This week I have been watching several episodes of The Vietnam War special on History. Those were some really tough years as we were bombarded on the nightly television news programs with pictures and accounts of what was happening a world away. Many times the tears have filled my eyes but pride swelled up in my heart at the pointless sacrifices that so many made for virtually nothing. The old adage "war is hell" is absolutely true for all involved at any level.
It all made me recall how very nervous I felt when the war erupted over an incident in the Gulf of Tonkin. I was on duty that night in the message center at US Naval Station San Juan, PR and stood there and watched the tty machine print out the highly classified message about how one of our ships had taken a warning shot across her bow. The duty officer made the comment that this may lead to a war we really don't want to fight. Being a "short-timer" (those with a year or less to serve) I spent the rest of that night thinking about what it might mean for me. Newly married and looking forward to civilian life again, I finally reached the conclusion that whatever happened I would continue to do whatever job was assigned to me and give it my best, even if it required an extended enlistment.
As the days slowly moved ahead and we received more and more information about what was happening, I became convinced I would not see Kentucky again for a long time. Since I had top secret clearance and worked in cryptographic communications for the Admiral who commanded the Caribbean Sea, I knew there would be a huge need for guys like me. But I never mentioned a word of how I felt to my new wife. I prayed a lot about it and just kept asking God to be with our nations leaders to make right decisions about the situation and give me the courage and commitment to do whatever I was called on and trust His love.
I was more fortunate than many because President Johnson did not extend any short timers and I was able to finish my four year enlistment and go home to Kentucky with my new bride. Although I served in the Naval Reserve three more years, the Vietnam War didn't really get fired up until long after and by then I was a college student again and already in full time ministry.
Over the years I have had the great privilege to sit with many Vietnam and Gulf vets who had a very difficult time with reintegration to civilian life and rejoin their families at home. I've prayed with them, wept with them, felt their pain and anger and done my best to reset their focus on the love of our true Father. There is much about the Vietnam war I don't understand to this day. But the same is true with where our troops are today. I only know that warriors can and will do truly heroic things for an ideal that is larger than themselves.
So I want to simply say THANK YOU to our men and women who ARE warriors and to all of their families and friends who make great sacrifices by standing beside them and supporting the honor those warriors defend. Being in the United States Navy taught me a lot about honor and even though we have some national leaders who cant even define the word much less live it out, there are many more who do. God bless them and God bless America. HALLELUJAH!
