Veterans Day 2014

By BILL JOHNSTON

“Thank you for your service.” I was wearing my “US Air Force Veteran” hat the first time someone said that to me. My reaction was “Huh?”

I was in the Air Force from 1966 to 1970. A period of time the US military was losing about 100 to 200 guys a week. For those of you unfamiliar with the Vietnam disaster 58,000 Americans were killed. The closest I got was Taipei Air Station, Taiwan. I was lucky. Located next to Taiwan National University, me and 120 other USAF Airmen sat basically spying on the Chinese mainland. It was good duty and we had little fear someone was going to drop a mortar shell on us.

Every veteran, no doubt, has his or her reasons for their “service.” My decision was easy. In 1966 the draft hung over anyone 18 to 24 just waiting for you to become noticeable in some way. And most obvious was “not making satisfactory progress” in college. Fall below the 12 credit quarter average and you were reclassified “1-A” (first to go!). That was my motivation. And I knew the US Air Force did not carry M-16’s or slog through rice paddies in Vietnam. So when I am thanked for my service I put self imposed limitations on myself before taking such appreciation too seriously.

But I am a veteran and I am proud of it. I was always proud to wear the uniform of my country even when I did not agree with what my country was doing. Too this day almost all my best friends are veterans and from experience I know the term “band of brothers” means something. So when certain armchair generals and so-called patriots who have never served in their country’s uniform use events like Veteran’s Day to proclaim their dedication to us and our welfare I believe they need to be called out on it!

Let me start with the US Congress. They all “jumped to their feet and erupted in applause” when President Obama introduced Sgt. Cory Remsbueg at the State of Union Address this year. My reaction was “You bunch of hypocrites!” Quick to vote to send their constituents sons and daughters off to war, death and injury; quicker to send tax dollars to the military-industrial complex who contribute (i.e. bribery) millions to their campaigns; quick to ignore cost overruns on “weapons systems” that don’t work — but not so quick to provide for veterans when they come home.

Oh yes – and Congress is fast to blame others such as the Veterans Administration for problems Congress created. The United States is currently in a 13-year war that has never been paid for. Congress has basically raped (the prefect word for it) the rest of the economy to start a war originally intended to pay off big-time for the oil companies and their five-time draft dodging hack Vice-President Dick Cheney.

Never before in our history has this happened and veterans are paying for it. Veterans hospitals are understaffed and the seriously injured die before getting to see a doctor. Mental health problems from being sent into combat zones, time and time again, where you never know who is going to take a shot at you needed to be addressed years ago. The Republican House of Representatives voted down increases in veterans’ benefits last year until public outrage forced them to pass a watered-down bill. If the American people honestly “Support Our Troops,” as so many bumper strips proclaim, they need to demand a war tax to pay for war and all of it consequences. Meaning veteran’s requirements.

In 1975 Congress was made up of 70% veterans – today it is 20%. The average age of a member of Congress is over 62 and I am thinking ... that would make the average Congress member about my age and very eligible for military service during Vietnam. The same time my working-class parents had four sons in the military. Strikes me as if Cheney is not the only draft dodger hanging around the Capitol these days.

Congress finds subtle ways to screw over veterans. For example I am a “Vietnam Era Veteran” — not a Vietnam Veteran. The difference is I am not eligible for the same benefits as a “Vietnam Veteran.” This has never happened to any veterans before Vietnam. All veterans were recognized as “Veterans.” Congress cobbles together veterans benefits on the cheap whenever possible.

Another disturbing idea apparently has popped up from the congressional swamp recently. When Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was released by the Afghan Taliban after he walked away from his post five years before, the never-ever-served-in-the-military armchair generals asked, “Should he be negotiated for and allowed to come home?” I guess when you get captured, no matter how, you had better watch out you don’t do something to offend the chicken-hawks (no matter if you are getting the crap beat out of you!) or they will throw you to the jackals. I guess “Support the Troops” for certain members of Congress is selective and optional.

We are now in a new phase of the so-called war on terror brought on by the dumbfounding stupidity of the Iraq invasion. More money and no doubt more casualties are down the road. The other day President Obama told disabled veterans the country “must move heaven and earth” to make sure they get the benefits they deserve.” No doubt hearing that Congress would “jump to their feet and erupt in applause” had they actually been in Washington, D.C., working (they weren’t). And as a veteran I won’t hold my breath on that promise.

A term we used in the military, I think, sums up the US Congress when it comes to what we veterans can expect from them – SNAFU! As this is a “genteel” newspaper I will let you look the term up.

As for my fellow veterans and Band of Brothers (and Sisters), have a great Veterans Day! And maybe sneak into the closet and see if you can still button that Class A Uniform Coat.

Bill Johnston is a retired staff organizer of the United Food and Commercial Workers. He is a member of the National Writers Union (Pacific Northwest Chapter). Email wfjohnstonehs@wamail.net.

From The Progressive Populist, December 1, 2014