Military Dad By Deresa Claybrook, MS, RHIT Moore, Oklahoma

The air craft takes off and the young boy keeps his nose pressed to the glass of the plane. He watches his parents back at the terminal gate waving good bye. He remains in deep thought. He doesn’t move and he sits quietly and motionless when he hears a voice of a man that is sitting next to him. The man ask him where he is headed? Without turning around or moving away from the window the young boy replies, boot camp. Unexpectedly, he felt a hand on his shoulder and the man said, I understand. At that moment, the boy felt a tear drop fall from his eye. A tear drop he could not control.

He was a young boy of 18, full of life soon to find himself far from his home town of Mcloud , Oklahoma. He left his family and friends behind with only the clothes on his back. He joined the Coast guard to avoid the draft. The year was 1974. The very next day after his enlistment, the Coast Guard sent him on a journey that seemed to last forever. He found himself stationed in Alameda California. Mcloud, Oklahoma Dairy Boy Rush

He noticed right off that the climate was nice in Alameda, California but the attitudes of the local people left something to be desired. One day the brown headed boy having a little money in his pocket strolled the streets of town and spotted a shiny red Ford Mustang. He asked the owner, Hey, how much you want for that car? The owner barked back a question, You in the service? He replied, yes sir, I am. The man told him to keep on moving. The young boy felt his heart sink in disappointment as he kicked the ground beneath him.

The war was tough on young boys just barely old enough to call themselves men but not old enough to vote. Many of them left their families behind because the were drafted to serve in Vietnam. A war they didn’t even understand.

It seemed that the war had taken its toll on the attitudes of the American people back home because the war had carried on for so long. When the young men would come back from serving a tour of duty they were not even welcomed or recognized. Few people took time off to welcome them home even their own family members were too busy and didn’t even show up for some of their homecomings. There were no banners of recognition or praises of thank you when they de boarded the plane.

Years have passed; a proud young soldier calls his father to tell him, Dad, I have to go to Iraq. The son explains to his dad that it will be okay. Don’t worry about me the son tells his father. I want to serve. The fathers heart sinks as he hears the words because he knows the drill. The tired father worries of his sons safety and how much time will pass before and if he will see his son again.

While shaving one morning, the father catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror and reflects back to when he was a young man leaving home to serve his country. He pauses for a moment and bows his head to say a prayer to thank God above for a country where we still have freedom and to also keep his son and the troops safe.

The father reflects back to the days of September 11 th . He remembers the talk that circulated around at the office and how most Americans felt we needed to go over and take care of the situation. Everyone was ready for action and with a retaliatory attitude.

Later that same year, the father found himself watching the news recently only to find that there was a protest forming against the war. He shakes his head in disbelief. Then within the same week, he notices a group forming to rally at the capital in support of the troops. The father observes over time that the country he loves is becoming uncertain over the war effort.

For more than 200 years the American Flag has been the symbol of our nations strength and unity. It’s been a source of pride and inspiration for millions of citizens. Out nation was founded with a deeper purpose. We are reminded of it in our pledge to the flag, when we recite the pledge of allegiance and say one nation under God. The flag flying as a banner is one way that we can use to show our support. The flag is around us every day yet it goes un-noticed. The same can be said of the war. So many people do not even remember that there is a war going on today unless it touches them personally.

As a mother of a son, I want to ask you is history repeating itself? Is it too late to change our attitudes about the war? Where do we begin? What if it were your son or daughter, niece or nephew or grandchild going off to serve a thousand miles away in Iraq or Afghanistan? Would it make a difference? The difference can be made in our lives with our attitudes towards those that serve our country. Attitudes can make a difference.