Rocky Mtn. News Letter - PTSD is Cowardice

This past Friday the Rocky Mtn News printed this letter:

‘Stress disorder’ used to be called cowardice Friday, January 26 at 12:01 AM

The sad picture in the Jan. 13 Rocky of the forlorn young soldier who wants out of the Army because of the dreadful things he saw in Iraq (“Terrors of war linger for some”) will impress a lot of mommies, perhaps, but not many men.

This fellow joined up intending to spend a lifetime in a proud career in the military. One problem: Apparently he did not think it might involve battle, or, if it did, Army Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman could not have been right in describing it as “hell.”

Other soldiers are horrified and sickened by the consequences of firefights but they hang in and prevail.

This fellow claims “post-traumatic stress disorder” from things he saw and wants a kindly nation to turn him loose. It will sound a whole lot more like cowardice to many. Cowardice in the face of the enemy used to get you a firing squad; now it is called PTSD and you are sent home to your family while fellow soldiers fight to the end.

Lee Vander Jagt, Denver
The printing of this letter occurred the same day I saw a report of American troops saying Americans can't have it both ways..."they can't support the troops but not support our mission". The hand picked soldier didn't tell what the mission was but why should we care?

These two items made me once again see the collusion of the media with the Bush Administration in disseminating information. The mainstream media owned by corporations friendly and contributing to the tyrants in charge (or is it the corporations really in charge??) have become the new version of the Nazi information ministry.

I did respond to the letter since it's such a blatant attempt by a newspaper to discredit mental health services for combat veterans. This use of such a letter to place stigma on mental health care fits right in with the military's continued attempts to downplay and bury the trauma experienced by the returning troops.

Henry Kissinger and Donald Rumsfeld have both made it clear they think of the troops as disposable pawns to have killed and replaced by new young fodder of the "lower class"of America. Both are the main advisors to Bush on his Iraq policy. Rumsfeld's resignation merely hid him more from public view. He's never gone away.

My response to the letter follows but I doubt it'll ever be printed:


I can understand ignorance of an individual such as Lee Vander Jagt equating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder with cowardice in his/her letter of January 26, 07. I don’t understand the editorial discretion and responsibility of the Rocky Mountain News in publishing such a warped and insensitive piece that continues to promote stigma for returning troops seeking mental health services.

I doubt very much the RMN would publish a letter that equates cancer with a character flaw. I doubt there would be a letter published which stated the annual run/walk for breast cancer research was a waste and foolish because cancer can’t be cured.

The RMN and Vander Jagt perpetuate the ugly stigma mental health treatment shouldn’t have parity with physical health treatment. At a time when returning troops are having ever increasing mental health problems as a result of multiple deployments to combat your disrespect and that of Vander Jagt does little to support them. Instead you help put road blocks in their way to return to the best health possible.

I’d ask Vander Jagt visit a VA mental health unit and tell the combat vets they’re cowards for experiencing trauma following deaths of their friends and innocent Iraqi children. And perhaps John Temple and your editorial staff should go with Vander Jagt.


William T. Leichner, RN

USMC combat veteran - Vietnam ('67-'69)

PTSD - The Individual Reality

I was asked to speak about PTSD at a MoveOn action to turn in a signed petition demanding the end of funding for the escalation in Iraq. Being a psychiatric RN it would have been simple to just review signs and symptoms, treatments and medications used. I could have brought my DSM-IV to read the criteria of the diagnosis.

This time I just couldn't do the usual. This time I wanted anybody listening to hear how it feels to be a combat veteran or family member struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I wanted them to understand the pain.

Sometimes speaking clinically obscures the true reality of things. Hopefully the words I spoke today in some way helped toward the understanding of PTSD.

There’s much being said about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder these days but I keep wondering if most Americans truly understand what it is, what it isn’t and what the cost to the troops and the American society is.


PTSD is waking up screaming a best friend’s name. The nightmare of the IED killing him returned. Professionals call them nightmares but my experience has been they’re more like a video running in the mind repeatedly when attempting to sleep.


PTSD is waking to your wife’s screams, finding your hands on her throat and seeing her terrified look. She made the mistake of trying to cuddle while you were asleep.


