See the "Letters To The Editor" at JDNews 11/11/15, P.B7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR      You don’t forget times like those

To the editor:  On a Sunday morning in Detroit, Mom was sitting in front of our big Philco console radio wiping tears from her eyes. Dad was by her side trying to comfort her. 

The Japanese Empire had bombed Pearl Harbor. I don’t think we were sure where Pearl Harbor was, and we had little understanding why the Japanese would do such a thing.     

   It hurt me to see my mother cry. I remember her tucking me into bed   that night and holding me tightly for a long time, finally kissing me and snuggling me under the covers. 

   Walking to school the next day was no different than any other day for us kids. We talked kid stuff and about our teachers and the homework they had given us over the weekend. The rest of the time we played in the snow banks and had snowball fights all the way to the school grounds. 

   Within the hours of that Monday, our world began to change. I guess the first thing I noticed was heavy dark drapes being hung over the windows of our house and the wardens patrolling our streets at night, looking for any house that may have a glimmer of light shining through their windows. As the days went on, there were more changes. Our military needed everything they could get, so we soon found   ourselves on something called “rationing.” New cars coming off the assembly lines were quickly gone and automotive factories were converted into tank factories or factories for building Jeeps, trucks, bombers, fighter aircraft and making ammunition. Neighborhoods gathered old pots, pans, metal buckets or anything else made of metal. We were always having scrap drives and paper drives as well.

   One of the memories that continues to live so vividly in my mind is that the guys we saw in high school were no longer around the neighborhood. Then one day they would reappear in uniforms of the U.S. Army, U.S. Marines, U.S. Navy or the Army Air Corps, now known as the U.S. Air Force.    

   We began to notice fringed, rectangular flags hanging in the windows of families who had sons, husbands, daughters, sisters wives or fathers serving in defense of our country. Each of these flags had a blue star in the middle. Each day as we kids walked to school, we would count the blue stars that appeared. The number began to grow, and soon we began to see silver stars and gold stars. The blue star meant you had a member of your family serving. The silver star meant you had a family member who was wounded or missing in action. The   gold star stated your family had lost a loved one. 

   One school day, we passed by Terry Wilkins’ house and noticed his blue star hanging proudly in the living room window. Terry was a U.S. Marine somewhere in the South Pacific and he used to play ball with us younger kids in the neighborhood. He was a cool guy. You can only imagine how crushed we were when on the way home from school we noticed Terry’s star was gold.

   You don’t forget times like those. My flags are flying high on Veterans Day and proudly as I say a prayer for those who died or may never be the same because of war.

   So I pray, “Almighty God, my heart is heavy this morning as I think of our veterans who lie deep beneath your mighty seas. I think of those bodies that lie in unmarked graves in the killing fields on other continents. I also remember those citizens of other countries who still honor our dead in wellmanicured gravesites. And I think of all those mothers who gave birth to our heroes and sacrificed their sons, daughters and husbands to keep America free. Amen.”

   Bernie Whalley, Emerald Isle     

War, sacrifice and America’s veterans 

    To the editor: 

   While we can all rejoice this Veterans Day that the steady flow of U.S. casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan has slowed to a trickle, we must never forget the incredible sacrifice that America’s defenders continue to make on our behalf.

   Such is the case of Master Sgt. Joshua Wheeler, who died leading a Delta Force rescue mission of ISIS hostages held in Iraq on Oct. 22. A veteran of 14 combat deployments, his sacrifice is shared by four boys who are now fatherless and his wife, who became a widow far too early. But another important part of his legacy are the 70 hostages who were spared brutal executions by an enemy that is as ruthless as any that America has faced. 

   The willingness to face pain and death so others can be spared isn’t unique to just the fallen. Consider the case of two American veterans and their longtime friend when they bravely stopped a terrorist attack aboard a train bound for Paris this summer.  Airman 1st Class Spencer Stone, Army Spc. Alek Skarlatos and Anthony Salder could have run from the danger when a heavily armed gunman boarded the train. 

