News-Record.com

The letter is right to a point. Soldiers are there to protect their country & project power to accomplish national purposes. They are a form of diplomacy. North Korean soldiers have the same mission for their country. When our soldiers are put in the position of our defending our country they have the added edge of defending something special. When they truly are there to defend freedom they have more motivation than any soldier in the world.

I agree with Wayne that we should "send them to protect the freedoms that we enjoy". We romanticize war to rationalize putting people into irrational situations. It's hard to rationalize that our being in Iraq is protecting the "freedoms that we enjoy" but that thought has to be a comfort for all concerned.

Far be it for me to ruin a homecoming. God bless Travis.

Wayne and Travis, I don't know if you read the blogs but if you do:

Travis, I'm glad to have you home, but I'm glad you chose to go.

Wayne, thank you, too. Children learn from the parents. You have every reason to be proud.

God bless you both.

Roger

Travis, let me add my thanks for your brave sacrifice. Your father is right to be very proud! We enjoy our freedoms because you, and millions of soldiers like you, answered the call to battle when directed by your commanding officers. Naturally, your batallion did not gather to debate the merits of the Iraq war and vote on whether or not to pack up and go. The military cannot and does not work like that. You depend on us, the civilian population to scrutinize any call to war by your commander-in-chief.

Regretably, Travis, Americans did not live up to that solemn responsibility in 2002 and 2003. While you may be fully supportive of the mission for which you faced death, you may or may not continue to feel that way as you process more information about that war. Whichever way you ultimately feel, please accept my apology on behalf of the American population for not verifying the necessity of the Iraq invasion before supporting our government's order to send you into battle.

Wayne, I know you are proud of your son, Travis. As an American, I'm proud of both of you. Both of you made sacrifices, most protected American could never comprehend or even come close to understanding.
Travis will remember combat for all the rest of his life. From this day on, no matter what happens in his life...the experiences he had in combat will occupy the forefront of his life.
I written and spoke many times of combat in Vietnam. So, I speak with experience.
Travis' family and his friends that know him well will have to morally support him, because it's very likely that at sometime in the future, he will have flashbacks. Things that most protected Americans take for granted, will make a combat vet jump out of his socks. He will never be able to enjoy a 4th of July fireworks show is one of them. And, there are so many others.
Travis, I salute you, your family, and your comrades. Welcome home!!
Here's another good thing for you, Travis. Your generation of combat soldiers come home to open, welcoming and loving arms. We Vietnam vets kind of snuck back home. The Dog's outa here.
Crime Dog

Put me down for being proud of your son too!
We should rejoice that he is safe and did not come home in a body bag, or totally mangled psychologically, and/or physically. The military has done its job wonderfully.

The politicians have failed. Bush lost Iraq by going there, not the soldiers for fighting there. The soldiers performed well and we are all proud of Travis. Give him a hug for us!

Hopefully the presence of the God in whom Travis has placed his faith will be known and he can readjust to "stateside" life without great difficulty.

I too am glad that he returned able to walk and not otherwise.

The one line that really caught my "eye" in this LTTE was this; "...all made in the image of God." Think on that when considering this comment; "He has fired upon another human being in a deadly confrontation."

Shalom

Congratulations on Travis' safe return. Also, thank you for his patriotic and selfless service.

Wayne,
Thank God for your sons safe return to his family. I applaud his service to our country and I welcome him home as a hero. He stepped out beyond the safe confines of our area and willingly offered his services to the country. That is huge in my book!

This is not a place for political discussions. Just a place to welcome home one of our own who served bravely.

Yes, I agree with those who recognize the sacrifice of yourself and your son. I cannot imagine how worried you must have been while he was there. A close loving family is a wonderful thing to see.

Thank your son for us for his service to the Nation. Thank you for this letter to the editor.

wayne & family,
as you can see the vast majority in these blogs appreciate and support your son's service to our great country, as i also do ( there is always one who would dinigrate and belittle your sons sacrifice and he knows who he is ). welcome home travis and Godspeed !