Never Forgotten
As an American I have enormous gratitude for the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. As an Iraq war veteran, I remember the incredible patriots my unit lost while we served in Baghdad.
On the fourth day of my deployment, we received word of an ambush on one of our patrol units. As soldiers from my battalion frantically loaded more ammunition onto an armored supply truck, I was grabbed by my supervisor to accompany him to the base hospital. Running across my base, I could not have prepared for what I was about to see. The hospital floor showed more blood than tile and every stretcher was occupied by a wounded soldier. As a trauma specialist I did everything I could to provide assistance in the hospital. We successfully treated and evacuated many of the young men, but the next morning I learned that two comrades who I had known for nearly three years did not survive that horrific night. Filled with both anger and fear, I had to say goodbye to my friend Corporal Forrest Jostes and Specialist Casey Sheehan.
Throughout that deployment, my second deployment and subsequent deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world we have lost many comrades, many friends, and many patriots. This Memorial Day weekend, please remember and honor ALL who have served their country and paid the ultimate price. Now is a time to stand united and proud of our nation and the remarkable men and women who have defended it. Now is a time to allow the opportunity for ALL to serve.
On that fateful night in the hospital, not once was there an issue of race, gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation. You're a soldier 24/7 and you get the job done. It is that simple. It is time to lift the ban on gays and lesbians in the military.
05-22-09 By Darren Manzella, former U.S. Army Sergeant |
2 Comments
Comments for this entry are closed.Betty Saenz in Austin, Texas on May 26, 2009 at 01.51 pm
Once upon a time African Americans were discrimionated in the miltary more openly than now. Anyone who risks their life serving our country, the United States, deserves to be honored.
Michael @ LeonardMatlovich.com on May 23, 2009 at 05.07 pm
Honor them by writing and calling the Commander-in-Chief and demanding that he fulfill his campaign promise and his “covenant” with those who serve our country he described at Annapolis yesterday and order an immediate freeze on gay discharges in the name of national security and finally “put the full weight of his administration” behind convincing Congress to repeal DADT.