An Open Letter to America's Solders from the Ranks

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

By TONY SWINDELL

http://counterpunch.org/swindell02072007.html

<snip>

How many of you recognize the name of Army Warrant Officer Hugh Thompson, Jr.?

I do because he and I stood on and flew over the same ground nearly 40 years ago. Like him, I left a little blood and a lot of sweat in a Godforsaken place halfway around the world, earning four battle stars in 11 months. Plus some cheap tin and ribbon medals made even cheaper by the good friends who never came home with me. Thompson did, too.

Hugh was a helicopter pilot who aimed his guns at American soldiers--members of my brigade -- to keep them from slaughtering civilians in the Vietnamese hamlet of My Lai 4. Spotting massacred civilians around My Lai, Thompson and his two-man crew landed beside wounded civilians to give medical help as the infantry company commander and others present kept shooting the wounded. Thompson ordered his crew to open fire if the slaughter continued. No more civilians were shot.

Thompson's story is critical because the march to a nuclear war against Iran has begun, and YOU will the ones carrying it out. There is no way to effectively "confront" Iran except with tactical nuclear weapons. Tens of thousands of innocent men, women and children will die outright or suffer lingering deaths from horrible radiation sicknesses. It will be murder, pure and simple. Look at the suffering around you and multiply it by hundreds...

[cgraz]

1. your comment

Tony,

As a mother of a soldier, this i can tell you.  I raised my
son to love, respect, and live by God's laws. Though shall not
kill.  The military trains them to be
"soldiers",,,,,there is a great difference between
the two.  Remember what a conflict they are dealing with, in
their minds and hearts.  It is not easy for them either.  

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

2. Thank you for your comment...

...and welcome to DU. Input from families of those who serve in the military is welcome and valued here. If your son is currently deployed I wish him a quick and safe return home unharmed.

In case there is confusion (you probably already know this) I am the poster of this editorial/letter here at DU, but I did not write it.

[jwirr]

3. All those immediate deaths plus the cancers later and the effect

on global warming from the fallout. Like in the 50s nuclear war is insane for any reason. But them our leadership in this country are insane.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

4. Nukes are the toys of madmen...

...There can never be a justification for Hiroshima or Nagasaki -- only lame excuses and empty rationale.