PTSD is being a stranger to your own family. Your body returns but your core spirit has been changed and emotional responses are limited or absent.


PTSD is the constant vigilance for something bad to happen. It’s diving to the ground at the first loud sound nearby. It’s moving to defend yourself when someone approaches you from the rear.


PTSD is the nagging question why you survived but many of your friends didn’t. It’s cursing God for allowing you to survive.


PTSD is anger and red hot rage that burns in your soul and boils over with the slightest provocation. Boils over in violence, abuse and despair.


PTSD is using substances to medicate despair and depression. It’s blackouts and binges. It’s dependency and addiction. It’s a 40 oz., a track mark, a crack pipe, a line. Anything to take the pain away if only for a short time.


PTSD is drinking a bottle of tequila in a cheap motel in another state while loading your .357. It’s unlocking the safety, putting your mouth around the barrel and squeezing the gun metal trigger that will send a round through your palate into your brain. It seems the only way to bring peace.


PTSD is the inability to sleep for fear of dreams, because of need to be on guard and because your brain won’t shut down the memories.


PTSD is hearing a phone ring in the middle of night and immediately thinking someone died.


PTSD is sitting with your back to the wall in order to keep sight of anybody nearby.


PTSD is losing job after job because you can’t endure taking orders and the work seems meaningless.


PTSD is thinking suicidal thoughts frequently but never telling a therapist because you want to keep that option open.


PTSD is a prison cell following the murder of a man who insulted your wife.


PTSD is a prison cell following a bar fight and assault.


PTSD is the homicide of your wife after she tells you she’s leaving you.


PTSD is divorce and failed relationships.


PTSD is a homeless shelter on a freezing night


PTSD is sleeping under a bridge


PTSD is going through a restaurant dumpster to eat.


PTSD is never fitting in


PTSD is a parent seeing a government car pull up and two uniformed men getting out in front of the house.


PTSD is not hearing from a daughter in Baghdad after a roadside bomb is reported on the nightly news


PTSD is taking powerful medications that result in loss of sexual function


PTSD is waking to the cries of your infant daughter and thinking of that baby in Ramadi…the one accidentally killed by your gunfire.


PTSD is seeing Arab men and women approach on the streets of America and feeling anger and fear.


PTSD is being afraid of a child’s wave because that was the last image you had just before your best friend was hit by a sniper’s deadly bullet.


PTSD is a wife afraid of a husband’s changing mood.


PTSD is a parent hearing the news Marines were killed in Falluja and thinking of her son patrolling there.


PTSD is migraine headaches, ulcers and joint pain.


PTSD is panic attacks in large crowds.


PTSD is failing to enjoy holidays and family get-togethers.


PTSD is spending the first hour of a hike in the mountains thinking of combat patrols in Afghanistan.


PTSD is avoiding the desert area of Moab which once brought so much joy.


PTSD is being promoted at work only to be fired weeks later for insubordination and angry outbursts.


PTSD is isolating in a room soon after family arrives to visit.


PTSD is hearing helicopters flying over and remembering deadly firefights


PTSD is frequent memory lapses and poor concentration except the memory of violence


PTSD is no desire to play catch with your own son


PTSD is working too much and avoiding home


PTSD is attending the funeral of a close family member and lacking emotions


PTSD is road rage


PTSD is a single car accident in a remote area


PTSD is creating a situation for police to be called, stepping on the porch, aiming a weapon toward the police and being killed by gunshots.


PTSD is having an argument with a girlfriend and responding by hanging yourself hours later


PTSD is a stigma in American culture


PTSD affects families, friends and the entire community one way or the other if left untreated


PTSD is being a RN at a mental health center with a flare up of depressive symptoms but failing to get the understanding a co-worker got when undergoing surgery. It’s working as a RN with a psychiatrist who tells you she’d rather be dead than have chronic PTSD. I was that RN. I have chronic PTSD.



PTSD isn’t a personality disorder and the military needs to have heavy scrutiny for the abuse of the personality disorder diagnosis.


A review needs to be done of possible over use of diagnoses to separate troops from the military which leaves them unable to access mental health services because the diagnosis is considered a pre-existing condition.


