Veterans Today Answer 3-15-09

Veterans Today Answer 3-15-09
Peter Macdonald 465 Packersfalls rd Lee NH 03824 603-659-6217
Tom Barnes wrote an article on “American Veterans as loony tunes”. He describes how veteran’s have a tendency to want to over through the government with violence. How Veterans are more likely to belong to a group or organization advocating violence or even killing to achieve a government that works for the people. Tom lingers on what is in plain sight (that our DC is in a time warp of it’s own). Tom diagnosed clearly that government workers don’t care about the people only their future retirement and legacy. Helping returning veterans is a game to occupy time to fill the years to that goal of a pension from the tax payers for creating turmoil in disabled and other veterans lives. I only know Tom’s back ground from what he said “Coast Guard Warrant Officer”. Tom is a U.S. Military Veteran and I respect him for this. But???
The American people have labeled me a loony tune. You all are sick of my telling you and I can justify your thoughts. Imagine what it is like to at 17 start your life. To be a U.S. Marine with no memory at all. You follow orders and do your job because there is nothing else that you know of ! The M-16 and a 45 are your best friends. You have no social life because you have no skills to interact with others. A Military Base is your home where out side the gates no one speaks American. Your MOS (job) is pounded into your head and you learn it because there is nothing else. Killing the enemy is your goal that continuously is driven into your head. You become so good at your job at a moments notice you are TAD (temporary assigned duty) to isolated MABS bases to fix gear. My hearing becomes diminished from being blown off the runway. During an offensive my back is broken while doing my job. A mortar destroys the out house that I just disembarked from. A sniper shot grazes the edge of my helmet. I kill a child guarding the position to get my M-16 back and escape back to the convoy. I do eight friendly convoys delivering surplus supplies across three countries to friendly camps as American advisor. Then one day I am dropped off in a nation where American is the primary language. Round eyed girls are so numerous even some one like me has a chance. I meet the people that I have written to that call them selves my family. I go to a home town where the people that say they are my friends only want my money for booze and cigarettes. I am lost in a world that I do not belong in and a world that does not want me.
I do not believe in violence basically because I can not forget. I am proud of killing. Back here (you all) praise what we did but despise us for the manner we did it. You expect us to come back and be what we once could have been. You do not understand the military took our minds and made us them.
Tom’s article told what is wrong with a government that allows disabled veteran’s lives to expire before receiving any help. A shameful way to come home to a nation that you gave everything for. I may not write letters as some of you professional would like but? This U.S. Marine has come a long way in a land that has clearly demonstrated that I do not belong. Tom’s article even though it was a good article failed to understand some of us live in two worlds. Where we have been (a place that you do not understand) and now a place they say that we belong but are giving the feeling that we do not.
Are we loony tunes or someone foolish enough to defend your freedom at any cost that came back to a nation that silently diminishes us to slum.
Peter Macdonald Sgt USMC Semper Fi