Vets' View
With Tony Fialkowski & Marnie Mowles
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I have a son in the war, so I am a scared, worried Mom.
Saying this, I pray we win.
The men that are there, sacrifice so much for the USA. They deserve to win. They deserve to win for the Viet Nam Vets and World War 11 Vets...and all the past soldiers that yearned to hear "Thank you for standing in front of us".
No, we didn't know the Iranians would be invading too...and it is a mess to get out of.
But, America has always stood up for the protection against tyrants that destroy humans.
We didn't realize the tribes of Iraq were not like the Catholics and Baptist....I've yet to see a Methodist chase after a Lutheran with a knife or machine gun.
From what my son has told me...the Iraq people have no clue. They have been down trodden and whipped into submission for so long, they are a beaten society.
How long does it take a child to recover from abuse? Maybe never, but I do believe these people are beginning to realize their futures. The problem, once again, would be Iran and Russia.
I know President Bush went into this war for many reasons. But as I recall, the media was constantly showing pictures of mass graves, tortures, and finally the gassing of thousands of Kurds. Kurds, the tribe we begged to help us over turn Saddam in the Gulf War, with the promise of protecting them. We defeated Saddam and left him in power. The Kurds suffered the worst of all tribes.
What does America do anymore?
Do we help or not? And if we do...Dear God let us fight without handicaps. A war is war...it's not play fair... my turn, your turn. No one else does.
I truly believe all of this comes down to the people elected in Congress. Recently, a bill was passed to support our troop with finacial aid...but the Democrats would not pass it without an admendment stating over 3,000 illegal aliens in NY could become citizens. If the illegal aliens want to stay...then make it mandatory that they serve 5 years in the USA military. (and they'd better be great soldiers or out of this country they go...with a bill for services).
I hope we come home soon, but for the soldiers...I pray our government lets them win with honor. They have done well and deserve it.
Thank you. You said it well. May God bless you , your son and all of our troops in harm's way.
Cpl Tony Fialkowski
Submit your comments or opinion here:
Please give your name and state.
Do you think we should stay the course in Iraq?
I think we should fight it like a true war ( to win it) not NAM style --a smack on the wrist and one hand tied behind us.
As the saying goes( Balls to the wall)..
Amen,
Ray "Spike" Hoopes
USMC Vet. NAM
Hell yes !! win, win, win...don't run like they made us do in past WAR'S..WIN IS THE ONLY WAY HOME.
I agree with Eugene Salvatore, The Media is very selective of the information it releases to the public. Although the average person cares and has their view points - They may not have all the info to see the big picture.
Semper Fi
Big Bill
Iraq is a mess and the Middle East is boiling over.
Securing the boarders should have been the first step, then forceable evacuations seperating folks by there idelogical differences within Planned Community Districts throughout Iraq along with forcing the leaders of various groups inside a building, remaing until they came up with a way to get along.
Thereby rendering the capitol city a ghost town, moving the capitol to an ioslated location.
All this should have been done before building a consitution, moving toward self government later.
There is no way to win the hearts and minds of so many people deverse in everyway unless you separate them by the 100,000, creating community security forces and elected officials with killing zones out side the community.
Since were not going about things right our service members are only securing temporay safety and long lasting peace will never be possible and a pull out only means the strongest in resolve will take control both in side and out side Iraq.
Unless we forceably separate these folks, our troops will continue to die for temporary safety.
That is if we give a care about Isreali anymore, because it sure doesn't look like we do.
President Carter, he's a trip, but he talked to them and then they screwed him.
If I become distant from the entire mess like others, then what?
We've been fighting and security is increasing but were not doing everthing we can.
If we pull out, then what?
Maybe it's time to just let go and hope the out come will produce a ruller we can work with through other countries and prepare ourselves for an offensive Iran.
I don't believe for one minute a small security force will keep the peace.
Recurting refugees should be on going and housing them in a community.
I've supported the cause and the surge and formost service members. Our government's approach I differ with.
Iraq is nothing but a hustle for the rich Republicans, like Cheney, who PROFIT off our blood.
If there's any doubt just look at what they charge us just for water for the troops!
While the Iraq Leadership hides $80,000,000,000 (billion) in Swiss Banks we GIVE them $80,000,000,000 (billion) of our tax dollars while Washington starves and steals from our Veterans.
We need to get the REAL people behind 911. Bin Laden, Bush, and Cheney.
Great web page Marnie & Tony!
Thank you from all concerned Mom's and Dad's.
Marnie I am not a veteran but as a minister of God I know that we have to continue fighting against the enemy until he is defeated.