Far too often the symptoms of personality disorder can also be symptoms of PTSD. Inadequate screening or evaluation to determine accurate diagnosis clearly violates the standard of care that should be in place.


Using less than honorable discharges to separate veterans of combat because of behavioral problems on return from combat is a reprehensible violation of ethics and standards of psychiatric care.


Using excuses that the standards for admitting a recruit into the military have been lowered is also a violation of ethics.


If a recruit has a pre-existing psychiatric condition on admission into the military why isn’t it diagnosed at some point before sending that person to a combat zone? Why is it predominately following combat such a harmful diagnosis occurs?


PTSD isn’t an excuse to commit acts of violence or other crimes


PTSD isn’t weakness, an attempt to get something for nothing or a flaw in character.


PTSD isn’t a condition which you tell someone to “suck it up”.


PTSD isn’t any less destructive than a heart attack or a broken leg


PTSD isn’t something you just get over


PTSD isn’t a condition that CANNOT be treated BUT there isn’t one treatment that fits for all


PTSD isn’t hypochondria


PTSD isn’t “all in your head”


PTSD isn’t something to be treated on the cheap


Post Traumatic Stress Disorder isn’t a disorder. It is an emotional and physical wound inflicted by either acute or long term trauma being witnessed or experienced. It has a physical component. It has a social component. It has an emotional component and it has a spiritual component.


The American people can choose to either properly treat the returning troops as soon as symptoms emerge or allow the symptoms to become long term. They will either pay a small cost up front or a huge cost later.


Today young men face homicide charges for murdering a family in Iraq following the gang rape of their daughter. These troops had faced heavy combat prior to this incident.


The young man who was said to be the leader of the group had a psychiatric evaluation many days before this happened. He was said to be homicidal, which is one of three standards requiring involuntary hospitalization. The other two are danger to self and being so gravely disabled one is unable to do the routine things to survive.


This young man was not hospitalized. He was given medications and told to get some rest and then returned to his unit. As a result a young woman was raped and she and her immediate family killed.


The military stance on mental health is clear. Col. Elspeth Ritchie of the Army surgeon general’s office says service members diagnosed with PTSD have been sent back into combat, partly driven by troop shortages.


“The challenge for us….is the Army has a mission to fight….so we have to weigh the needs of the Army, the needs of the mission, with the soldiers’ personal needs.”


The military has taken up the practice of sending troops back into combat zones under the influence of powerful psychotropic drugs…antidepressants, antipsychotics and anti-anxiolytics…which have potentially dangerous side effects and which need medical monitoring until it is clear what efficacy the medication has.


This practice is dangerous, irresponsible and outside the standard of care for psychiatric patients. Inserts on all these medications warn about driving and the use of heavy equipment until it is clear how the medication is reacting with the patient. Carrying weapons and possibly having the lives of other soldiers dependent on your actions surely falls under this warning.


Recent events have shown the military fails often in providing appropriate treatment for returning troops. In fact, there is new evidence some returning troops are being harassed and punished if they seek psychiatric care. There’s been a recent investigation of such allegations at Ft. Carson, Colorado following complaints by returning troops.


Such behavior only further blocks returning troops from seeking help because it clearly demonstrates a stigmatization of anyone utilizing mental health treatment.


Anyone who knows about the funding of the VA understands the funds remain discretionary. This continues to leave treatment facilities needed for proper care of veterans short of the monies required.


A large and diverse coalition of veteran advocacy groups has called for a fixed and rational way of funding the VA to meet the needs of all veterans. At this time the needed changes have not been made and returning troops are the ones who will pay for the shortfall.


Recent escalation of the number of troops sent to the combat zones will only cause a larger surge in the needs of returning troops. As much as one third of the returning troops will require mental health treatment at some point.


Already the VA has cut the time of psychiatric evaluations from 90 minutes to 60 minutes and the length of therapy visits from 45 to 30 minutes. They’ve also cut the frequency of visits for therapy from once every two weeks to one time each month.

Any professional working with patients diagnosed with PTSD knows this is substandard care.


PTSD is a serious condition that requires frequent monitoring when treatment begins. The re-living of the trauma through therapy makes the likelihood of self harm or self defeating behaviors much greater at the beginning of treatment.


