The War or the Warrior

Supporting the Troops vs Supporting the War

A Memorial Day Message from a Mother of a War Veteran 

by Mary Geddry 

Being Memorial Day and this my first article for VT debating whether supporting our troops includes supporting their mission, may be as difficult to read as it has been to articulate. However, a recent event in my life has brought this issue to the forefront and so I begin by stepping blindly into the minefield.

For those who don’t know me I am a Marine mom. My eldest son, a grunt, served two tours in Iraq, lastly in Ramadi and was honorably discharged in May, 2006. Somewhere between his first and second tour I began actively opposing the occupation in Iraq.

While lobbying Congress to bring the troops home, I also lobby for veterans benefits, body armor and to end the back door draft. For two years I have stood on a street corner each week in an hour long vigil. Sometimes I mourn the fallen, those men that died next to my son and even those lives ended by my son’s own hand. More recently I have stood criticizing the administration.

For almost two years, citizens have stood across the street opposing those of us who mourn and those of us holding signs critical of our government. Some on that side of the street also disagree with the occupation but the rub comes always when we try to separate the war from the warrior.  

This scene plays out all over America. The veterans on the other side refer to the veterans on our side as ‘cowards’, ‘traitors’ and the inevitable ‘cut and runners’. The veterans I stand with refer to the opposition as ‘pro-war’, ‘flag wavers’ or ‘loyal Bushies’.

Today, President Bush noted that 174 Marines wanted to re-enlist, while other reports indicate that 95% of ground troops want to leave. All indications are that the troops are as equally divided or at least diverse in their opinions as those of us back home. So, is it possible for one side of the street to genuinely support all US forces regardless of whether they support US foreign policy?

Last Friday, our always testy but reasonably peaceful demonstration turned violent when a member from the other side struck one of ours let’s call him Harry, across the face with a cane as he rode past on a bicycle. Each of these men, both veterans believe they support the troops.

More than this, each side believes that the stance of the other side imperils our forces, ignores their hardship and suffering and diminishes their patriotism and bravery. As the Iraq body and casualty count grows, so grows the passions here at home that led to Harry’s bloodied face.

Harry objected to the coward label and to his credit resisted striking back at his attackers. Harry, a former Navy sonarman, speculated about courage and cowardice. Are the soldiers and Marines who want to exit Iraq courageous for blindly following orders or have they been cowed into continuing along a path they no longer believe in?

Obviously there is no simple answer to the questions asked above. One thing is certain, both sides of the street love the men and women serving in Iraq and I for one am grateful that the other side takes the time to stand out there each week. Perhaps our diversity can be supportive of a greater representation of those men and women in harm’s way.

About the Author:  Mary Geddry is the mother of an Iraqi War Veteran.  She publishes the MGX Blog