I’ve listened to Hillary Clinton call herself a hawk and John McCain’s answer to Iran given in song.
“Bomb bomb bomb bomb bomb Iran”.
Obama’s red line or Ric Santorum’s plan to “bomb them back to the seventh century”.
It doesn’t matter the Party anymore.
Politicians making threats others will have to risk their lives to enforce.
We’ve all heard the “blood and treasure” statement as though those two words can explain the sacrifice made by our best and bravest, who when called, continue to run into the fire.
They aren’t “blood” to their mothers and fathers who will never see their children again.
They aren’t blood to those of us who cherish and honor their service, and for far too many, their sacrifice.
They aren’t blood to their children who will never see their bright smiles again, or experience a kiss from Daddy or a hug from Mommy.
They are Americans. They are our brothers and sisters.
But rather than using my words we would be better served to read the words of an American Soldier.
A Combat Veteran.
Words sent to me recently:
“I am silently staring off in the distance, fist clenched, tears running down my check. Seeing all that cannot be unseen, reliving all that cannot be undone. Watching brothers and sisters being blown away. Knowing that another soldier won’t come home.
You will never see this from me, because my face and self control won’t allow it. Never understanding why I laugh and tell a joke, or change the subject when you ask me if I have ever killed someone. I honestly know that you could not handle the truth, so please stop asking.
If I want you to know I will tell you.
Stop asking about war, all I will tell is the funny stuff.
Believe me there is very little of that.
A sight, a sound, a smell, that is all it takes for me to relive the worst moment of my life.
I am PTSD, and I am not what they want you to believe.
If you understood the truth, then you would understand why it is a silent killer.”
The United States Combat Veteran is our first line of defense.
They aren’t blood.
They are the reason America remains free.
It is a dereliction of duty by American politicians to ignore the needs of the American Soldier.
It is a dereliction of ethics for America to ignore the needs of the American Soldier.
We must step into the fray for those who’ve already stepped into the fight and for those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Jason Kraus
10-11-2015