If the patient is put on medications monitoring for side effects is essential. Doing assessment by phone and patient self report leaves the patient at a much greater risk.

Possible movement disorders need to be seen in person by a professional.


In the case of antidepressants it’s long been known since their first use a patient is most likely to be lethal at the onset of increased energy caused by the mediations. This requires more frequent assessments until its clear the patient is stabilized on the medication. The VA’s shortage of professionals and decreased face to face time with patients create a dangerous and substandard course of treatment.


I’ve used the term PTSD repeatedly to hammer home this is a condition that many returning troops face. It can insidiously kill some of those troops. It can cost the lives of family and friend. It can cause terrible tragedies to occur that could be prevented.

PTSD isn’t just the problem of the individual returning troops; it’s a problem for all Americans to take serious and demand our government do the right thing in treating.


The worst is still to come and the VA and military mental health services are lacking enough resources, trained staff and budget to treat the returning troops in appropriate and medically indicated ways.


In fact there are reports 90% of the mental health professionals in the military lack formal training in treating PTSD. The report also notes there is extreme burn out and lack of morale by the mental health providers in the combat zones.


It is not my intention to bash or denigrate the professionals treating the troops in the field or upon return. It is my intention to bring public awareness that supporting the troops needs to include provision of care that meets basic standards and is individualized. Supporting the troops needs to allow the returning troops the opportunity to return to the highest level of health possible.


I have 276 records of mainstream press reports related to returning troops having difficulty in readjustment to returning from Iraq or Afghanistan. The reports date back to the beginning of the war and run until 2006.


Here's a link to 147 of those reports:

http://timelines.epluribusmedia.org/timelines/index.php?&mjre=PTSD&table_name...
William Terry Leichner, RN

USMC combat infantryman - Vietnam (12/31/1968 -02/12/1969)

VVAW - Denver chapter

Co-founder of chapter in 1971 (please note there is a claim another chapter existed but since a national organizer was one of those helping to start the 1971 version, I assume the first chapter failed.)

You Want our Mail? I Got Your Mail Right Here!!

Boston Tea Party


Proposed Resistance to the Bush Violation of Mail Privacy

In light of the recent declaration by George W. Bush that the President of the United States has a legal right to read any American’s mail for reason of “national security” it is suggested “we the people” respond to this intolerable invasion and violation of basic principles of the Bill of Rights and the Constitution.

For too many years we have seen the erosion of rights and freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution by elected officials declaring untenable and illegal justification.

Throughout the Presidency of George W. Bush the American people have consented to the pillaging of the Constitution driven by fear and under the guise of “national security”.

This continued assault of our rights and freedoms must stop. The onerous suspension of so many rights since the events of September 11, 2001 represents the loss of the very freedoms this nation claims to be sending young men and women to war to protect.

When the English King George imposed an intolerable taxation upon the European settlers in North America, they responded with resistance and demonstration called the Boston Tea Party.

The American “King” George has greatly exceeded those abuses with outrageous imposition of restrictions upon the freedoms of the people of this republic.

Resistance and demonstration is not only called for, it’s become mandatory if we’re to end the illegal erosion of rights.

Therefore, to display the outrage and disdain for the latest abuse of the Presidency, the declaration of Presidential privilege to read the mail of the American citizen, it’s proposed there be the response of “voluntary” mail-in of the mail Americans most detest, anyway – junk mail.

This mail-in could last one day, one month or one year. It could last until this President revokes his declared privilege. It could be Americans collecting a day’s supply, a week’s supply or a month’s supply of this junk mail to be shipped to the White House through the United States Postal Service.

Groups and individuals could coordinate the timing of such a demonstration of our displeasure and resistance. Those fearing their names or other private information being exposed to this President and his followers could use the process of a “reverse Freedom of Information release”.

In the past information released to Americans under the Freedom of Information laws has often been blacked out to prevent much of the requested data truly being released. The use of this very tactic to protect private information in the proposed mail in should be considered.

While much graver issues face the people of this nation, the simple act of giving some response to this latest outrage of violating Constitutional law can be symbolic of the general disdain to the many violations already approved by the weak Legislative and Judicial branches of government to the Executive branch that has become far too powerful and arrogant.

