Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for May 27, 2012

To all those who have served, and to the families of those who paid the ultimate price: Thanks.

We remain indebted.

Somewhere along the way this became The Great American Comic Strip. Maybe it always was.

I thank my two brothers, and all who have served our nation.I pray that we never again go to war,or put our young folks in harms way, unless it truly is the last resort.

I am writing this through my tears. Too many lives taken, too many live wasted, too many wounds not treated, too many lost souls. If you know anyone who is serving or has served, don;t be afraid to go up and give them a hug or at least shake their hand and thank them for what they’re doing or have done in the service of their country. God Bless America and the men and women who proudly and unselfishly serve her!

To all troops, thanks a ton. I hope we get to a time where we don’t need to use troops for war anymore.

Elias is right. Anything, anything at all, that you can do to help will be gratefully appreciated.

Well said, commenters.

Every little bit helps. My son is getting help now, about 32 years sooner than I did, and it DOES help. Yes. this generation IS seeing more with repeated deployments, and they DO need more assistance and support.

Here goes Trudeau, promoting his liberal agenda again…

Seriously, I agree with previous posters: Here’s hoping that violent combat will become a thing of the past, perhaps even in our lifetime. Iraq veteran Paul K. Chappell thinks it’s possible, and is devoting his post-military life to working toward an end to warfare. http://www.paulkchappell.com/

I just pray to God that my, almost-seventeen year old, grandson will never have to experience the horrors that we did. To his generation, it’s just a video-game. In a perverse way, I hope it remains only that.

Be nice if we got to a point where we don’t need to study war no mo’, but I don’t see that ever happening. That would require a complete redesign of the human animal.

I’ve lost too many of my buddies already, and likely to lose a few more. We’ll see what happens next year in the ’Stan.

Orion

They do not knowWho have heard not the trumpetsThey have not walked with Pickett’s boysIn the Pennsylvania sunOr lain with the Siberian Guard In the snows before Moscow They do not knowWho have heard not the trumpetsThough from thrones and parliaments They bid fire and steelBlaze forth between thoseWho might else be brothers They do knowWho have heard the trumpets beforeAnd now in painful tearful prideBid sons and daughtersFollow the trumpets and come home changedOr not at all They do not knowThey can not know, they will not knowWho have heard not the trumpetsAnd if you ask what they do not knowI must ask in turnHave you heard the trumpets?

And Please do not forget their families as well. Uncle really does not care all that much despite his words. It is only partially a joke that “If the Military wanted you all to have families they would have issued you one.”

There have only been slight improvements for families during the 27 years since my service ended.

My brother flew a chopper in Vietnam, I was a little too young.

Not every person in uniform goes into harm’s way, but they all serve their country. And many of their families, their spouses and children, use food stamps to buy their groceries. Contrary to popular belief, soldiers and other federal employees are not all overpaid. When you pay your taxes. remember that the lion’s share of the money goes to soldiers present and past, and to finance the defense of the country, present and past. Those who balk at paying taxes, sneer at those who work for the gummint and everything it does, and blather about how “their money” is being taken from them and THEN claim that they “support the troops” — are hypocrites. Flying a flag is the least you can do for your country — the very least. Here’s what Rudyard Kipling wrote about the treatment of veterans in his time. We’ve at least come a ways since then!

