Undue Disrespect

Undue Disrespect
Filed under: News and politics, military, iraq, 'War on Terrorism'

As we enter Kerry Apology Watch: Day 6, our friend John E. Carey weighs in: from this weekend'€™s Washington Times.

The morning after Sen. John Kerry slurred America'€™s
fighting men and women and all who serve, my wife and I attended a
ceremony in Northern Virginia. Juxtaposed to Mr. Kerry explaining
lamely that he was only attacking the commander in chief in wartime
(apparently Mr. Kerry thinks it funny to make fun of the president'€™s
intelligence), we witnessed this: A U.S. Army colonel seated and
waiting for the event. A second U.S. Army colonel came upon the scene
and the two shook hands and then gleefully embraced.

This image of teamwork, camaraderie and loyalty so moved me that at the
end of the ceremony we stopped to talk. Col. Ronald E. Smith, M.D.,
told me the other colonel was his son'€™s godfather. These two have
traveled some miles together in peace and war. And each has dedicated
his life to the service of others. Twice. Both are medical doctors and
also career U.S. Army officers.

These must be the people that Mr. Kerry thinks are stupid.

I stopped another young officer, a captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. I
noticed he wore the ribbons of the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart on
his chest. The first is for valor. The second means he was wounded.

I asked him what happened.

"€œSome terrorist got lucky, sir,"€ he explained. "€œHit close to me with an
RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade). I'€™ll set off airport metal detectors
the rest of my life."€

Indeed, the captain had many scars on one side of his face. "€œOh, this
whole side of my body looks like I got penetrated by a thousand pieces
of metal,€ " he said. "€œBut I'€™ll go back to Iraq. As soon as they'€™ll let
me."€

He didn'€™t seem stupid to me. He seemed honorable, dedicated, professional and proud. And eager to do more for his country.

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also published at: Peace and Freedom