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[May. 5th, 2008|12:50 pm] |
REALTY FROM A SOLDIER
This letter, written by a 22 yr old soldier killed in Iraq gives a
perception that every American should acknowledge. A huge reality check.
A Soldier's Last Words: Listen Up CBS, CNN, Cindy Sheehan, Al Franken by
Louisa Centanni
SGT. Edmund John Jeffer's last few words were some of the most touching,
inspiring and most truthful words spoken since the tragedy of 9/11 - and
since our nation went to war. SGT. Jeffers was a strong soldier and
talented
writer. He died in Iraq on September 19, 2007. He was a loving husband,
brother and son. His service was more than this country could ever grasp
-
but the least you can do for the man who sacrificed his life for you ...
is
listen to what he had to say.
Hope Rides Alone By Eddie Jeffers
I stare out into the darkness from my post, and I watch the city burn to
the
ground. I smell the familiar smells, I walk through the familiar rubble,
and
I look at the frightened faces that watch me pass down the streets of
their
neighborhoods. My nerves hardly rest; my hands are steady on a device
that
has been given to me from my government for the purpose of taking the
lives
of others. I sweat, and I am tired. My back aches from the loads I
carry.
Young American boys look to me to direct them in a manner that will
someday
allow them to see their families again...and yet, I too, am just a
boy....my
age not but a few years more than that of the ones I lead. I am
stressed, I
am scared, and I am paranoid...because death is everywhere. It waits for
me,
it calls to me from around street corners and windows, and it is always
there. There are the demons that follow me, and tempt me into thoughts
and
actions that are not my own...but that are necessary for survival. I've
made
compromises with my humanity. And I am not alone in this. Miles from me
are
my brethren in this world, who walk in the same streets...who feel the
same
things, whether they admit to it or not. And to think, I volunteered for
this... And I am ignorant to the rest of the world...or so I thought.
But even thousands of miles away, in Ramadi , Iraq , the cries and
screams
and complaints of the ungrateful reach me. In a year, I will be thrust
back
into society from a life and mentality that doesn't fit your average
man.
And then, I will be alone. And then, I will walk down the streets of
America
, and see the yellow ribbon stickers on the cars of the same people who
compare our President to Hitler.
I will watch the television and watch the Cindy Sheehans, and the Al
Frankens, and the rest of the ignorant sheep of America spout off their
mouths about a subject they know nothing about. It is their right,
however,
and it is a right that is defended by hundreds of thousands of boys and
girls scattered across the world, far from home. I use the word boys and
girls, because that's what they are. In the Army, the average age of the
infantryman is nineteen years old. The average rank of soldiers killed
in
action is Private First Class.
People like Cindy Sheehan are ignorant. Not just to this war, but to the
results of their idiotic ramblings, or at least I hope they are. They
don't
realize its effects on this war. In this war, there are no Geneva
Conventions, no cease fires. Medics and Chaplains are not spared from
the
enemy's brutality because it's against the rules. I can only imagine the
horrors a military Chaplain would experience at the hands of the enemy.
The
enemy slinks in the shadows and fights a coward's war against us. It is
effective though, as many men and women have died since the start of
this
war. And the memory of their service to America is tainted by the
inconsiderate remarks on our nation's news outlets. And every day, the
enemy
changes...only now, the enemy is becoming something new. The enemy is
transitioning from the Muslim extremists to Americans. The enemy is
becoming
the very people whom we defend with our lives. And they do not realize
it.
But in denouncing our actions, denouncing our leaders, denouncing the
war we
live and fight, they are isolating the military from society...and they
are
becoming our enemy.
Democrats and peace activists like to toss the word 'quagmire' around
and
compare this war to Vietnam . In a way they are right, this war is
becoming
like Vietnam . Not the actual war, but in the isolation of country and
military. America is not a nation at war; they are a nation with its
military at war. Like it or not, we are here, some of us for our second,
or
third times; some even for their fourth and so on. Americans are so
concerned now with politics, that it is interfering with our war.
Terrorists
cut the heads off of American citizens on the Internet. ..and there is
no
outrage, but an American soldier kills an Iraqi in the midst of battle,
and
there are investigations, and sometimes soldiers are even jailed...for
doing
their job.
It is absolutely sickening to me to think our country has come to this.
Why
are we so obsessed with the bad news? Why will people stop at nothing to
be
against this war, no matter how much evidence of the good we've done is
thrown in their face? When is the last time CNN or MSNBC or CBS reported
the
opening of schools and hospitals in Iraq ? Or the leaders of terror
cells
being detained or killed? It's all happening, but people will not let up
their hatred of Bush. They will ignore the good news, because it just
might
show people that Bush was right.
America has lost its will to fight. It has lost its will to defend what
is
right and just in the world. The crazy thing of it all is that the
American
people have not even been asked to sacrifice a single thing. It's not
like
World War Two, where people rationed food, and turned in cars to be made
into metal for tanks. The American people have not been asked to
sacrifice
anything. Unless you are in the military or the family member of a
service
member, its life as usual...the war doesn't affect you. But it affects
us.
And when it is over, and the troops come home, and they try to piece
together what's left of them after their service...where will the
detractors
be then? Where will the Cindy Sheehans be to comfort and talk to
soldiers
and help them sort out the last couple years of their lives, most of
which
have been spent dodging death and wading through the deaths of their
friends? They will be where they always are, somewhere far away, where
the
horrors of the world can't touch them. Somewhere where they can complain
about things they will never experience in their lifetime; things that
the
young men and women of America have willingly taken upon their
shoulders.
We are the hope of the Iraqi people. They want what everyone else wants
in
life: safety, security, somewhere to call home. They want a country that
is
safe to raise their children in. Not a place where their children will
be
abducted, raped, and murdered if they do not comply with the terrorists
demands. They want to live on, rebuild and prosper. And America has
given
them the opportunity, but only if we stay true to the cause, and see it
to
its end. But the country must unite in this endeavor...we cannot place
the
burden on our military alone. We must all stand up and fight, whether in
uniform or not. And supporting us is more than sticking yellow ribbon
stickers on your cars. It's supporting our President, our troops and our
cause.
Right now, the burden is all on the American soldiers. Right now, hope
rides
alone. But it can change, it must change. Because there is only failure
and
darkness ahead for us as a country, as a people, if it doesn't. Let's
stop
all the political nonsense, let's stop all the bickering, let's stop all
the
bad news, and let's stand and fight!
Eddie's father, David Jeffers, writes: I'm not sure how many letters or
articles you've ever read from the genre of 'News from the Front,' but
this
is one of the best I've ever read, including all of America's wars. As I
was
reading this, I forgot that it was my son who had written it. My
emotions
range from great pride to great sorrow, knowing that my little boy (22
years
old) has become this man. He is my hero. Thank all of you for your
prayers
for him; he needs them now more than ever. God bless.
Though Eddie is no longer with us, you can help to let his voice be
heard,
pass this one on. |
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