There were thirty million English who talked of England’s might,There were twenty broken troopers who lacked a bed for the night.They had neither food nor money, they had neither service nor trade;They were only shiftless soldiers, the last of the Light Brigade.They felt that life was fleeting; they knew not that art was long,That though they were dying of famine, they lived in deathless song.They asked for a little money to keep the wolf from the door;And the thirty million English sent twenty pounds and four !They laid their heads together that were scarred and lined and grey;Keen were the Russian sabres, but want was keener than they;And an old Troop-Sergeant muttered, “Let us go to the man who writesThe things on Balaclava the kiddies at school recites.”They went without bands or colours, a regiment ten-file strong,To look for the Master-singer who had crowned them all in his song;And, waiting his servant’s order, by the garden gate they stayed,A desolate little cluster, the last of the Light Brigade.They strove to stand to attention, to straighen the toil-bowed back;They drilled on an empty stomach, the loose-knit files fell slack;With stooping of weary shoulders, in garments tattered and frayed,They shambled into his presence, the last of the Light Brigade.The old Troop-Sergeant was spokesman, and “Beggin’ your pardon,” he said,“You wrote o’ the Light Brigade, sir. Here’s all that isn’t dead.An’ it’s all come true what you wrote, sir, regardin’ the mouth of hell;For we’re all of us nigh to the workhouse, an’ we thought we’d call an’ tell.“No, thank you, we don’t want food, sir; but couldn’t you take an’ writeA sort of ‘to be continued’ and ‘see next page’ o’ the fight?We think that someone has blundered, an’ couldn’t you tell ’em how?You wrote we were heroes once, sir. Please, write we are starving now.”The poor little army departed, limping and lean and forlorn.And the heart of the Master-singer grew hot with “the scorn of scorn.”And he wrote for them wonderful verses that swept the land like flame,Till the fatted souls of the English were scourged with the thing called Shame.They sent a cheque to the felon that sprang from an Irish bog;They healed the spavined cab-horse; they housed the homeless dog;And they sent (you may call me a liar), when felon and beast were paid,A cheque, for enough to live on, to the last of the Light Brigade.O thirty million English that babble of England’s might,Behold there are twenty heroes who lack their food to-night;Our children’s children are lisping to "honour the charge they made – "And we leave to the streets and the workhouse the charge of the Light Brigade!

TOMMYby Rudyard Kipling

I went into a public-‘ouse to get a pint o’ beer,The publican ‘e up an’ sez, “We serve no red-coats here.”The girls be’ind the bar they laughed an’ giggled fit to die,I outs into the street again an’ to myself sez I:O it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, go away”;But it’s “Thank you, Mister Atkins”, when the band begins to play,The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,O it’s “Thank you, Mister Atkins”, when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,They gave a drunk civilian room, but ’adn’t none for me;They sent me to the gallery or round the music-‘alls,But when it comes to fightin’, Lord! they’ll shove me in the stalls!For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, wait outside”;But it’s “Special train for Atkins” when the trooper’s on the tide,The troopship’s on the tide, my boys, the troopship’s on the tide,O it’s “Special train for Atkins” when the trooper’s on the tide.

Yes, makin’ mock o’ uniforms that guard you while you sleepIs cheaper than them uniforms, an’ they’re starvation cheap;An’ hustlin’ drunken soldiers when they’re goin’ large a bitIs five times better business than paradin’ in full kit.Then it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, ’ow’s yer soul?”But it’s “Thin red line of ’eroes” when the drums begin to roll,The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,O it’s “Thin red line of ’eroes” when the drums begin to roll.

We aren’t no thin red ‘eroes, nor we aren’t no blackguards too,But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;An’ if sometimes our conduck isn’t all your fancy paints,Why, single men in barricks don’t grow into plaster saints;While it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, fall be’ind”,But it’s “Please to walk in front, sir”, when there’s trouble in the wind,There’s trouble in the wind, my boys, there’s trouble in the wind,O it’s “Please to walk in front, sir”, when there’s trouble in the wind.

You talk o’ better food for us, an’ schools, an’ fires, an’ all:We’ll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.Don’t mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our faceThe Widow’s Uniform is not the soldier-man’s disgrace.For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Chuck him out, the brute!”But it’s “Saviour of ’is country” when the guns begin to shoot;An’ it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ anything you please;An’ Tommy ain’t a bloomin’ fool — you bet that Tommy sees!

Thinking of Charles who took his life after coming back from Nam today. Wondering if someone is taking care of his graveback in Texas. Hope so.