So let us remain in Iraq until that nation is once more a safe place for their people to live and raise their children. And to serve the Lord.
Rev. Thurston Hill
Kershaw, South Carolina
Marnie,
I don't know for certain that we should stay there.I think we should ask the ones that we have in command and our troops. Don't listen to the news media with all the negativeness. From what I have heard from some of the troops that I have talked to. WE are doing a great job. And we should finish what we started.
I can't see handing it back to the enemy like we did in Viet Nam. We were winnning when I left there. But we just pulled out. We should have carpet bombd that place and kill the enemy.
Yes I think we should stay.
OlCBpal Nam Veteran
Dave Reid
Iraq was a mistake to being with and continues to be as it robs us of finances and freeedom of action. Itis nonsense to say that Iraq would have attacked us.
Ray Peck
Yes if we don't stay the course we will be back there.
David L. Thorson
Of course we should.
We should fight every battle to win!, and stay until it is won. Bless your sweet heart.
Paul Bray
Yes, we must not Iraq fall, because Iran would then walk in and become the major player in the middle east. That would definitely destabilize the whole region.
DustyWilliams-MT
We SHOULD stay the course in IRAQ
Pat Burris
Yes, I think we should stay the course in Iraq,but it's also past time that the Iraqis started providing more of the security for their own country and we started reducing the number of our troops there. As long as we do the bulk of the security work there, they will let us.
As much as I want to see ALL our troops brought home, I also don't want to see Iraq fall into a war between the Shites, Sunnis and Kurds as soon as we leave either. We have stablizedAnbar
province,home of Fallujah and Ramadi and at one time the most unstable region in the country. The terrorists are now operating in other areas of the country,but not on the same scale that they once did in Anbar province.
So we are winning,no matter what the biased media would have us think. But the job is not
completed yet and I feel if we leave before it is, that Iraq will become much more dangerous to not just the Middle East but to the world.
Chris Spencer
Hello:
YES! We must stay the course in Iraq. We are making progress and our Troops deserve our support. It would be very unwise to pull-out now and go backwards. Many good things are happening as a result of our presence.
Emery McClendon
Yes, may I remind you....we haveWest point, Anapolis,and the Airforce Academy...All study war and battles so our Military knows what they are doing....civilians should listen to them!!!
Eugene Salvatore
Stay the course,we have to,we didn't in Nam. All those KIA,WIA,and MIA for nothing, let’s start finishing what we start. In fact, let’s do it right; if it’s a WAR, then let’s treat it like a war,and start doing it right.
Steve Dunkin
I think we need a different approach in Iraq...
Coby Moore
Hi Marnie,
I'm on my 3rd tour here and I can tell you, "YES"! There is some amazing progress here and this place not anything like it was in 2004 and 2005 when I was here the first time! I can talk about this for hours, but the bottom line is this: There is A LOT on the line here if we don't stay the course.. I'll be home in 25 days & #61514;
Gary Walker CWO4 USMC
Gary!!! So good to hear from you! We know y'all are doing a n excellent job over there! Keep up the good work. You're in our thoughts and prayers always.
Should we stay the course in Iraq..First what course are we on in Iraq?? When we went into Iraq in the first place it was not done right..The borders should of been sealed shut nothing in and nothing out..That way we would of know what we got to deal with..Next we should of occupied the country that way again we could of sort out what was good and what was bad..Instead for the past 6 years were playing cat and mouse with bad people and getting no where fast..If were going to fight a war then lets fight the war the right way..If we fought the war the right way it would of been over by now.. Yankee Trader
Staying the course in Iraq at the present time makes no sense..Only thing were doing is bouncing around the country like a yoyo..This war in Iraq was not done right from the beginning and it steadly going mowhere..Do we need to win the war in Iraq..Yes we do..However..Like Viet Nam the politicians are directing the war not the military..You want to win a war you got to let the military win it by any means necessary..I really thought we learned our lesson in Viet Nam but I guess we didn't..One and only thing we got to be thankful for in this war is our dead and wounded is nowhere as near as Viet Nam..So next time you vote.. Vote for the one that wants to win this war...TOE JAM
About "change."
Years ago, there was an old tale in the Marine Corps about a lieutenant who inspected his Marines and told the "Gunny" that the men smelled bad.
The lieutenant suggested that they change their underwear.
The "Gunny" responded, "Aye, Aye, Sir. I'll see to it
immediately." He went into the tent and said,
"The lieutenant thinks you guys smell bad, and he wants you to
change your underwear.
