Illinois Vietnam Veterans Memorial Vigil - 2007

This weekend I attended the Illinois Vietnam Veterans Memorial Vigil in Springfield, Illinois. This was the 19th year for the vigil. The closing ceremony included a remembrance cermony for Wesley A. Stiverson whose name recently was added to the black marble wall. It brought home to me the reality how the effects of the Vietnam War still lingers in our lives.

I was one of the original Vietnam veterans that started the movement to build the Illinois memorial. During the vigil I had a chance to see and hug most of the other veterans who were apart of that small group. Men who I have not seen for over twenty years. Yet the glow in my heart was just as warm as the excitement in my chest when we were together many years ago with a fire in our bellies this was something that should be done. An idea must start somewhere, it is usually within one mind. It was out of Mike Ferguson's mind that the idea for a Illinois Vietnam Veterans Memorial was conceived. In fact during those early years only the idea was clear. We didn't know where it should be built, what it should look like, and most important how to get it built. The hearts were true, but the lack of knowledge of how to do it was vast.

At that time I was Assistant Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs, a member of Governor Thompson cabinet. I took the idea to the Governor. He loved the idea and threw his support behind building the memorial. Of course, when the Governor's office gets involved things happen, people and money show up. Different ideas show up. The simple brother love that inspired the original idea becomes a project that draws government and politics. The idea becomes more than just a thought, it becomes an expression of the people. The original small band of believers provided the idea and spirit that are captured in stone. I am glad my name is not on the memorial, proud and honored to be part of the spirit that energized the creation of it.

America does not need made up heroes.

America is full of real heroes. She does not need to make them up. There are many different types of heroes. There are those that do a heroic act in war, during disasters, and responding to circumstances of accidents. Then there are those unsung heroes who meet the challenges of daily living in an unforgiving world for their children, for their future and hopes. The media does not make heroes. The media shows the actions of ordinary people reacting to extraordinary situations that create heroes.

In Vietnam during combat daily heroic acts kept most men alive. Someone who charged the enemy without regard to their personal danger, threw their bodies on a grenade to protect their fellow soldiers, or exposed themselves to enemy fire to drag a wounded man to safety. Acts done with no thought of being a hero but because something someone had to do at that moment to save lives. Someone who was willing to give up their life so others men could live. No thoughts of the consequence just the act that needed to be done. I was a corpsman with a Marine long range recon unit. When a man was wounded my only thought was to get to him as soon as possible no matter what was happening around me. Part of it was my training to respond, it was my job. Facing death continuously was not part of the job description. Yet, when a man yelled “Doc, I’m hit” without thinking I ran or crawled to him. I was scared, though fear screamed in my mind I didn’t hesitant. The need to help overrode the fear. There were times I didn’t know how I survived. No matter how often it happened, I was ready to do it again. To some these actions would be considered heroic acts, or just crazy, to me and men I served with it was my job.

Mother’s and fathers are heroes. They face a world everyday they have no control over to feed, clothe, and protect their children from harm. Some days it seems impossible but they make it to the next day to meet new challenges. They strive to give tomorrows to their children. The personal sacrifices, the pain, the suffering they endure quietly most of the time. For most it is their love and job.

America is who she is today because of her heroes. Some we know about, most we don’t. After most heroic acts, heroes look forward to a normal life. There is no hero’s life style. The heroic act happens at a time and place, one of many events that happen in a life.

Survivors are the true Cost of War

Why do we only understand the reasons for war, but not the total cost of war? Our thoughts are usually focused on the lives, the money, the resources costs of being in the war. Once in a while a single event will distract and the aftermath cost of the war grabs attention. Care of the veterans. Wars create veterans. If we are engaged in war the survivors will be veterans. I want to make sure it is clear what I am saying. Veterans are our love ones who survived.

Marine Corps League

Last year I was the speaker at the Marine Corps League's dinner celebrating the 231st birthday of the Marine Corps in Quincy, Illinois. It was sort of a homecoming, sixty-two years ago I was born in Quincy. I was embraced as a native son, even after I told them my mother took me away from there when I was 6 months old. I had several radio and TV interviews earlier during the day and the turn out was great. I talked about my background, the book "Lost Survivor" and similarities/differences between the Vietnam War and the war in Iraq.

Two years ago the Marine Corps League changed their membership rules so that Corpsmen were able to join. In my remarks, I told them as a Corpsman in Vietnam the Marines always wanted me around, so I was glad to see back home they wanted Corpsmen to be with them. I joined the Springfield Chapter. I was proud to serve with the Marines. I consider it a honor that Corpsmen are the only outside group Marines allow to be among them.

A great weekend lasted a week

My wife and I drove up to LaPorte IN last Saturday for a friend's winter party. The party was the next day. We checked in to the Blue Heron Inn on Pine Lake planning to leave Tuesday. The Inn was a comfortable, friendly place with great food and interesting people in the bar.

At the party on Wedesday we rode in a horse-drawn sleigh, watched people cross-country ski, and enjoyed a big outdoor bonfire. Mostly we relaxed in front of the fireplace, drinking hot mulled wine simmering on an old potbelly stove outside entertained by a D.J. spinning old but familiar tunes.

Then that night the snow started falling, falling, and falling. It stopped at 10 inches. We weren't going anywhere Tuesday. In fact, we didn't going anywhere until three days later. When we weren't snowed in there, the city we lived in was buried in 12 inches of snow. We finally got home late Friday afternoon. Our weekend lasted a week.

It was okay. We were not stuck in a snow bank. We were not cold. Our room had a scenic lake view, even though the blowing snow blended the lake with land and we couldn't tell the difference. The room had a spa tub and fireplace since it was our 20th wedding anniversity it was not a bad way to rough it.

Iraq/Vietnam: Some thoughts

These thoughts are from a combat Vietnam Veteran. There are some similarities between Vietnam and Iraq. In the jungle of Vietnam there was no clear battle front line, nor is there a clear battle line in Iraq. You don't know who the enemy is until you are attacked. The most important question in both wars,what is a win? What is America's expectation of a winning a war? America's involvement in Korea and Vietnam spilt those countries into two nations. We fought to compromise. In the World Wars there was clarity, there was a battle front and the claiming of territory was a win. In Iraq we now have to accept that just getting out is a win? We know that premature mission accomplished is not winning a war. America needs a clear statement of why and what is a win when going to war.

Getting back into the swing of things

I have not posted for awhile on the blog. Illinois elections, holidays (Christmas & New Years) and finishing a manuscript that I had to get editor this week has demanded a lot of time. I work for Illinois state government, so the elections results would have a great impact on my future. Happy to say, my boss got re-elected. There will more on the new manuscript in the coming weeks.

It was a very busy November. I had book signings and speaking engagments throughout the state. I was one of the featured authors in the Illinois State Library annual Illinois Author book fair. A great honor. Had the chance to spend time with other Illinois authors such as Scott Turow (Ordinary Heroes), James B. Stewart (The Call to Duty:Leadership in times of Terror and the Heart of a Soldier) and Kaylie Jones, James Jones daughter, showing of the film A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries.

I was a speaker at the Quincy, IL Marine Corps League birthday dinner and the Springfield, IL Marine Corps League Ball. In fact I joined the league, 2 years ago the Marine Corps League open up their membership to FMF corpsmen who served with the Marines. A small number of corpsmen are able to join.

I will be sharing more through this blog about issues such as the same and difference between Vietnam and the Iraq war. What is happening with our Vietnam veterans and those who are serving our country today.