“Now he’s a security guard, making $10 an hour and has
to pay for his own car and gas.” The VA only gave him 10%
disability, $200 a month. “What kind of life is that?”
the soldier asked me.
Demoralized?
You bet. Not from photos on the Washington Post or Democrats
and Republicans arguing about what direction to take. But from one
soldier seeing how their own government is treating fellows brother-in-arms
after they honorable serve, risking life and limb, doing everything
asked of them. Promises broken.
As Polly and I left, I told them we would keep fighting to ensure
their brothers and sisters in arms would be taken care of and work
to make sure they get the time off to spend with their families.
They smiled and thanked us. We welcomed them home.
You see this morning I was disappointed because I was hoping to
see my son on spring break. But he had decided to go on the Veteran’s
for Peace Bus leaving Fayetteville N. C. on March 17, heading down
to New Orleans to help with reconstruction. I was feeling pretty
useless and wasn't sure if anyone wanted to hear from me. I'm just
one voice.
But that café filled with soldiers, their thank yous and
smiles that “we the people” are fighting for their rights,
has given me encouragement to continue. No matter how small the
one voice is. Because Polly’s voice working in Rochester,
NY to rally the youth to end the war, Chuck Smith in St. Louis driving
anywhere to support a fellow soldier who chooses to become a war
resister, Gael and Medea with Code Pink whose creativity inspires
thousands of women throughout the world, Stacey Hafley from Columbia,
MO who is holding down the fort while her events coordinator is
in DC, or the Mt. Rainier Neighbors UFPJ who share their homes with
strangers to anyone working for peace, or Tom Seagar and Ruth Gilmore
in Rolla, Mo who lead a vigil with five or six others every week.
We are all important, bringing our different ideas, skills, talents,
efforts, money and voices to end the war. One voice alone, I would
be useless. But united with thousands across this country, makes
us a force to be reckoned with.
If you haven’t been to DC, come join me. If you haven't written
a letter to congress, write one. Democracy only works if we participate.
It has been a long hard road to get us a congress that will listen.
Now is the time to speak out.
—Tina Richards
—Washington, DC
EDITOR’S NOTE:
Tina Richards is the mother of a son who is a U. S. soldier
in Iraq.
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posted on a daily basis.
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Shopping
and Soldiering,
Colin Matthes
