Soldier urges a united U.S.A (12/22/05)

(Editor’s note: The following letter to the editor was originally an e-mail from Sgt. Damion Claycomb to his sister, Wendy Haffner of Portland. In an e-mail from Iraq, Claycomb stresses that the opinions expressed are his own, not those of the United States government or military).

To the editor:

Dear Wendy:

Hey it’s good to hear from you. Everything is fine over here in Iraq. I appreciate the continuous prayers that you, among others, have said on behalf of those of us in the armed forces. I know we are thankful for those prayers.

I am sure that most of us over here or getting ready to deploy over here would way much rather be at home with friends and family during this Christmas season, but are also thankful for this chance to uphold democracy — even in a foreign land. I have spent five years in the army and have missed out on several things because of the army but I am thankful for the chances to serve my country in its time of need.

I realize there are people that are not able to pick up a rifle and join the fight, for we need people on the home front to take care of it and to support those of us in foreign countries where Christmas is just as foreign to them as we are.

But those who exploit the rights that my fellow brothers and sisters have fought and died for, just so that they can say we have the First Amendment right to complain to them I say good for you.

I feel those who hide behind the constitution then try to change it because it mentions the word GOD or because its a living document or whatever, need to get the hell out of the country and go where they don’t have the right to take advantage of the rights that young men and women fought for, still fight for, and will fight for and die for on a daily basis.

That’s how I feel. To hide behind the constitution and yet not fight for it is hypocrisy. All military members take an oath when they enlist or re-enlist: I (state your name) do solemnly swear to defend the Constitution of the of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. That’s the first line of the oath of enlistment. It is my job to protect it — a job I take very seriously and will die for if I must. I do not talk bad about my country or its elected officials that I helped elect, nor do I take kindly to those that do.

Those people that lost loved ones over here I do feel sorry for, but they disgrace their son or daughter’s name by protesting or telling America and the world that they died in vain. Well, they DID NOT die in vain. Soldiers do not appreciate other people saying that their friend or battle buddy died in vain. Also we don’t appreciate other soldiers who get out of the military saying the same thing.

There is a bond that runs sometimes thicker than fraternal bonds that’s in all soldiers, whatever the branch. We may make fun of each branch or job or whatever, but the loss of a fellow brother or sister is felt by all.

We take it seriously in the military and to say one died in vain or unjustly or whatever the case is an unforgivable crime.

I feel no one in the military ever dies in vain. We die defending our country, or defending those that can’t defend themselves, or, if you get right down to it we die defending those that are on our left and right wearing army fatigues like us. Right down to it, that’s all that matters — the person on your left and right. For we know that if we die out there we will not be left behind. Our fellow soldiers will do there damnedest to bring us home.

We are not forgotten in death by our fellow soldiers. We erect monuments to them and have memorial services for them. We mourn for them. They were our brother or sister, a leader or a friend, a compadre or maybe some one we did not like, but in death they are not forgotten to a soldier.

A dead soldier is more than a number on a media network. It is a loss felt by the whole unit as well as the family. It is someone we will never get to see again, someone we will get revenge for next time, someone who we will never forget ever. We will wear arm bracelets with their name on it proudly.

We will tell stories of them and we will fight for their honor and we will be victorious. We will not tolerate the disgrace of the American warrior by the American people if at all possible. I realize that there are those serving in the armed forces that do not feel the same way I do, but these are just the opinions of one soldier deployed overseas because my country asked me to.

This is my second deployment and if need be won’t be my last. I will fight for my country and I will kill for my country and if my life is asked of me then I will die for my country.

I love America. I love my family, and for their freedom I will give my life, my sweat, my soul and my blood, for our cause is just and fighting is needed. People ask all the time what did Iraq ever do or how is Iraq involved with 9/11 or why are we there when stuff happens all the time on the homefront that we can’t solve.

Here is my answer. It’s simple and may not make sense but here it is we are here for two reasons: 1. Because, believe it or not and like it or not, Saddam was a threat. Any dictator that will kill his own people then threaten the world is a threat that needs to be taken seriously. Saddam claimed to have WMDs. Whether he did or not is a different story, but he did claim to have them and that he would use them. Besides that fact he was in violation of several U.N. sanctions that the U.N. was too chicken to enforce (my opinion). 2. The Iraqis mostly want us here. You can tell that by the elections, by their smiles and their handshakes, and by the way the sign up to join their own military or police forces. Also by the way they work with the U.S. government doing whatever they can do to help, despite the fact that they face grave consequence if they are found out.

Many won’t even tell their families what they do or where they go for fear of death, and yet they persevere for their own freedom and the freedom their kids now have a chance at. Yes this is a costly war dollar wise and human life wise but there has never been a war that did not cost something.

All the wars ever fought war have been expensive. For example, I give you the revolutionary war (the one where we fought and died for our independence). If we had lost that war Americans would have been punished by England. People who signed the Declaration of Independence would have been hanged for treason and we would have still been under British rule. There were the naysayers in the bunch that said no, don’t go to war for what ever reason, but freedom is something everyone deserves as we found out in the Civil War.

The Revolutionary War cost many American lives. We fought against all odds against a better trained, better equipped army and won. Had we given up because Congress couldn’t pay the troops or when we were defeated numerous times by the English at the beginning would we be free now? Would we have the same rights? Would we be Americans?

War is expensive. War is hell. War is deadly. War just plain sucks. The sooner the American people realize these facts and all get behind the American warrior, the better for the country of America.

A house divided can not stand. We are a country torn by war and the world sees this and laughs at us. It is time that we unite under one banner and show the world that WE ARE AMERICANS and WE ARE PROUD!

“To defend the rights of one’s self is one’s right, but to defend the rights of a stranger is honorable.”

Sgt. Damion Claycomb

U.S. Army in Iraq[[In-content Ad]]