Yesterday and Today

Yesterday was a tough day…. For our Nation, our Military and for me personally.??It is just simply tough, hard, tragic, frustrating …. I could go on … to lose anyone who wears the cloth of the Nation.???So on this Friday, the day after…. Before the weekend, the 24 hour news cycle moves on, the political recriminations fly back and forth … and before we bury our dead .... I have a few things on my mind.

Somewhere in America today a dozen of so families will get that horrible knock on the door from uniformed Marines, Soldiers or Sailors informing them of the loss of their loved one.??Their son, daughter, father, mother …. I cannot imagine what could be worse …. Receiving the news or giving it….. I have done the latter and it is gut wrenching.???

So sometime this weekend before you do whatever it is you are going to do with your family and friends, take a minute to think of those families who lives have changed forever.??God bless them all.

To our military force who has done a great job under very difficult conditions.???Not just in the Kabul NEO but in the last 20 years of war.??Finish strong.??We have your back and support you 100%.???Continue to save as many as you can and get back safe.??Strength and honor.

To the young Marine who asked me one day, “What is it about our generation that concerns you?”My answer, “I am not sure if you are tough enough?”??Marine,??I am sorry for my answer.??I was wrong.???You make us all proud.???Semper Fi!

To our enemies.???You got in a punch.???Stand by.?

To our potential adversaries……..do NOT doubt the resolve and will of America.??We can be a great friend our your worst nightmare.???Choose wisely.

So yesterday was a bad day.???But as Colin Powell reminded us years ago, The sun will still come up tomorrow.”???And it did.

So as bad as yesterday was,??consider this.???In February 2007 after a year in Iraq’s Anbar Province I was being interviewed by ABC’s Martha Raddatz.???We were going home the next day, but in the previous 48 hours we had lost 14 KIA from a helo crash and the effort to recover the remains of the crew.??So my mental state was to say the least down and I was tired.

She asked me, “How many did you lost in the last year”. The number was 314 with over 4,000 WIA.

My answer, “Too many.”

She asked, “What would you say to their families?”

My answer, “That they did their duty.”

I knew as soon as I said that, that it was not a proper answer to honor the sacrifice of all,??too include their families.

I later emailed her and asked for a “do over.”

This is what I wish I had said…..

First, I would tell the families that I am very sorry we were not able to bring them home.??But that they should be proud of what they did, who they were and what they stood for.

Yes, they are all volunteers, and they know the risk and we train them well.??Andthere is no guarantees in combat.??But I am truly personally sorry for your loss.??I take responsibility for these losses, and accept all these as a personal failure.

But I would ask all of us to consider this.

Imagine if we did not live in a place where young women and men would raise their hand to serve.???To take an oath to the Constitution of the United States.??To support and defend it “against all enemies foreign and domestic.??To bear true faith and allegiance to the same.”

Imagine if our Nation did not support and take care of their Veterans and their military families.

But we don’t live in such a place today …. And as much as we argue and express contrary views on every political issue under the sun, service to our Nation, in our Military and other forms of government, is still something valued and respected.??Our Military must never become part of this political rancor.

So have a good Friday.???Hopefully better than yesterday.??Remember the fallen, their families and those still doing the mission.??All stay safe.???Appreciate what your have and where you live.??There is a reason so many want to come here.??

Get vaccinated.???Please.

God Bless America and our Military.