I've seen a lot of heartbreaking things in my time on this earth, as a soldier and a firefighter both, as well as just other circumstances. I think, though, that for soldiers to ask the following of their COUNTRY, is both a heartbreak and a disgrace for the people of a nation that should be showing their gratitude.
I won't use the language that comes to mind after reading this to tell those of you who want to see our military return in defeat, in surrender, exactly what I think of you and where you can go and what you can DO with parts of your anatomy when you get there. You're not worth the sand in the boot soles of our fighting forces, you don't get that kind of time and anger from me any more. As Terri Clark said in her song, "I've got BETTER things to do..."
To our troops in the field, and those in garrison or on board ship around the world, THANK YOU for your service from a veteran who understands and appreciates you and what you do.
America, Why Have You Abandoned Us?
Posted: 03 May 2007 12:20 PM CDT
By Gerd Schroeder
An open letter to the American People
My fellow Americans; what have the American Fighting men and women done to cause you to abandon them in a foreign land, surrounded by sinister people that are bent on killing them and all Americans? Are we ignorant that these people, who think nothing of killing men, women, and children of their own race, culture, and religion, will hesitate a moment if given the chance to destroy us, our families, and our freedoms? And they know that the defense appropriations have ended.
Where is the overwhelming swell of outrage of the people that caused the rather benign “Dubai Ports deal” to be killed in less than a month? Why have the halls of Congress and the Whitehouse not been overwhelmed by citizens outraged over the abandonment of our fighting men and women? Is the silence a sign that shock jocks, and dead playmates are more important to American than our soldiers?
While the U.S. politicians on both sides of the political spectrum have quibbled about timelines, a date for withdrawal from Iraq, and $24 billion in pork to buy votes, the American Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan have been all but forgotten. The silence from the people is morale crushing, and a betrayal. For whatever purpose we believe our soldiers have gone to war, surly abandonment of a hostile, foreign land was not one of them.
Over 200,000 American Warriors, deployed around the world, in austere and hellish conditions, are always in the cross hairs of evil people that are bent on killing them. Over 3350 have freely, and honorably, given their lives; over 24,300 have been wounded and maimed for us, for our families, and for our freedoms in this war. They sacrifice, not for money, education, and world travel- as some have suggested. They sacrifice their lives for their oaths to us. Their oaths are not to the President, Congress, or a military commander. Their oaths are to us. To the American People.
This is the oath of the American enlisted Soldier, Marine, Airman, and Sailor:
“I, (your son, daughter, husband, wife, brother, sister, neighbor, and friend), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”
The oath of an officer is similar:
“I, (your son, daughter, husband, wife, brother, sister, neighbor, and friend), (SSAN), having been appointed an officer in the Army of the United States, as indicated above in the grade of _____ do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservations or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter; So help me God.”
The Warrior Ethos:
I am an American Soldier.
I am a Warrior and a member of a team. I serve the people of the United States and live the Army Values.
The following are four examples out of tens of thousands of warriors fulfilling their oaths to you.
I will always place the mission first.
“Mission First” was more than mere words to Sgt. Christian P. Engeldrum. The 39-yearold firefighter from Bronx, N.Y., served on active duty in the Army from 1986 to 1991 and was in Operation Desert Storm. He returned to New York, trading his Army uniform for a policeman’s. Several years later, he became a New York City firefighter. He was awarded a N.Y. Fire Department citation for bravery on July 15, 2000, for successfully rescuing two people in a fire on West 110th St. in Manhattan.
September 11, 2001 was a turning point in his life on that day, he and fellow firefighter from Ladder 61 in the Bronx responded to the World Trade Center attacks. For the next few months he assisted in the recovery effort, digging through the rubble. Sgt. Engeldrum then rejoined the Army, serving with the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, of the New York Army National Guard. He loved his country, he loved being a firefighter and he was “100% Soldier”, said his fellow firefighter. Sgt. Engeldrum is the first New York firefighter to die in Iraq since the U.S.-led war began, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said. “I join all New Yorkers in mourning his loss and pray that his family finds comfort in the innumerable ways he touched so many lives.” Sgt Engeldrum is survived by his wife Sharon and two sons Royce, 16 and Sean, 18.
I will never accept defeat.
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863, has awarded, in the name of Congress, the Medal of Honor to
Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith
United States Army
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with an armed enemy near Baghdad International Airport, Baghdad, Iraq on 4 April 2003. On that day, Sergeant First Class Smith was engaged in the construction of a prisoner of war holding area when his Task Force was violently attacked by a company-sized enemy force. Realizing the vulnerability of over 100 fellow soldiers, Sergeant First Class Smith quickly organized a hasty defense consisting of two platoons of soldiers, one Bradley Fighting Vehicle and three armored personnel carriers. As the fight developed, Sergeant First Class Smith braved hostile enemy fire to personally engage the enemy with hand grenades and anti-tank weapons, and organized the evacuation of three wounded soldiers from an armored personnel carrier struck by a rocket propelled grenade and a 60mm mortar round. Fearing the enemy would overrun their defenses, Sergeant First Class Smith moved under withering enemy fire to man a .50 caliber machine gun mounted on a damaged armored personnel carrier. In total disregard for his own life, he maintained his exposed position in order to engage the attacking enemy force. During this action, he was mortally wounded. His courageous actions helped defeat the enemy attack, and resulted in as many as 50 enemy soldiers killed, while allowing the safe withdrawal of numerous wounded soldiers. Sergeant First Class Smith’s extraordinary heroism and uncommon valor are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Third Infantry Division “Rock of the Marne,” and the United States Army.
I will never quit.
Army Capt. David Rozelle, 31, lost part of his right leg below the knee in a June 2003 land mine explosion near Hit, Iraq. But Rozelle was not about to quit. While going through an oftentimes, painful recovery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, he spearheaded the effort to put together a team of other amputees from the medical center for the Army Ten-Miler race in October 2004. Dubbed the “Missing (Parts) In Action team–Some Assembly Required”–the team included troops from each of the military services… Article continues here: http://www.americanthinker.com/2007/05/america_why_have_you_abandoned.html
Gerd Schroeder is a Major in the United States Army. His views are his own. He does not speak for the US Army or Department of Defense.
On The Front Line Tonight
Posted: 02 May 2007 08:18 PM CDT
Unfortunately, there’s been a schedule change on the show. SGT Brandon Welsh will not be able to be with us. However, I have a special treat instead: CJ Grisham, an active-duty Army NCO, will be my co-host. Some of the topics we’ll be covering tonight:
Military Declares “Martial Law” On Soldiers and Families Blogging: Find out about the new regulations that target military members and families who have blogs.
Rosie O’Donnell opened her mouth…guess what came out this time? Crap. We’ve got the horrific things she said about our military troops.
Marine Lt. Nathan Phan’s charges were dropped. And yet, even though the government’s case was in shambles, they are still giving Phan an NJP. How is that possible?
The veto, the bill, the mess: We’ll talk about the Liberals who are hell-bent on destroying this nation.
We’ll also have some GOE updates for you as well! Tune in at 9 pm Central!
Once and Always, an American Fighting Man
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