General James Mattis spoke directly to our Iraq and Afghanistan veterans last week, but another important message came to light. Thanks to Brian Adam Jones for providing Mattis’ quotes:
He discusses the differences with our veterans today, which cause them to stand out among this generation:
“All volunteers, all volunteers, you look past the hot political rhetoric swirling around these little understood wars and you rallied to the flag. You signed blank checks payable with your lives to the American people. And for the first major war in our history, our nation fought without a draft. Unlike the Civil War, unlike World War I, unlike World War II, unlike Korea, unlike Vietnam — a draft that pushed me into the military — you, the volunteers of this war, are the element of this generation that is demonstrably, that is demonstrably great, shown not by your words, but by your actions.”
How service is borne by family members and veterans today:
“Those who might wonder about the purpose about your family’s sacrifice during this long war, all of us must remember there is a great deal of difference between the national level of commitment and your personal level of commitment. That difference is highlighted first by you veterans and your valor and your ferocity that sent a critically necessary message to our enemies.”
With how today’s veterans compare to our strong American military history:
“You vets, who stepped forward without self pity, and steadfastly went after this enemy, you showed them that the descendants of Shiloh, of Bellau Wood, of Iwo, of Chosin Reservoir, and Khe Sanh, you showed them that free men and free women can fight like the dickens and we don’t scare.”
With protecting the warriors in the fight, and bringing veterans home:
“Second, in our personal commitment, we fought to bring each other home. And our comrades spirits, be they living or dead, their spirits live on in each of us. And bring a noble purpose to our lives, those of us who are lucky enough to get this bonus of another day. And to our final days that purpose is never to be forgotten. Physically or spiritually, we did bring each other home, and we want no pity. For you veterans of this war whose ethical and total commitment represent everything that is great about our country, our country is stronger thanks to your commitment and your blood, sweat, and tears.”
How service means so much today for our combat veterans:
“For you veterans who shared what Civil War infantry officer and Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. called the ‘incommunicable experience of war,’ you must know that your example is the meaning of your service and of the time that you spent fighting overseas, that your impact on the lives of others will continue to resonate, because your comrades and your shipmates will not die in our hearts.”
