Veteran's Day is almost here and it’s time to honor veterans… ALL veterans. It bothers me when I hear some veterans make apologies for not being a combat veteran, or if they were in a combat zone, they say they had it easy compared to others.
I want to say to every veteran, peacetime or wartime, “Your service was important, no matter what your job was or where and when you served. You never have to apologize to anyone. You answered the call, you stood tall, and you did what the military asked you to do.”
I have a friend who was a crew chief and door gunner on a helicopter in Vietnam. He downplays his role, saying, “You guys had it much worse. We’d drop you guys off in an LZ (Landing Zone) and leave you there to live in the jungle while we flew back to camp and slept in a dry bunk and ate real food. Meanwhile you guys were wet, miserable, eating c-rations, and getting shot at.” Those comments came from a guy who was strapped on the side of a speeding chopper that often flew into hot LZ’s to drop off or pick up guys. He was even wounded. Everyone thinks they didn’t do enough.
That’s why I like the song, “All gave some, some gave all.” All veterans gave some. Some of our friends gave all and their names are now found on memorials.
Truth be told, most of us didn’t have a say in what our job would be. You may have voluntarily enlisted, or been like me, a reluctant draftee. In either case, we stepped forward, raised our right hand, and took the oath. Uncle Sam then decided our destiny. We had little, or no say in what we’d be doing or where we’d be sent. The army decided I’d be a medic and would be with the 4th Infantry Division. I wasn’t given a choice and no one asked for my opinion. The army decided, and I went where they told me. It’s like playing poker, we have no control over what cards we’re dealt. Each of us plays the cards we end up with and make the best of it.
I recently attended a meeting held in Viroqua, where a group of us Vietnam veterans got a sneak preview of the new Wisconsin Public Television documentary, “Wisconsin Vietnam War Stories.” The premier showing will be next May at Lambeau Field, where all Wisconsin veterans, family members, and friends are invited to attend. After the premier it will be shown on Wisconsin Public Television. The documentary is still in the editing process.
The veterans in attendance at the sneak preview were from most branches of service and had served during the Vietnam War. Each had performed the duties Uncle Sam gave them. I looked around that room and every man and woman was important and equal in my eyes.
We all think our branch of service, our unit, our MOS (job), our area of operation, was the best and toughest. It’s always been that way and always will be. That’s part of the pride of having served. But when push comes to shove, we’re all united as one. We’re a band of brothers and sisters. Yes, sisters too. I have some army nurse friends who would kick my butt if I didn’t include them. Diane Carlson Evans and Alice Plautz saw more blood and the destruction of war than anyone can ever imagine. And then there’s my mother’s cousin, Evelyn Schye from Cashton, who served in the army during World War II, along with three of her brothers. One was killed. Yes, all gave some, and some gave all.
All branches of service are important. Many infantrymen owe their lives to the Navy vets who were aboard ships offshore and provided firepower when they needed it. Air Force vets who often served on bases far removed from the fighting, loaded bombs that would be delivered by pilots. Many of us are still alive today because of their help.
Doctors, nurses, and medics assigned to hospitals, dealt with the daily carnage of war and tried to save everyone. There are a lot fewer names on The Wall because of their efforts. Cooks kept everyone fed so they’d be able to fight. Truck drivers kept the supplies rolling. Engineers built roads, buildings, and bridges. They were often the first ones in to clear an LZ, and the last ones out after blowing up what was left behind. Clerks kept the records straight and the payroll running or there would be no record of what everyone did. Others kept the supplies, equipment, and personnel moving and made sure they were delivered where needed, often in the midst of a battle. Every job was important and vital to the overall effort.
When someone asks if you’re a combat veteran, where do you draw the line? I consider everyone who served in a combat zone a combat veteran, whether they ever fired a shot or not. I treated infantrymen, engineers, cooks, clerks, truck drivers, tank personnel, officers, enlisted men, women, children, and all colors of skin. War doesn’t make any distinctions. Everyone becomes a combatant. Everyone bleeds the same color blood.
Everyone’s important. I don’t want to hear any veteran apologize for their role while I’m around. We all gave some, some gave all.
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