The sheer volume of junk mail received by the average American citizen can be overwhelming to the individual. Collecting and forwarding such a volume enmasse can create a visible and symbolic resistance to the abuse of power by this President.

The symbol of rejecting the Presidential abuse by the “voluntary surrender” of junk mail should be a clear message of non-violent resistance. It can also serve to answer those Americans who give up their rights of privacy meekly saying “I have nothing to hide, so I don’t care if my government invades my privacy”.

This proposal is offered to heed the call for new tactics to resist the Empirical Presidency that has too frequently abused the citizens of this nation.

Volunteers of America Needed - Junk Mail Revolt!!

The following is a response to George Bush's declaration of Presidential "right" to open the mail of American citizens for reason of "national security".


I've decided to volunteer all the mail I get most for our beloved Dubya to review to make sure America's homeland is secure.

I average about 4-5 pieces of mail each day known as "junk mail" which I consider a threat to American security.

Not only does it irritate and create waste, junk mail solicits the obscene use of credit cards and consumerism that has caused a world-wide perception of Americans being crass and spoiled.

Since it's pretty well established Americans consume 1/4 of the world's natural resources despite being a population much less than 1/4th, the perception and resentment is well founded.


We as patriotic Americans truly need to look upon this junk mail
epidemic as a threat to our national security. Why you ask?

Well surely the resentment created by the constant encouragement of consumerism has resulted in making it much easier to recruit young and old throughout the world as terrorists.

Given this scenario, it just seemed logical if the Bush administration
feels they have the right to open mail in the name of homeland security they should start with our junk mail.

Tracing the persons or organizations creating this particular threat should be easy enough that even a dumb ass like Dubya can figure out who's responsible.

After the resolution of the junk mail threat I suggest we ask Bush to declare his right to monitor our prayers by making it mandatory to pray out loud.

Once this right is established, the prayers of those asking God or Allah or Buddha or Tom Cruise's god to strike Dubya and his crew with impeachment or the most terrible punishments possible can be determined.

Those praying such things would then be incarcerated at Guantanamo or a local McDonalds for as long as it takes to rehabilitate them. Or until their arteries are occluded enough to trigger a cardiovascular event resulting in brain damage.

Those rendered significantly brain damaged will then be asked to join the administration as cabinet members, TSA agents, Homeland security officers or FEMA workers.

Most sincerely and in the name of all patriotic Americans,

W.Terry Leichner

What Was Asked of Us

Trish Wood has written a new book about Iraq veterans called What Was Asked of Us. The book is an oral history of the war by the vets themselves. Included are the stories of three Colorado vets who are also friends of many activist vets here in Colorado...Garret Reppenhagen, Jeff Engleheart and Joe Hatcher. All three are very active in Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW).
I'm very proud to say I know these three incredibly talented veterans. All three are eloquent in their talk, their actions and in the story they have to tell us.
I marched with Garret and Joe in the Vets and Survivors Marchin' to New Orleans march last spring. It was a march from Mobile to New Orleans to bring the connection of the war's costs to the lack of support for Katrina survivors. During the march Joe and Garret were amazing in the telling of their stories.
I was also fortunate to work with Joe and Jeff along with Kelly Daugherty in a presentation here in Denver. All three told their story to a large group with great compassion and conviction. It took a good deal of courage and energy to do this with the emotional ordeal they have had to endure.
Trish has set up a site on myspace.com to promote her book. She has the recorded voices of Garret, Jeff and Joe on this page as well as photos.
The book was also subject of a lengthy article in The Week Magazine Dec 29-Jan 12 edition in the Last Word section (page 48-49). All three of our Colorado friends are quoted extensively from Trish's book.
Please take a moment to visit the site and buy the book if you can.
Thanks to Garret, Jeff and Joe for your continued dedication to bringing your brothers and sisters home and getting them the benefits they deserve.
And thanks to Kelly Daugherty, executive director of IVAW. Kelly has been a driving force to bring education and awareness about Iraq and Afghanistan to the American public. She's an original founder of IVAW and someone I also call a friend. She's from Colorado Springs. She now lives in Philly to carry out her duties with IVAW.
Kelly was also on the Mobile to New Orleans march and has been back to the area with Joe and other IVAW members to help in rebuilding.
Garret now works with Bobby Muller and Steve Robinson in D.C. advocating for veterans through Veterans For America. Bobby formerly headed Vietnam Veterans of America and Steve headed up the National Gulf War Resource Center.
Thanks to all who carry on with the struggle.

