Comments on: The Sacrifices of Our National Guard — For What?

By: jsbyars

jsbyars — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:09:05 +0000

wow, this was all real nice to read before I joined. would you guys do it all over again given’ the chance or should I just stick to life as a civilian?

By: Old Blue

Old Blue — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 03:47:33 +0000

Your article is not a well-thought or researched piece of material. Your statements about the Guard in particular are extremely misguided. Kudos to the two veterans who wrote replies. Shame to my fellow Ohioan. Young man, one who whines loudly about the injustice of an operation on which he is about to embark (and by this time has been committed to; the 37th is now in Kuwait and parts of Iraq… but mostly Kuwait) belies the claim of proudly serving his country. I volunteered to serve in Afghanistan, and I would and probably will gladly serve in Iraq. I don’t absolutely know that it was completely necessary to invade Iraq; but even if Iraq did not possess WMD’s, the stated policy of our nation is that those who openly support terrorism will be held accountable. Saddam Hussein’s policy was to reward suicide bombers by paying $20,000 to their families. That is direct support of terrorism, and that was all that was required. One thing that I know about what we are facing is this; this is a global islamic insurgency. Afghanistan is not the only front, nor is it the only place where you will find Al Qaeda. Oh, and BTW, that tale about the KBR plate deal is a total fabrication. There are head-count sheets kept, and it has nothing to do with how many plates are used. When you shoot your mouth off, please know what you are talking about. I would like to take you to the woodshed and tan your hide for your attitude, your misinformation, and your shame on my home state and my Guard. I hope that somehow the dedication of those who have gone before you somehow creeps into your soul through the contact of your uniform on your body and the boots on your feet and you grow up some. Good luck, Sparky.

By: Save-Our-Country

Save-Our-Country — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 12:45:09 +0000

I just wish every person in the country would open his or her eyes as to what is going on! That is crap to say that Clinton adminstration put our military where it is today! The Bush Administration is the SOLE reason we are in the situation we are today. I am currently in the National Guard and will be deploying in two months with the 37th BCT out of Ohio. I am not happy. I am happy to serve our country and to help make this world a better place. I volunteered just like everyone else, but I didn’t volunteer to be thrown around like a piece of equipment and not a person. I am niether democrat or republican, and that is due to what our government has done in the last few years. I am disgusted at anyone who says Iraq is being successful. When 9-11 happened I will never foreget the feeling of sadness and anger I had. I wanted out country to go after these “terrorists” and give them what they diserved. But what did Iraq have to do with any of that? Come on people, open your eyes and don’t let political loyalty determine if you say this war is good or not. Look at the big picture, more and more Americans are dying every day in Iraq, which is just adding to the number of casulties of 9-11. Why didn’t our entire military strenght focus on Afghanistan to take out Bin Laden and Al Qaeda? They were the maniacs who killed so many Americans and broke so many hearts! The war is Afghanistan is greatly overlooked. All we hear about is Iraq. The opium growth in Afghanistan is out of control and that is funding more and more terrorists. I agree that Saddam was a horrible man and needed to be dealt with. But how has anything we have done made Iraq a better place. Do research on the history of Iraq, you will be amazed at what you find out. Britain was in control of Iraq for about 60 years until 1950’s and they threw in the towel. About every decade someone has tried to sack Iraq and failed miserably. There is way to much diversity between the religious sects there. WE NEED TO BRING OUR TROOPS HOME NOW!!!!!! I do understand that one might say we can’t pull out because so many soldiers would have died in vain. So many soldiers have died alread due to the Bull-headed Bush administration! I am sick and tired of have “rich-boys” in charge of this country, especially one that didn’t fight or sacrafice his live in the Vietnam war. How can he have any idea what war is like. KBR and Haliburton have prospored way too much for flags not to be raised. For every soldiers plate in the chow hall the government is charged $24.00. And it doesn’t matter how much food is on it…… If you use a plate to cover a plate to keep it warm so your buddy can eat it later the government just paid $48.00!!!!! Wake up America. Lets do the right thing, since our Entire Government wont do it for us!

By: RTO Trainer

RTO Trainer — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 05:02:56 +0000

I’m, a serving member of the Oklahoma National Guard and there’s every likelyhood I’ll be going to Iraq with the Fires Brigade.

I’ve already deployed to Afghanistan in 2003 with the 45th Infantry Brigade and again in 2006 with the 180th Infantry Battalion.

I raised my hand to volunteer for the previous two tours, and while I don’t plan to go looking for this deployment I’ll cheerfully go if my name is called. The only reason I don’t volunteer is that I just got home from the last one in May and it’s nice to be home.

But there’s a job to do.

That is how we see our service in the National Guard. Yes, the day to day over the previous 8 years or my time in service before 2001 was part-time. But that’s not true now. Maybe you’ve heard; there’s a war on.

We don’t train only for emergencies that might hit our state. We are also a warfighting force and especially since 1975 with the implementaion of the Total Force policy, over half of the Combat power of the US Army is in the National Guard. GEN Abrams wanted it to be impossible to engage in a war of any length without committing the Guard. It worked. Especially when the Active Duty Army was cut from 17 to 14 and then to 10 Divisions of Infantry and Armor between 1991 and 1995.

Leaving aside your ignorant statments about profiteering, you should at least learn the history and purposes of the Guard before you rush in to defend what needs nor desires no defense.

We take care of you. Now let us do our job.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 00:14:23 +0000

I’m one of those that is being called up and just like your daughter we VOLUNTEERED for the military because we understand that freedom isn’t free and we have the courage and fortitude to actually decide to stand up to the evil in the world. And don’t even bring up Clinton, his slashing of the military during his presidency is why we are so stretched thin now.

I eagrly await my chance to serve overseas in this war on militant Islam and hope and pray that my service will help to destroy those that wish America harm.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 23:59:58 +0000

Ed
You whining about what the NG is not supposed to do is pretty pathetic. There is no free lunch. I spent 23 years of service both active duty and National Guard. At no time during my entire career did I ever think I was less required to be called on during time of war than my active duty counterparts. Why? Becuase it’s part of the deal and I knew it. Countless deployments and time away from my home, family and employer is what is I knew was a real part of my service, no different from my AD counterparts. The all vonlunteer force is well aware that the possibility and dangers of war are very real. The nametape on the uniform didn’t say National Guard, it said US Army.