   Instead, Spc. Skarlatos said, “Let’s go,” as the men ran toward a future that could have easily meant instant death or maiming for them and all of the other innocent people within range. 

   Fortunately, this story is remembered not for the horrific tragedy that nearly happened but for the heroism   that did. Even after enduring serious stab wounds that were inflicted as he disarmed the gunman, Airman Stone administered life-saving first aid to a passenger that was shot.

   The terrorist was carrying 270 rounds of ammunition. But because of the actions of these three young Americans, and two Europeans who assisted them, the death toll aboard the train was zero.

   There is also the incredible story of Chris Mintz. As others were understandably fleeing from a mass shooting at Oregon’s Umpqua Community College on Oct. 1, the 30-year-old former Army infantryman bravely confronted the gunman at a classroom door, as he attempted to save others who were inside. Mintz survived the attack and continues to recover after being shot five times.

   These stories are inspiring, but certainly not surprising to me. As national commander of The American Legion, I meet veterans all of the time who have demonstrated tremendous heroism yet blend in our communities without fanfare.

   There are many ways to thank the men and women who have served in our Armed Forces, but I cannot think of a better method of showing gratitude than to hire one. Employers who make this smart decision will usually benefit from the discipline, skills and loyalty that are found abundantly in today’s military.

   My old classmate, C. Hughes Clark, summed up the humble nature of most veterans. “I can say without regret that I wouldn’t have done anything different through it all, simply because it has given me a sense of accomplishment that I couldn’t have accomplished any other way.”

   Dale Barnett, Douglasville, Ga.     

 Editor’s note: Dale Barnett is the national commander of the 2.3 millionmember American Legion, legion.org. 

   A day in Novembe rnot only Veterans Day 

   To the editor: 

   This week, as we do every year, we pause to remember our veterans with parades, salutes and tributes. It is a pause from the day–to-day to remember those who have given so much for this country; a pause to honor those who have paid a price, sometimes a very heavy price, for the freedoms we enjoy.

   At the Department of Veterans Affairs, every day is Veterans Day. Every day we have the privilege to provide care and services for America’s heroes — our veterans. This year has been a very busy year for the Fayetteville Enterprise as we had the pleasure of serving 66,000-plus veterans. With an annual growth rate across the Enterprise of   7 percent, the coming year will be equally busy.

   We have had little time to celebrate successes before tackling the next challenge. Lest we forget, let us take a moment to reflect on some of the milestones achieved in our quest to better serve those served who our nation.

   I am particularly pleased to draw attention to a shared success with all of our community partners. Last month Cumberland County became the first county in North Carolina to achieve functional zero status for veteran homelessness; no veteran will be unhoused for more than 30 days, unless by choice. This is a significant step in the longer journey of preventing the causes of homelessness that may have been precipitated by legal issues.  

   Wit h t he c ont i nu i ng growth in the veteran population comes the need for more space to provide services and increase access to care. We have good news on this front. The Fayetteville VA Health Care Center opened on Nov. 3; a primarycare team is operating on Camp Lejeune; a Jacksonville community-based outpatient clinic expansion will open in December; a Sanford community-based outpatient clinic will open in January.

   The intent is to provide care for our veterans, in a timely manner, close to home.

   This year has seen a tremendous break through in health care with drugs than can now cure Hepatitis C. Some of our Vietnam and Korea War veterans contracted Hepatitis C through no fault of their own. Until recently, no cure was in sight. Thankfully, with the advent of drugs that can cure Hepatitis C, 265 veterans in the Fayetteville Enterprise were treated and are on the road to being cured from what was once an incurable disease. What a life-changing event for these 265 veterans.

   The veteran is the only reason we exist. We take this charge very seriously.

   Yes, it has been a busy year, a year of taking care of the true American heroes

   — our veterans. As we continue on our quest to meet this solemn obligation, let us take the occasion of Veterans Day to honor and remember America’s veterans for their service and sacrifices.

   Elizabeth “Betty” Goolsby

   Fayetteville

   Editor’s note: Elizabeth Goolsby is director of the

   Fayetteville Veterans Affairs Medical Center.