Support of our troops has increased recently according to numbers of hits on Facebook and elsewhere and in the news. We know the numbers of our active military personnel have been drastically cut even in the face of growing warfare and fanatical Muslim groups attacking and taking towns and territories in Iran and other hot spots, plus one hit recently made in America. Today’s military personnel face frequent deployments and are repeatedly placed in harm’s way. Now the threat of another massacre in the United States is feared and for good reason.
In my overseas tours to Korea and Vietnam I experienced the ups and downs of serving in a far off country and eating chow hall food. As I served on permanent posts with wooden buildings or Quonset huts I escaped living in tents or bunkers and eating the rations of front line troops. I was never one to make light of those doing the real fighting and having to live day and night in the raw elements over prolonged periods. Some of our troops today face hostile action at any moment and face the harsh environments of deserts, high mountains and jungles.
In combat or harsh climates and conditions, troops face particular stress during the holidays. We begin to long even more for home and loved ones. As we talked of home we often shared stories of our families and backgrounds. The Christmas songs we heard also brought a stronger yearning for home and normal surroundings.
The overworking or mistreatment of our troops reminds me that we felt such problems in Korea. In Vietnam I was in charge of two post offices, one at II Corps compound, near Pleiku, and another at Camp Holloway, a helicopter and resupply base a few miles away. We were often required to work all day and all night, especially near holidays as mail and packages increased. Again, we knew some danger from time to time but were aware of the much greater sacrifice of combat troops.
I thought of the effect on our morale in Vietnam when a caring group of ladies from Anchorage, Alaska got our address and sent a package to our little detached unit at II Corps. The gift was not of great value yet was a grand four or five layer chocolate cake with a nice card in the box stating the ladies appreciated our service and we were not forgotten. The box sat on top of a filing cabinet and we ate slices of the cake for several days. As we ate more into the cake a gaping hole in the back side of the cake was revealed that clearly indicated rats were enjoying our cake, too. Luckily none of us came down with the plague! We still appreciated the present and all of us signed a letter thanking the ladies for it but did not spoil the news by telling how rats also enjoyed their delicious cake.
Individuals and groups today still pick out units and send gifts. Colleges, schools and organizations also reach out to support our military personnel. Above all, those active duty and veterans in hospitals or care homes should be remembered. Along with gifts, cards and letters a lot of praying will help.
As we look to the year ahead, may we resolve to show our servicemen and women they’re not forgotten. Make time for them and thank them for their service. Let them know you appreciate their sacrifice and that of their families. Buy a meal, send a card or care package, visit veterans in nursing homes and hospitals and find ways to help them. It’s not too much to ask when you consider all they have given to us.
God bless our troops!