Peace and solidarity,

Terry Leichner, RN
USMC combat veteran - Vietnam
VVAW member in Denver

Which Extremists, Father??

Christmas in Bethlehem 2006


The priests at my Catholic Church are great fodder for discussion and for rejuvenating my willingness to write. During the most recent Mass I attended the younger of the two parish priests officiated.
I’ve come to take issue with many of the Reverend F’s views. He’s a former chaplain at the Air Force Academy. He still has that military thing swirling around in his head. During every mass he includes a petition of prayer for the “men and women serving in our armed forces to protect our freedom.”
I have nothing against praying for the troops to be safe but I find the glaring omission of the innocent civilians from any prayer petition appalling for a man of God to do.
I’m not saying the good Reverend doesn’t pray for the innocent Iraqis but he doesn’t call for the congregation to pray as he does for the troops.
This past Sunday at the 9 a.m. Mass the Reverend F made his usual call for prayers but added a little something extra for the season. There happened to be an Army soldier in the congregation. The priest saw the young soldier and included him in his usual petition by saying, “I see there’s a soldier here today. I want to thank him for serving our country and protecting its freedoms. Especially the freedom to pray freely which is something they can’t do in the city of Bethlehem this Christmas because of some extremists.”
The congregation broke into applause with exception of at least my wife and me. Neither of us could find it in our heart to endorse the mission of the military by applauding a soldier’s presence.
I gladly would have talked personally with the soldier and wished him well but I can’t applaud what he stands for.
The other part of my objection to this entire scene was a priest making a statement so blatantly racist in his use of the word, “extremists.” And, he lied about the situation in Bethlehem. There was, in fact, the usual ceremony for Christmas but the tourism was much less. In a CNN report, one storekeeper in the city attributed the low number of tourists to the most recent round of violence between Israelis and Palestinians.
I guess my question would be which of the two did Father F consider “extremists”? It was real clear it wasn’t the Israelis.
So, as usual when I attend a Mass with this priest officiating, I left the Church fuming about his militaristic attitude. This time I left telling my wife I had to assume the Father would counsel young people the military would be a good career choice.
And then I decided I had to write him an email to voice my concerns about his political opinions being so overtly expressed. This is the email I sent:

