The Changing Face of War

The Changing Face of War

by Joseph Kobylak

In my war, the battle for world domination, more than 10 million Americans served at one time or another.
Among the hundreds of men I served with, only George Keerwar was a family man. He had a wife and two small daughters. He, like myself, was caught up in the draft, six months before Pearl Harbor. Fortunately, George and I survived the battles we were engaged in, including the Battle of the Bulge. I know that I am a throwback.

To me, to put mothers and daughters into the line of fire is so repugnant that I cannot put it into words. The National Guard is a family-oriented militia to be used only if the United States were to be under attack and as the last resort. This president sought refuge in it when his turn might have come for active duty in his war. That this president would use them in a preemptive war is to show how vacuous and bankrupt his moral concept is.

President Bush prides himself on being a decider. I remember how he stared into space for eight minutes when informed that the United States might be under attack on that September day, only to be led like a bewildered sheep by the Secret Service to a safe haven.

For three days, no one heard a peep from this illustrious leader, while the mayor of New York tried to calm the people of his city and the nation. This cowardly president finally emerged after the all-clear signal was given, to take advantage of a photo op, posing with the true heroes of that attack, the firemen of New York.

I have seen men shrink in fear when ordered to advance in face of machine gun fire. I’ll never forget when I looked back at one of them and what he said: “Sarge, you can shoot me where I stand, but I’m not going out there.” His eyes were full of fear and shame.

My own platoon officer, who lay in a fetal position with his weapon holstered as we went seeking out the enemy, was screaming.

I was not brave, but I had a duty to lead. I understood their fear. I hold those men in higher regard than I do this president.

The family is the core that makes America the great nation that it is. To see this core squandered in a wonton way sickens me.

I am also disgusted with the rhetoric and name-calling against those who seek to end this senseless slaughter.