Smith, you change with Jones; McCarthy, you change with Witkowskie;
Brown, you change with Schultz..... Change, now, get on with it!"
The moral of the story:
A candidate may promise change in Washington , but the stink will
remain. TOE JAM
Other than my son being born,the proudest day of my life was February 27 1985..The day I graduated from Parris Island Marine Corps Boot Camp.
PLT.3015 3RDBN I CO.
Robby Terrill,Berea KY.
My life and world would never be the same...
MCRD plt 2206 1/4 viet-nam 68-69
Jack A.Kinser{capt.Kangaroo}
I arrived at Parris Island at oh dark thirty on November 21 1975. I had grown up in a Marine Corps family (Dad did 32 years) and I thought I kind of knew what I was getting into.
As I hit the yellow foot prints I felt both pride that many, many Marines had stood there before me and scared crapless that I might fail to live up to the standards set by those Marines. I felt honored that I was going to do what they had done before me and that many more would do behind me. I made it through boot camp and served four years active duty and four years inactive reserve.
Tom Truesdale
Corporal USMC
Bravo Company 2nd Tank Battlaion
2nd Marine Division
1975-1979
I felt....."What the hell?!!
Doug Smith
USMC 1963-69
D.R. 1965
Vietnam 1965-66
I felt scared and proud, excited and worried, I knew in my heart of hearts I was undertaking the biggest and toughest challange of my life. Scared? Hell yes I was scared, but more proud of the Marines that had come before me andknowing that in a few hard weeks I would become one.
I was excited because the Marines were the elite of all the services.. They are the best and I so
desperately wanted to belong with them. I was also worried that I may
stumble, but I knew I would not fall. Not with my friends and family praying so hard for me. Yes, I did stumble, but with my friends and family sending me letters of encouragement and their prayers, I made it through.
Lcpl Duane
Casada 1st MAR DIV echo 2/7 SEMPER FI
“I'm a man”
A. Pat Burris
As the DI got on the bus yelling, “Get your Mother F... ASS off this bus,” and pushing us as we left, I said, “GOD this can't be true! I'm dreaming, please tell me I am”... No, I was not...but in 12 weeks I became a US Marine, one of America's best fighting men in the world, and I would do it again..knowing what I know now. OORAH
Cpl John Gariano-FL
The first thought was… “Jeez, he knocked the s*** out of that guy with his fist just because he was chewing gum.”
The second thought was,” Daddy lied to me.”
I had heard they would slap or beat on the boots at basic, and was a bit concerned about that… to which my Dad responded, "Hell boy, they don't hit boots. I was in the Corps during WWII, and they didn't hit us.” So, Daddy lied.
PS – He also lied to me once more in my life… When I got my vasectomy. I thought it would be painful… to which my Dad responded, "Hell boy, it don't hurt… I had mine done years ago and it didn't hurt.” Daddy lied to me again.
G. H. "Sonny" Hollub, Jr., E3, Lance Corporal… June 26, 1968… (is when I stepped on those yellow footprints)
The senior DI walked out, a long lean mutha F'er, with his campaign cover and wearing shades that reminded me at the time, of an Alabama State Trooper (you in a heap of trouble for sho boy), you get the idea.
With a voice as deep as the grave, and sounding worse, he instructed us that we had 3 seconds to get off the bus and on those footprints and 2 of those seconds were already gone(with alot of colorful language included). Guys were killing each other to get off that bus. Seems kinda funny now.
Anyway, my thoughts at that time, and I remember it clearly to this day, were that I was scared s***less and wondered what I'd done got myself into!
Proud to be a MARINE!
Fred Lowery
Plt. 1070
MCRD / San Diego
6/73- 6/76 E4
To answer that question....FEAR! That was what I felt. I am a SgtMaj
with almost 25 years in the Corps.
Semper Fi,
SgtMaj Scott Smith
"What did I get my self into" That sums it up in six words.
Thanks, Robert Perry-
Bill Cardone..CPL….'73 to 77….I was scared shit,and I knew ahead of time what to expect! I had a very good friend of mine who was a retired Marine school me on everything that was going to happen! All the training in the world can't prepare you for that experience though!
The first thought that entered my head was, ,”What the hell did I get myself into, and where is the bus that takes you home”? It was very shocking at first and I didn’t like it. I got through it and I am a better person for it.
CPL Matthew Cheney
I had just turned 17 at midnight. At 4am EST, I was standing on the yellow footprints.
I was a high school dropout that had lost his job, had a family that could give a crap if I lived or died, take a stab at how I felt....
Big John
What were your thoughts when you hit the yellow footprints?
