From my apartment, safe from bombs and bullets, I'm able to disapprove of America's current military involvement against Iran. But the men and women who volunteer for service in the United States Armed Forces don't have such luxuries - neither the luxury of safety, nor the luxury of opting out of a conflict that doesn't align with their personal views, and maybe fighting in a later one that does.
It would be ridiculous to think the soldiers who serve in America's wars have no opinions or feelings about the merits of these operations, positive or negative. This is one of the things that makes the job they've taken so difficult: they carry out their duties regardless of their own sociopolitical stances on the who, what, where and how - and especially the why - of any given mission.
They don't have the luxury I do, but protecting my luxury was among the things they vowed to do when they enlisted in the US military. Whether the current operation against Iran is of any consequence to my freedom is up to you and I to debate - which is, again, a luxury you and I have that the soldiers who fight these wars don't.
This Memorial Day it seems proper to list - and remember - the names of the thirteen known casualties of this current conflict. May they rest in peace. Their duty is done. Our duty now - we who debate and decide if it was all raving madness or righteous might - is to remember them, to never let their memory be obscured by battles of words.
Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35
Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42
Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39
Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20
Maj. Jeffrey O'Brien, 45
Chief Warrant Officer Robert M. Marzan, 54
Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26
Maj. John A. Klinner, 33
Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31
Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34
Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38
Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30
Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28
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| Photo by Elizabeth Fraser |
