(of whom I am VERY proud!!!)
I had the opportunity during my last two weeks at the Army War College to take an elective class. I choose "German Counterinsurgency Operations on the Eastern Front, 1941-44." The professor was a Ph.D. in history with an emphasis on the WWII Eastern Front. What can I say - fascinating!
My classmates, most just as familiar with the history of the German counterinsurgency as he was, would ask questions about individual German or Soviet Commanders and we would get a response that included background, family, religion, military experience, personality, journal entries and perspective. I was astounded at the level of knowledge and took notes like a wild man.
I'm honored that I can call my classmates at the Army War College friends. They are fighting, and dare I say, winning the war against violent Islamic fundamentalists...in spite of the leadership, bureaucracy and media challenges. But, as you know, there is still time to loose this war. One dramatic experience I came away with was the optimism that these fighters have about what is happening in Iraq. We have the potential to make a difference. We are on the cusp of creating a good and stable nation in Iraq - it probably won't take the 50 years and 50,000 casualties it took us to help create a good a stable nation in South Korea. But it will take more than 5 years and 5,000 casualties. Will we do it? That is to be decided, rightly, by our civilian leadership. Just know that we can do it if we as a nation are committed and given the chance!
I want to tell you about a couple of my classmates. Jeff is a southern gentleman from Tennessee. He is a Colonel in the Tennessee Army National Guard and has command of a Calvary Battalion. He has served two combat tours in Iraq and is going back next spring. His great-great-great grandfather rode with Buford Forrest in the Civil War. He is a student of history and leadership. Soldiers in Tennessee line up to get into his command. He stays in touch with Iraqi and Kurdish Generals he served with previously. He brought moonshine to our party and generously shares it with everyone. He quietly sits in the back and listens to the rest of us run off our mouths. On his left wrist is a small black bracelet with the names of troops under his command that were killed in Iraq. I've invited him to visit Utah when he gets back from Iraq.
Mark is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Marine Corps. As you know, I have a deep respect for Marines. I've never met one I didn't like. At our social functions I was the designated driver for my classmates - responsible to get them back to the hotel. I explained to the Army Officers that in August 1942 (66 years ago this month) at the battle of Guadalcanal the Navy abandoned the Marines on the island when the Japanese fleet came fighting back. This is an embarrassing chapter in USN - USMC relations. I reassured Mark that the Navy would not leave the Marines stranded at any social activities in Carlisle...I didn't leave him stranded, and I think I did my part improving USN-USMC relations. Compared to last year, he seemed to be partying a little heavy....however; I learned that upon graduation he was leaving to serve in Iraq. Right now, Mark is leading Marines in combat.
Judy is an active duty Colonel in the Army Nurse Corps. She just received command of an Army hospital in California. She was able to share with the rest of us the unique challenges of health professionals that serve in trauma units in Iraq and Afghanistan. She said they suffer the most when children are brought in after a terrorist attack in civilian population areas. The terrorists specifically target women and children and have started to use them to conduct suicide attacks.
Dan is a civilian at the State Department in charge of their information technology. His daughter just finished her plebe year at the Naval Academy. I tried to provide all the Navy support I could - but it wasn't really necessary. He already has more Navy paraphernalia than I do.
Maria returned from Iraq last year. She had command of troops that were supporting the training of Iraqi police and army officers. She has two teenage children and has decided to join the reserves and stay at home as much as possible. I admire her devotion to her family, her values and her dedication to her Church. She was able to invite a civilian co-worker to our class for the last couple of days. Maria worked with her while in Iraq. This lady works for the State of New York Port Authority and was in the Trade Center when it was hit on 9/11/2001. Many of her co-workers were killed that day. She evacuated after the hit, and then she decided to re-enter the burning building and rescued a couple of people before it collapsed. Her time in Iraq was as a civilian and she said that she felt civilians needed to do more to help the military in the war against violent Islamic fundamentalists. She is an amazing woman.
For some reason, the south has always provided a disproportionate number of officers and soldiers to the United States military. Scottie is a big, smiling Colonel from the North Carolina National Guard. He will be a General soon. He served in Afghanistan doing detainee operations - holding and interrogating the bad guys. His perspective on that mission was very interesting; he is trained to watch body language and perceive the thoughts and motivations of people. In his civilian job he is a senior police investigator, and like most cops I've known, he was calm, down to earth and generally a good guy. One day, however, he uncharacteristically snapped at one of the other people in class. It was startling. Later in the afternoon he apologized for his outburst. He said he had just received word that a close friend of his in the North Carolina State Police had been shot in the back of the head and killed by a petty criminal at a convenience store. Iraq is not the only violent place with problems.
What did I learn at the Army War College? It is all about the people. Weak, bad individuals will take advantage of the chaos of war and become part of the problem. Strong, capable and bad people impose war on others. The United States is far from perfect, but we are the good guys. We must fight the strong, capable and bad people. We have to keep the weak, bad people out of the fight. The United States Military is a tool of our civilian leadership - Congress and the media are not the enemy, they provide the necessary checks to too much power. It is not easy for someone to lower himself into the hell of war and remain good - but we try very hard to do just that. My friends are the good guys, they are fighting...again...for the freedom of others and to defend their family, their nation and their Constitution. I'm honored to have such friends.
(I am privledged and honored to add such heart-felt, thoughtful, important thoughts and opionions mixed with ideas, to my very humble blog. I hope that Joe will contribute again, and soon!! The patriotic, grateful side of me loves it when I can learn something from my brillant and wise brother. God Bless America and its citizens. God bless these devoted people who love and serve our country. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for these service men and women!!!)