My dad, uncles, brother-in-law, and husband have all been and came back. So far we’ve been lucky. Then people ask me why I don’t want my two sons to join up. I guess because I know what it’s like to be terrified every time two guys in dress uniform go past, afraid they’ll stop at your door.

My father fought in both World War II and Korea in the hopes that none of his kids would ever have to pick up a rifle. He succeeded, but it was close. Very close.

A heartfelt thanks to all who have served and sacrificed; and to the families whose young men and women left them too soon.

I salute you all.

It all helps.

I say let’s level Wall Street and ‘K’ Street. God bless the memory of all our vets, and…remember WHAT it was for…!

My heart goes out to all who have been touched by war. Let us all pray we will eventually evolve away from solving our conflicts with violence.

Our country was built on a war and 236 years later we still ask too many too much to make the sacrifies of broken families, addiction, lost limbs, sanity, and life. I look forward to the Memorial Day when we are truly are at peace as a nation.Between now and then we need to honor their service, especially after they are discharged.This is the best honor we can do as citizens and as a nation. I applaud Garry for his relentless support of our Veterans.

Sammysock, well gee, I thought “being American” meant freedom to state your opinion. This is an American strip.. You, who seem to have a more narrow POV are reading it…..?

To me, this strip states the obvious… The health issues of all vets, no matter the conflict, must be recognized. Also, anyone can help, no matter the skill, just by being there and offering a hand.

G-SGT, thank you for your service. I’m a 4th generation Navy wife, so I also want to speak for the FAMILIES. Thanks to all who serve, and support the active duty and veterans.

To Soldiers and Veaterans near and far flung places. Memorial Day is but once a year.But to the families, friends and comrades in arms its all year.Thank You!

Gods blessings on all men & women vets. " All gave some, some gave all ."

Obama treating vets like criminals? how about every president? They use them up, promise them something and then do not deliver. The VA is in sad shape, it usually gets better while we are in a ‘conflict’, but it is now worse that when Nam was going on.Thank you all for your service! I really wish that they didn’t use you so much.

Happy Memorial Day to all my fellow vets.

I hope all will warch the National Memorial Day Concert on PBS tonight (ET 8-9:30, MT and probably CT 7-8:30, don’t knw about the other zones). More that a concert, it is a tribute, and generally an eye opener. See it once and you will make it a part of your annual observance. Incidentally I am also a veteran.

B.D.’s character has come such a long way. Baby steps BD.

In what way? I’m genuinely baffled by this comment.

Yes, the latter. :)

A brief note on the disabled veterans coming home: While VA is indeed doing the best they can, please get your Senators and Congresspersons to get on the back of the MILITARY

! It is the DOD in the Army, Marine Corps, and Navy who are rejecting veterans and screwing them over, to “save money” and keep down the “cost of war”.

And finally on this day, THANK YOU GARRY TRUDEAU, for the DECADES you’ve spent honoring our troops and veterans, while “nailing” the politicians and phonies who’ve betrayed them so often, and long.

I was joking, hence the following sentence starting with the word “Seriously.” Sorry if that was unclear.

Thank you to all our troops who have come to the aid of their country-and especially my daughter who is finishing her deployment serving in the Air Force.

A word from a Veteran. THANKS

LIVES IN THE BALANCE…Jackson Browne

“The wars in Iraq…were not of our chosing. Remember 9-11? Or have you forgotten already??”

Oh yes, of course. Iraq was responsible for the attacks. The hijackers were Iraqis. Oh wait… No, that’s not right – NONE of them were. Most were from Saudi Arabia. Our allies. The most repressive government in the region.

Well, OK, so Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. But we had to prevent them from using all those WMDs that they had stockpiled, right?… OH, wait a second – THERE WEREN’T ANY!

