This Bud may be for "you" but this particular entry or issue or whatever you call this is for me. I've now joined the thousands and thousands of families across the country who have had to watch a loved one pack up and head far across the world to go to war. In my case its my son, Billy, and this being Father's Day I have some things I'd like to put out there.
Billy is 27 years old, married to Rachel (she's sure to be nominated for sainthood if I have a say) and they have 4 beautiful little kids: Liam 7, Owen 5, Cassie 3 and Abby, born just this past Memorial Day. Her father has not seen her yet except in photos. Billy's Army Engineer Company deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom at the end of April, departing from their home at his duty station at Fort Benning, Georgia.
Billy joined the Army just about a year and a half ago. He had been successfully employed in the construction industry as a heavy equipment operator and concrete specialist and had been a foreman of his own crew for a large contractor but decided he wanted to do more with his life, he wanted to make a contribution to his country and one of the prime motivating factors were the events of 9-11, so after some long and emotional talks with his wife and kids and his parents he enlisted at the age of 26 and upon reporting for boot camp found he was one of the "old men" in his training group. He was two years older than one of his drill sergeants but his age and maturity served him well and he was soon named to be the platoon leader and held the post through his graduation. Upon reporting for advanced training in equipment operation he was again named to a leadership position and scored higher in some of the practical exams than anyone had seen in a long, long time. Upon completion he was assigned to an Engineer Company.
My point is not to brag on him but to put a face on him. He's not some "support the troops" yellow sticker on the bumper of your SUV. Its high time we got around to honoring the men and women who serve and for the most part we're doing a pretty good job but there's a long way to go. Unless you have a family member or know a close friend who's serving or are involved with a troop support organization such as "A Hero's Welcome", "The Yellow Ribbon Club", "The Patriot Guard Riders", or "The Warriors Watch" or a host of others just what, besides hanging the little sticker on your car, are you doing to support the troops?
This morning, on Father's Day, I opened the morning paper to find the news that two American service members were killed in a rocket attack on Bagram Air Base near Kabul, Afghanistan. My wife told me, in light of the fact that Billy is there, that I shouldn't be reading that news as it would only upset me. What she said is what upset me. How many people actually read that article? How many people actually bothered to read it and determine the circumstances of their deaths? Did they publish the names? What branch did they serve in? Where are they from? Are their fathers being notified of the loss of their children.....on Father's Day?
READ THE FUCKING NEWS!! LEARN THESE KIDS NAMES!!
After 9-11 the New York Times started, every day, printing a short bio of all the people who wer lost in the attacks of that horrible day and well they should have. Has the New York Times published any bios of the kids killed since then in the actions in Iraq and Afghanistan? What makes the victims of 9-11 rate more than the men and women who volunteered in the aftermath to go and serve to avenge the attacks and attempt to bring the animals responsible to justice?
Our family has almost ten more months to worry about Billy's safety. I go to bed every night with the phone on the night stand. If you want to make me have a heart attack call my phone at 3 AM (if I survive it I will find you and kill you), but we know that we are just one of thousands and thousands of families across the nation who do the same things every day.
Don't do it for me or my son because I wrote this knowing full well that no one may ever bother to read it. We're nobody special. But every single one of our young men and women over there are. Do something this week to truly support the troops. Learn who these young people are. Take the time to read about them and learn their names if they are harmed.
Oh. And go out and buy a new sticker for the back of your car. That one's getting a little faded.