Guest Column

Troops, we appreciate all you do

By LARRY CLIFTON
Published December 23, 2007

Home just in time for the holidays, most of the troops were anticipating their re-emergence with a familiar culture that had faded from reality during their tour of duty. Blood would soon be replaced by cranberry juice, and weapons exchanged for presents.

American soldiers generally gain a profound insight regarding their culture after serving in combat. They understand the fragility of freedom. They learn that freedom is not just something to cherish, it must be preserved, here and abroad. They know full well that we do not live in one world, but that we live on a fragmented, dangerous globe where some cultures value their women less than a donkey, and life less than death.

Once the troops processed in and were finally released on leave, the circus began. A military charter bus carrying troops to the Seattle airport to depart for some well-deserved leave screeched to a halt on December's black ice. A group of protesters had broken through a thin line of MPs and blocked its path. Some hurtled eggs and rocks while others hurtled well-rehearsed antiwar cliches.

The bus veered sharply and jerked violently when its rear tandems slid into a roadside creek formed by melting ice. The air brakes moaned as the cumbersome vehicle rocked and settled with the front end on the dissecting road and its rear end lodged in the sludgy ditch.

"Keep your seats, gentlemen," said the driver. "Some of these people aren't as polite as the enemy you've been fighting, and they have a sympathetic media. Besides, more MPs are on the way, a lot more."

Just out the window was a camera aimed at a man holding a sign and gesturing wildly with his other hand. The man turned toward the bus and executed a middle-finger salute. His appearance was that of a vagrant: stringy hair and marinated dishevelment. His sign read: "The U.S. Military are baby killers."

A group of more aggressive protesters began beating against the wide front windshield of the bus. A wild-eyed woman spat repeatedly upon it, as though her saliva represented the unabated hatred that coursed through her veins. Several young men began throwing rocks at the windows beside the soldiers' seats.

A young Marine stood up with fists clenched. "What the (blank) is wrong with these fools? Don't they know anything? Where we been, somebody would've done shot them and strung them up in the village."

"At ease, Marine," warned an officer from across the isle. "You don't want a picture of you pounding a protester in tomorrow's paper, but the clowns that put on this show would love it."

Soon, the troops were talking among themselves, many swearing in disgust and disbelief, but mostly hurt and saddened by their hostile homecoming.

The MPs were eventually reinforced and a military recovery vehicle pulled the Greyhound out of the ditch. The bus arrived at the airport two hours late and many of the soldiers missed their flights. It was Christmas Eve and it isn't a stretch to believe some of them did not get home that night. The airport was being renovated and that didn't expedite the process.

It was Dec. 24, 1971, and for reasons I can no longer remember, I had left Fort Lewis, Wash., two hours early. My flight was delayed so I had time to spare. The sergeant who told me about his bus ride was one of those who missed his flight. I think he said that he was from Philadelphia. I don't know if he was able to get home that Christmas Eve.

Today, American combat troops are hearing many of the same well-worn cliches to which we Vietnam veterans were exposed. Perhaps there is a veteran somewhere around here who just returned to a country more divided than ever before. If so, please know you are appreciated by many Americans more than you can imagine, and we are thankful you stand between us and the forces that threaten our culture today.

Merry Christmas and welcome home!

Larry Clifton lives in Land O'Lakes. Guest columnists write their own opinions on subjects they choose, which do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.

[Last modified December 22, 2007, 20:33:24]