From One Who Knows...
>> Wednesday, November 18, 2009
I'm just a bloggin' fool today. I read this on Military.com. Interesting take on the current military from one who's been there and back. Retired Army Col. George Juskalian, 95. He fought in World War II, Korea and Vietnam and was awarded two silver stars, four bronze stars, the Legion of Merit and the Army Commendation Medal for his efforts. He spent 27 months in a POW camp and served 30 years in the Army before retiring as a full Colonel. He may not have fought in the current wars, but it's safe to say that he knows his stuff. When asked aobut his thoughts on today's current military situation, he had this to say.
"It starts with my anger at our present military policies. We have military personnel redeploying to theaters of war five and six times and we're not doing anything about it," said the colonel, his voice rising.
"We expand the Army by about 20,000, which is a drop in the bucket. But nobody is mentioning the draft. Nobody! Most of the country doesn't even know we're in a war! After eight, nine years of fighting, when in the hell are we going to level with them? How are we going to continue this all-volunteer business, especially for the Army and Marines taking the losses?" Yes, he said, because of a poor economy the military is meeting recruit requirements. But before civilian jobs grew scarce, the services were lowering standards, Juskalian said. "Who's kidding who?"
"I don't hear anybody at the White House, anybody in the Pentagon, any of these generals we have, anyone in the Congress using the word ‘draft.' It's become a dirty word! We can't rely on volunteer effort forever!"
He said he reads letters in newspapers from military spouses worried that loved ones are going off to war, again and again, perhaps this time never to come back, while they raise their young children alone. "Well it bothers me. Jesus Christ, I could cry," he said, voice growing soft and eyes moist. Eventually he recounts some of his own experiences in WWII and wars in Korea and Vietnam, not mentioning until prompted by Houston his two Silver Stars. Soon Juskalian returned to why he was there. "If it's a war worth fighting for," he said, "the whole country has got to fight for it."
"It starts with my anger at our present military policies. We have military personnel redeploying to theaters of war five and six times and we're not doing anything about it," said the colonel, his voice rising.
"We expand the Army by about 20,000, which is a drop in the bucket. But nobody is mentioning the draft. Nobody! Most of the country doesn't even know we're in a war! After eight, nine years of fighting, when in the hell are we going to level with them? How are we going to continue this all-volunteer business, especially for the Army and Marines taking the losses?" Yes, he said, because of a poor economy the military is meeting recruit requirements. But before civilian jobs grew scarce, the services were lowering standards, Juskalian said. "Who's kidding who?"
"I don't hear anybody at the White House, anybody in the Pentagon, any of these generals we have, anyone in the Congress using the word ‘draft.' It's become a dirty word! We can't rely on volunteer effort forever!"
He said he reads letters in newspapers from military spouses worried that loved ones are going off to war, again and again, perhaps this time never to come back, while they raise their young children alone. "Well it bothers me. Jesus Christ, I could cry," he said, voice growing soft and eyes moist. Eventually he recounts some of his own experiences in WWII and wars in Korea and Vietnam, not mentioning until prompted by Houston his two Silver Stars. Soon Juskalian returned to why he was there. "If it's a war worth fighting for," he said, "the whole country has got to fight for it."
Perhaps if this was truly "a war worth fighting for," then maybe the all-volunteer military would be more than just 1.5% of the total American population. Perhaps folks like Sgt. Butters, who have already sacrificed so much, would not have to sacrifice again and again.
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