Post by Sidney on Jul 15, 2008 21:35:06 GMT -5
A Soldier's Last Words "Hope Rides Alone"
Introduction by Louisa Centanni
SGT. Edmund John Jeffer's last few words were some of the most touching,
inspiring and most truthful words spoken since the tragedy of 9/11 - and
since our nation went to war.
SGT. Jeffers was a strong soldier and talented writer. He died in Iraq
on September 19, 2007. He was a loving husband, brother and son. His
service was more than this country could ever grasp, but the least you
can do for the man who sacrificed his life for you is listen to what he
had to say. Listen up and pay attention. To all of the Cindy Sheehans
and Al Frankens of the world. To MSNBC, CNN, NBC, ABC and CBS. To all
who call themselves Americans.
Hope Rides Alone
by Eddie Jeffers
I stare out into the darkness from my post, and I watch the city burn to
the ground. I smell the familiar smells, I walk through the familiar
rubble and I look at the frightened faces that watch me pass down the
streets of their neighborhoods.
My nerves hardly rest; my hands are steady on a device that has been
given to me from my government for the purpose of taking the lives of
others. I sweat and I am tired. My back aches from the loads I carry.
Young American boys look to me to direct them in a manner that will
someday allow them to see their families again. And yet, I too, am just
a boy. My age not but a few years more than that of the ones I lead. I
am stressed, I am scared, and I am paranoid ... because death is
everywhere. It waits for me, it calls to me from around street corners
and windows. It is always there.
There are the demons that follow me, and tempt me into thoughts and
actions that are not my own, but that are necessary for survival.
I've made compromises with my humanity. I am not alone in this. Miles
from me are my brethren in this world, who walk in the same streets ...
who feel the same things, whether they admit to it or not.
And to think ... I volunteered for this. And I am ignorant to the rest
of the world ... or so I thought.
But even thousands of miles away, in Ramadi, Iraq, the cries and screams
and complaints of the ungrateful reach me. In a year, I will be thrust
back into society from a life and mentality that doesn't fit your
average man. And then, I will be alone.
And then, I will walk down the streets of America and see the yellow
ribbon stickers on the cars of the same people who compare our President
to Hitler, they say they support us, but they really don't and we know
it.
I will watch the television and watch the Cindy Sheehans, and the Al
Frankens, and the rest of the ignorant sheep of America spout off their
mouths about a subject they know nothing about. Freedom for the
oppressed doesn't enter their minds.
It is their right, however, and it is a right that is defended by
hundreds of thousands of boys and girls scattered across the world, far
from home. I use the word boys and girls, because that's what they are.
In the Army, the average age of the infantryman is nineteen years old.
The average rank of soldiers killed in action is Private First Class.
People like Cindy Sheehan are ignorant. Not just to this war, but to the
results of their idiotic ramblings or, at least, I hope they are. They
don't realize its effects on this war.
In this war, there are no Geneva Conventions, no cease fires. Medics and
Chaplains are not spared from the enemy's brutality because it's against
the rules. I can only imagine the horrors a military Chaplain would
experience at the hands of the enemy.
The enemy slinks in the shadows and fights a coward's war against us. It
is effective though, as many men and women have died since the start of
this war. And the memory of their service to America is tainted by the
inconsiderate remarks on our nation's news outlets.
And every day, the enemy changes...only now, the enemy is becoming
something new. The enemy is transitioning from the Muslim extremists to
Americans and the media who hate the military. The enemy is becoming the
very people whom we defend with our lives and they do not realize it.
But in denouncing our actions, denouncing our leaders, denouncing the
war we live and fight, they are isolating the military from society and
they are becoming our enemy.
The Congressional Democrats and peace activists like to toss the word
'quagmire' around and compare this war to Vietnam. In a way they are
right, this war is becoming like Vietnam. Not the actual war, but in the
isolation of country and military.
America is not a nation at war. They are a nation with its military at
war. Like it or not, we are here, some of us for our second, or third
times; some even for their fourth and so on. Americans are so concerned
now with politics that it is interfering with our war.
Terrorists cut the heads off of American citizens on the Internet. There
is no outrage; but an American soldier kills an Iraqi in the midst of
battle, and there are investigations, and sometimes soldiers are even
jailed for doing their job.
It is absolutely sickening to me to think our country has come to this.
Our own press ignore our success stories that we take so much pride in.
Why are we so obsessed with the bad news? Why will people stop at
nothing to be against this war, no matter how much evidence of the good
we've done is thrown in their face?
When is the last time CNN or MSNBC or CBS reported the opening of
schools and hospitals in Iraq? Or the leaders of terror cells being
detained or killed?
It's all happening, but people will not let up their hatred of Bush.
They will ignore the good news, because it just might show people that
Bush was right. This is the only time in history where the media has
destroyed a President during a war with the biased reporting.
America has lost its will to fight. It has lost its will to defend what
is right and just in the world. It has forgotten what we stand for,
"FREEDOM FOR ALL!"
The crazy thing of it all is that the American people have not even been
asked to sacrifice a single thing. It's not like World War Two, where
people rationed food, and turned in cars to be made into metal for
tanks.
The American people have not been asked to sacrifice anything. Unless
you are in the military or the family member of a service member, it's
life as usual. The war doesn't affect you. But it affects us.
And when it is over, and the troops come home, and they try to piece
together what's left of them after their service...where will the
detractors who claim to be supporters be then?
Where will the Cindy Sheehans be to comfort and talk to soldiers and
help them sort out the last couple years of their lives, most of which
have been spent dodging death and wading through the deaths of their
friends?
They will be where they always are, somewhere far away, where the
horrors of the world can't touch them. Somewhere where they can complain
about things they will never experience in their lifetime; things that
the young men and women of America have willingly taken upon their
shoulders.
We are the hope of the Iraqi people. They want what everyone else wants
in life: safety, security, somewhere to call home. They want a country
that is safe to raise their children in. Not a place where their
children will be abducted, raped and murdered if they do not comply with
the terrorists' demand. They want to live on, rebuild and prosper. And
America has given them the opportunity, but only if we stay true to the
cause, and see it to its end. Where is our American support now?
The country must unite in this endeavor. We cannot place the burden on
our military alone.
We must all stand up and fight, whether in uniform or not. And
supporting us is more than sticking yellow ribbon stickers on your cars.
It's supporting our President, our troops and our cause.
Right now, the burden is all on the American soldiers. Right now, hope
rides alone.
But it can change, it must change. Because there is only failure and
darkness ahead for us as a country and as a people if it doesn't.
Let's stop all the political nonsense; let's stop all the bickering;
let's stop all the bad news; and let's stand and fight for freedom for
all! As of now, hope rides alone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eddie's father, David Jeffers, writes: 'I'm not sure how many letters
or articles you've ever read from the genre of 'News from the Front,'but
this is one of the best I've ever read, including all of America's wars.
As I was reading this, I forgot that it was my son who had written it.
My emotions range from great pride to great sorrow, knowing that my
little boy, (22 years old,) has become this man.
He is my hero!
'God bless.'