It is my belief that those that are entrenched in the belief that there is still a victory to be sought in Iraq, have either never attended a burial detail - or they continue to justify it because the loss a the soldier (marine, sailor, airman) is simply their patriotic duty, and ergo ... justified. Entrenchment for the loss, or entrenchment out of ????? entrenchment.
Personally, I, was a Sgt in charge and/or a rifleman (honor squad) on more than a few occasions (68'-69). The first one was for a Col. and a Capt. (seems they were both from New Orleans and died in the same copter - in S.A., accident of course). My C.O. was the attending officer - told me the wife of the Capt. was in the process of divorcing him (Cap was single and from Lousyana and hot as h__ over the widow - can't much blame him, she was hot - he wanted my advise ... rediculous as it seems, for some obscure reason I was thought to be knowledgeable about women because of my time in Korea ... you figure it out, whores mean knoelrdge?). Thing is Cap made us (honor guard) practice for like 3 hours (in N.O. - buncha Yankees biting at the bit to hit the bars on Bourbon Street) to get presenting our rifles correctly. One thing stuck - we were using M-14's btw - "if you can't pull the slide back ... fake it ... stay is synce. If it jams, it is more important for you to stay in uniscyne than firing the shot. Got that?" And, we did. So well, that after a few duties (burials) we were being asked to do the military honors for Marines. The Marines got to carry the body, we fired the salute.
Point is, I was inclined to attend more military funerals than I cared to. Most were treated almost like free money - we got paid extra perdium (gravy - away mission extras; motel, eats ... any dime was a dime for some). Weird as it sounds, people were volunteering to do it - for the extra $bucks$ - of course. I was a Sgt. making $312 a month clear (net). So why not?
Thing is, I had already seen men under tarps (or in body bags). At first it was a big deal (then ... no biggy), and then it became a matter that we were burying men (boys mostly) and so what - better he, than me. Men that deserved all the respect deserved their sacrifice (whether willing, or not of "LBJ or RMN" patriotism), men that may or may not have believed in the "plan", but believed in the nation. They gave it up for the nation. They gave up their own beliefs, for the beliefs of the President(s) that commanded their services, and did so out a belief in patriotism - a belief that Americs would remain the 1960 America they left. They may not have all gone willingly, but they are in the "WALL" regardless (and now all = a political message, of those in control of the wall).
It is a difficult thing to seperate patriotism from accepting the propagated line some times, but those that have experienced one or the other ought to be. Thing is, to not question = admitting they died for nothing more than the misconceptions of someone supposedly within their control (as in vote).
Most don't grasp the individual that perished, as much as their own ideology of the war they support. Again, attend a funeral and justify it. Without using the BS that created the situation, one ought to be able to justify their reason, without using patriotism as a reason.
In my experience ,we buried a man in a field he bought before he died in 'nam. We buried a man that was the only son - did have 5 sisters, and a father made of glass. We buried a blackman that was days from deros and weighed 280 pounds, thats Mother put him in a solid brass (I kid you not) coffin that as the GIs carrying it decided to join her son - they all but dropped the coffin. Mommy jumped the coffin at the grave.
Even I was given the opportunity to take a body home, closed casket. Lucky me. Try explaining to a Mom why she can't look ar her son .... because what ever is in that box is not the entirety of your son. God forbid that is the last thing a Mom sees as the kid she kissed away booboos. Still, imagine ... hour after hour a Mother begging to see her son, just one last time.
The worst experience, was the most perfect performance of my burial unit (part timers, weekends only - I mean we were Admin and Finance) - I was Sgt of the honor squad. It was for a Marine, and we had been requested by the family (believe it or not, a family can make demands about the burial ... or atleast they could in 1969). The graveyard ceremony was perfect - I mean, no unit in the military could have doen this better (Arlington excluded) ... it was exemplerary. After the shots are fired (and one of the guys did have a jam, that went unnoticed - or so we thought) my men turned in time and marched back slowly to the bus. Once reaching the bus they realised what a perfect performance they had accompished. Ergo, open up the martini glasses and celebrate (draftees, you know?). I was standing in the door of the bus - sorta gleeful about my men's performance, but realizing we had just buried one of the dumb f's (all DIs of the time said only those that didn't pay attention to them - died) when the father approached. I had just enough time to call attention, and shut up the celebration. The father approached not just quietly, but almost scerenly (sp). I recall saying, " Sir"?, and him saying, "that was the best, and the last I have to go to". "Sir?" Last son, had five ... three of my own and two boys I couldn't beat off with a broomstick. Gone now. Don't got ta attend any more of these.. Thank you, thank you, for doing such a good job. Means alot to Mom." [I might mention we had a black guy that blew taps that made me cry every time ... note: this was "white Louisiana and Texas").
Pretty much ended martini time. Woke the draftees up to the fact that the men dying meant something, to someone.
That maybe my point. Personally, i don't believe that one man that has perished under the Bushys means a damn to Bush. Words are easy ("..they'll follow us home"). Actions are meaningful. Atleast, LBJ signed (personally) the regrets to the families.
Thing is, maybe those that agree with this "minor" carnage of our military personnel can find a small realization that the loss of one soldier needs the respect of the man that put them in harmsway. Bush? Bush is just to prideful to attend a funeral. It would be like facing the truth of this debacle.
Fact is, those that are entrangent about supporting "stay the path", either haven't attended a burial ... or are entrenched because of it. It is the most difficult thing, I ever did, to conceed that all my friends that died ... died for something someone else believed in or wanted.
Should there be a military burial detail in your town (city) attend it. Especially, if you agree with the present Bushy policy. It may reinforce your attitude toward the occupation, but maybe it will make you realise the humanity of it. No Mother or Father wants their child to die without a cause. To confess ones child (the effort of 18-21 years) perished because of the ego of a man? Nah, ain't going to happen.
Thing is, a few friends told me about their body guard missions. How the first question from dear old Mom or Pop was "when do I get the check?"
We hear the stats. See the faces (depending on the political slant ... or PBS's "as the names and pictures became available"), and still some don't grasp the futility of it, or accept that the people dying mean something - more than proving a political point (which is all Bush is doing).
Attend a burial. If the first one doesn't change your philosohy of life .... maube the 20th or 50th will. Who knows, unless you think changing your mind is a weakness? Maybe you'll become human. Who knows, anything is possible.
At the folding of the flag, taps begins to play .... those that don't find a tear in their eye, feel a sadness in their heart. A son lost - a son lost. Need one say any more? Except we got a Prez that ignored him?
