VETERAN'S DAY COMMENT

November 11 was originally known as Armistice Day to celebrate the ending of the Great War, World War One. After three more wars now five plus various and sundry military actions it became rightly so a day to honor those who did their duty serving our country and helped preserve our way of life.

Despite the remarks of objectioners none of the wars have been "illegal", all have some have received Congressional approval. Only Congress has the right to wage war but the President under extraordinary circumstances may institute action prior to receiving Congressional approval. If I am wrong you may correct me.

It is true that some wars may result from falsified facts or intelligence improperly obtained or interpreted. The present Iraq adventure started under such circumstances. It did achieve a major goal of ridding the world of a genocidal maniac. Unfortunately the powers behind the throne, the Cheneys and Rumsteds, who directed the operation failed us because of their overwhelming egotistical sense of omnipotence.

We have created a difficult situation and to withdraw prematurely would dishonor the sacrifice of those that have perished. No this war is not illegal, the protagonists were amoral.

What gives me the right to speak? The fact is that both my brother and I saw not safe way behind any battle front or in the staes postings, but real combat action as physicians during WW II and returned to live normal lives.

My 8 year older brother as a naval ROTC was pulled from his obstetrical residency into service. He elected to go to Pensacola for flight training and after receiving his wings was assigned to the Marines. As a flight surgeon he served on Guadalcanal being awarded several medals for his work in the field and organizing the air evacuation of the wounded. He met his wife while on RR in Sydney. Norman made the Navy his career after the war with tours of duty in Hawaii and at sea before receiving Radiology training and becoming one of the first and very few physicians to have nuclear administration license serving many years at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital. The later years of his life were in civilian practice retiring as director of Radiology at The DuPont Children's Hospital in Delaware.

My service was not so exotic. I did freeze my toes in the snows of the Bulge, work in aid stations under mortar and artillery fire, once setting up in a town that I had been assured we had captured only to see the point of A company come down the street. I experience flack aimed at my glider while crossing the Rhine and landing "lost" on the wrong side of the Issel Canal. I was lucky to be an early "resident" of Berlin, and to be able just after VJ day to spend six weeks on temp. duty in the only American Army Hospital in Paris. I first hand had to identify the bodies of some of my best army friends.

I respect every one's opinion but reject the "naysayers" who have made no sacrifices but would return us to the stage of perceived international disrespect and weakness that result from the improper conduct of the Vietnam war. I feel that my own experiences afford me that qualification.

Veteran's Day should not be an excuse not to go to school or work in a government job. Instead let us remember and be thankful for all Americans who served our country in time of warfare. We should include in that group those who served in the Merchant Marine especially in the convoys during WW II. Theirs was an extremely dangerous job that ha snot been recognized by our government.