But hey, if they had had weapons, I betcha they would have used them against us. So we were right to invade their country. Served ’em right for what they were thinking…

I’m calling you on that, SeaFox10. I’m medically retired from the Army (Vietnam, Not the current affairs), and the President of the United States treats me damned well, thank you very much! I am better paqid in retirement than I ever was in uniform, and I have benefits that a civilian would kill to get. Yeah, I put my ass in a crack a time or two, but for the most part, qall I faught was constant training and boredom, to get ready for the next time the damned fool old men of the Congress decided to stick the US’s nose under someone else’s tent flap. Never forget that the Prez is not the one who passes the laws that allow civilians to put up signs that read, “Dogs and Soldiers/Sailors Keep off the lawn.” That’s your Congressmen (and mine.) You don’t like the sitting Prez? Fine, vote him out of office the next time around. Just remember that the individual sitting in the Oval Office is elected by and for all of us, even if you voted for the losing side in the election. We, the American People, do not get a choice to pick and choose what President we follow, we follow all of them, liked or not.To my fallen comrads, tomorrow, as always, I offer you my thanks. I’ll be at a graveside tomorrow to honor all of you.

“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” Thomas Jefferson

This is in answer to all of you who decry America"s involvement is so-called “unjust wars.” If we American’s do not attempt to help our fellow man our of the oppression he lives under, who!

Guy SlaterSSG, Ret. USA

I know that this is a multifaceted issue, but people who speak of the glory of war should look athttp://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/27/arts/design/joe-bonham-project-illustrates-the-wounds-of-war.html?pagewanted=all

the sad thing is 1% of us have served in our wars in iraq and afghanistan. nyc still won’t have a parade for the vets of iraq. how about we send those wall street idiots to afghanistan? if they really love war, let them fight it. send fox news talking heads who talk the talk in nyc, make them walk the walk in afghanistan. send rush over there. send mormon mitt over there and experience combat operations.

who cares?

Thank you for your service and for your protection of our liberties.

You’re the one whose clueless. You couldn’t resist interjecting your misinformed,misguided, and misanthropic views, even on a this special weekend. I am sorry pal. I don’t know ( no care) which cereal box you get your intelligence from, but you and Neo-Cons were wrong. If you want to be an apologist for the lunatic fringe, so be it, but don’t, as a non-com with a low security clearance, try to tell those of us who ,literally shed our blood for this country , how we should think.

The people who were drafted deserve the memorial service…the people who in enlisted thought it was just another job.

Yeah, there were always a few like that. Amazing though, how they weren’t so John Wayne when they finally were in a real firefight or had to “confront” the enemy face-to-face.

So many lives ruined. These men are young and learn the hard way that war is not a video game. I cry for them all, and I have the deepest respect for the people that work so tirelessly helping them put their lives back together.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kMMOnNe8gU

Sorry, Sarge, I was just starting to think you could make sense when you went back to ranting. Sorry, that is, that I overestimated you…

The parade in our town had the past 11 years of war all grouped by year, with each marcher holding a picture and specs for a soldier who had died in the current wars. It kinda said it all and drove home the real cost of war for a change. In addition the bands all stopped playing and the crowd was dead silent while they passed by. A fitting tribute to those we have lost.

On my 17th birthday, my father and I had a long talk about what I wanted to do with my future. I knew about his time in the Army so I said I wanted to join up after high school. He began arguing about the hardships and the likelihood of being shipped thousands of miles away to the worse kind of place on earth to do God knows what. I argued back of the unique and unequaled education I can get (for free) and to serve my country like he and his father did. It got to the point where I was livid to the point of screaming about the necessity to do my part for this country that protected us for almost 200 years (this was 1973). Suddenly my father held up his hand and gave me his blessing. I was shocked, why did he let me go on and on if he was going to give up this easily? He said he didn’t give up; he just wanted to make sure I was serious about wanting to do it for myself.

Six months later I was diagnosed with type-1 diabetes and instantly became classified 4-F (medically unfit). I felt so cheated.

Bless those who stepped up to the line and went through hell, for the honor of going through hell, so civilians didn’t have to know the hell of dictatorship. The worse kind of hell of all!