War at Home
A couple months ago, I heard Gen. Hal G. Moore and journalist Joseph L. Galloway talk about their latest book, We Are Soldiers Still: A Journey Back to the Battlefields of Vietnam, a reflection on how the war changed them, their enemies and the United States.
In 1993, Moore and Galloway wrote We Were Soldiers Once … and Young, based on their experiences in Ia Drang Valley. In that first major battle between Americans and North Vietnamese in 1965, then-Lt. Col. Moore and 450 men of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry were dropped by helicopter and immediately were surrounded by 2,000 North Vietnamese soldiers. The ensuing battle lasted three days and was one of the most savage and significant battles of the war.
Galloway was a young UPI reporter at the time, and he impressed Moore during the battle. “Galloway stayed with the troops at night and didn’t go back for a hot shower,” Moore said. “He stayed for three days and two nights of the battle.”
Moore and Galloway’s latest book documents their recent return to the Ia Drang Valley battlefield and their meeting with their Vietnamese counterparts. “We wanted to go back to the battlefield to close the loop in my head,” said Moore. They contacted the North Vietnamese authorities for permission and ABC News’ Forest Sawyer accompanied them on the visit.
Moore described arriving on the former battlefield with their enemies. “We put our arms around each other for a moment of prayer for the men who had died in that place. In the end, we shook hands.”
Moore may have been looking for closure, but Galloway had a different opinion. “I don’t believe in closures,” he said. “You never get closure for those who died next to you or died in your arms. You are charged to keep their memory alive.”
Addressing today’s military situation, Galloway argues that America is not at war. “The U.S. Army, Navy, Marines — less than 1% of our population — are at war, and over and over they are deployed,” he said. “They do all the suffering for us who are at the shopping malls. If we’re going to go to war, then it is incumbent to all of us to go to war.”
“Where does it make sense that 1% fulfills all the obligations of all of us?” Galloway asked. “In World War II everybody was involved. They rationed gas, they rationed tires. Who has contributed anything to these wars we’re fighting today? The widows. Either we all go to war or by God none of us go to war. Find another way. The best way to make peace is to maintain peace.”
Whether you call today’s climate one of war or something else, let’s remember the men and women serving in the armed forces as we approach another holiday season. Again, FIRE CHIEF is asking you to send us the names and addresses of firefighters, emergency medical providers, emergency vehicle technicians — anyone serving in the U.S. military this upcoming holiday season. We will post these names and addresses on our Web site for you to send a card or package as this year ends.
Related Topics: Janet Wilmoth, Leadership
November 14th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Janet, I couldn’t agree more. Joe Galloway is right. We sit at home, watching our flat screen tvs, go to the mall and sip our lattes, and we may buy one of those ridiculous magnetic ribbons that espouse “Support Our Troops”. That is our total contribution to the war effort. Has anyone even checked to see whose pocket that two bucks or whatever goes into? Here in Iowa, we have units deploying for the third, fourth, even the fifth time in this ill-conceived conflict. Hopefully, we have a man moving into the Oval Office very soon, who will bring us out of Iraq and restore some sanity to Washington. This is what I pray for every day.
Leave a Comment