December 30, 20006

Rev. Friehofer,
I wanted to comment on some of the things said and left unsaid in today’s 9 a.m. Mass.
First, you’ve continued to make several references to “our soldiers” fighting for freedom and peace in the Middle East. At every Mass I’ve attended where you officiated there has been a call to pray for “our troops” but an omission to remember the innocent civilians of Iraq and Afghanistan.
In today’s Mass you singled out a soldier in attendance and thanked him for his efforts to keep our freedom to pray and practice religion. Then you followed by inferring this wasn’t available in Bethlehem due to extremists.
I have no problem acknowledging the difficulty of being in the military today, Father. I advocate strongly for American troops receiving all benefits due them for their time in the military. I actively endorse American troops not be blamed or made to feel uncomfortable for their service regardless of our own personal politics.
If we’re to make someone responsible for the tragedy in Iraq and the rest of the Middle East it should be the politicians who have failed us all. We definitely should not lay responsibility on the young men and women who joined the military thinking they were enlisting to make a better world.
With all this said, Father, your inference that “extremists” made it impossible for the Christian faith to be practiced in Bethlehem this Christmas is misleading and just not true. I’ve attached a link from CNN that details a Christian ceremony did occur.
I’d also suggest Christians stop using the word extremist to describe Islamic groups while excluding Judeo-Christian groups from the same description. Sadly, extremism permeates all religious groups.
I have a friend who has a Muslim father and Jewish mother that often remarks she finds it very scary an extremist coveting the world’s oil supply, professing to hear the voice of God and suggesting a crusade in the name of his religion has access to nuclear weapons. She’s speaking of the American president.
I have other friends who have family in Gaza and other parts of Palestine. They describe mass punishments of entire families if one member is suspected of an act opposing Israeli occupation.
They describe children being shot for throwing rocks at Israeli armored vehicles. These children are impoverished and all they’ve known is an oppressive force with sophisticated weapons (often paid for with American tax dollars) dictating where they can go, live and when they can leave the overcrowded dwellings they’re allowed to live in.
In Bethlehem Palestinians are seeing walls being built to keep them inside the occupied territories. The irony is a people who had walls built to keep them in the ghettoes like Warsaw during the Nazi occupation are now committing the same atrocity.
Oppression is oppression, Father. It doesn’t matter if its oppression committed against Catholics or if committed against Muslims. It would seem Christ would not approve in either case nor should we as followers of Christ.
I’d also like to address your call for the safety of our men and women in the Armed Forces, Father. I have no problem with praying for the safety of the men and women in the military.
I would also like to point out there has been over 600,000 innocent Iraqis killed since 2003. It’s estimated at least 40% of that number were children. A large number of those killed were the result of “collateral damage” from American weapons. Large numbers perished during the “Shock and Awe” phase of the war with the illegal bombing of civilian neighborhoods. Thousands of others died in the repeated assaults of Falluja. Carpet bombing and artillery were used extensively before each offensive. Poor and innocent civilians were caught between two forces. Hospitals were seized. Schools were seized. All males of military age were considered the enemy.
I’m a combat veteran of Vietnam. I was wounded in action during the 1968 Tet Offensive. I saw many of my friends die or suffer horrific wounds. I also saw repeated scenes of children burned beyond recognition by napalm and white phosphorous bombs dropped by American forces.
I saw village after village destroyed and the citizens displaced in refugee camps or considered VC. I saw home after home ransacked by aggressive men like me who had no clue about the culture of the people we terrorized.
I vividly remember the torture of a woman by means of water and a beating to get information about locations of the enemy. It wasn’t done by any of the lower ranking Marines. It was done by officers in the “intelligence” section. And it gave us a powerful message.
Now I talk with young Iraq veterans who have returned. I hear the same stories with a different location. I hear about orders to never stop a convoy even if someone steps in front of vehicle. I hear about children being run over. I hear about napalm and white phosphorous being used under different names but with the same results.
I don’t how many “grunts” you’ve talked with, Father, but the reality of war is we didn’t fight for freedom. We didn’t fight for religion. We didn’t fight for ideals. We fought for each other. Its survival and love for one another.
The idea combat is noble or about making peace is a fabrication of people who have never been in combat. Whenever we ask a young man or woman to take up a weapon and hunt another human with the intent of killing we can’t call that person a “peacekeeper”.
Peacekeepers are men like Martin Luther King who cried out for nonviolent resistance to injustice or Cesar Chavez who did the same for impoverished workers.
Peacekeepers are women like Jackie Hudson, Carol Gilbert and Ardeth Platte, Catholic sisters who subject themselves to arrest and imprisonment to make us all aware of the threat of nuclear annihilation.
I know there are many who think the military an honorable and acceptable lifestyle. I know there are many who think some wars are “justified”.
Smedley Butler, the most highly decorated Marine of his time and two time Medal of Honor recipient, came to an epiphany after thirty plus years in the military. He said, “War is a racket”. He also said he’d failed to have one original idea until he left the military. Butler went on to be an advocate for military veterans and a critic of the military industrial complex that kept us in constant warfare.
I don’t delude myself to believe war will ever end or a military will never be part of the government’s expenditures. I do worry that in this culture of violence we’ve perpetuated in this nation glorifying the role of the military and war sends a rather sad message.
I worry that we’ve included Christ as a supporter of what we do with our military and as a former participant in combat I refuse to accept He is.
Yes, I know the men and women in the military need our love and our prayers, Rev. Friehofer. I know they need the Word of God in their lives.
I’d just ask we temper our support with the sad reason we find a need for troops. I’d also ask we remember the true victims of war – the innocents caught between warring forces.
May God bless us with true peace,

Wm. Terry Leichner, RN
2184 S. Newton St.
Denver,CO 80219

Link to Christmas in Bethlehem 2006:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/12/24/bethlehem.christmas.ap/index.html