European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 10, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 10 a letter the stars and stripes monday december 10,1990 i amp a it to a no to War posture As if the marines in California weren to a problem we now have two reservists attending Quot anti War tallies in new York City i say it is time to put an end to this ridiculous charade. It is Clear to inc that these a military members were Only looking for a free ride at the expense of the United states. Too Many of these people Are blaming their recruiters for their own Lack of foresight in their lives. They seem to have jumped into the military without any thought of the obligations that accompany the benefits. Granted we have All heard the stories of unscrupulous recruiters who Promise a four year country club but it does no to take too much Effort and research to find a Veteran who will be glad to give an insiders View of life in the service. If these people done to have the common sense to ask around before committing two four or even six years of their lives How can they suddenly develop the Complex set of moral values that drive conscientious objectors in the first place. Although spec. Stephanie Atkinson said that she a Hii sled by her Recruiter simple arithmetic tells me that she has been in the military for about six years. This would Lead one to believe that she has either re enlisted or is very close to her ets expiration of term of service. Either Way Uncle Sam has been paying her checks for the last six years in Case her services would be required in response to a crisis. Well she was called to face this crisis and did not do so that looks to me As if she did not fulfil her Side of the contract therefore she should be required to reimburse the government for funds it wasted paying for services it did not receive. Responses. I Hope that this tidy solution helps to Stem the tide of potential cos who May have wondered what they re doing in the staff sgt. William j. Parrish ii Hahn a Germany. I am specifically referring the statement about the Recruiter painting the army As a a glamorous jobs and the recruiters Lack of a emphasis on the possibility of just what exactly did Erik Atkinson think the army a Job was perhaps the Recruiter thought Atkinson was smart enough to have already figured it out on. Her own before she voluntarily signed up with the army a reserves. A ,0 a Rebecca l. Acuavera Hahn a Germany v it was with some amusement and great disgust that i read your article a Marine stumps Europe for on the amusing Side was the statement of How the Marine reservist barnstormer Europe to fight the persian Gulf deployment. A grand total of 20 or so people who attended this phenomenal meeting More appropriately could have fit in a dog House. V Lance up. Erik Larsen stated he joined the service at 18 because he Felt a sense of obligation to his county and to pay Back what the United states had Given his family. Well a a ainu to that special a so far it looks like his Nyback has been to receive technical training for the awk missile system enjoy his Reserve pay and take advantage of the Reserve i Bill to further his education. A a Larsen also stated he wanted to protect this idea of democracy Justice and the american Way. Democracy is a government in which the supreme Power is vested ii in _ up the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections who has Lance Chi. Larsen voted for in the past who voted Saddam Hussein the ultimate ruler of Kuwait. Larsen also states that throughput his military experience he has been taught to View people As targets and to condition himself to the terrible effects of War. In the Marine carps we have , a nobody likes to fight but somebody has to know now a. The men and women in saudi in a sure would much rather be with their families enjoying our democracy but have realized the Price of Freedom and Are supporting Justice and the american Way. A master sgt John a Frey Frankfurt Germanas an infantryman and member of the desert deployed 101st airborne div 1 want to express my disgust and dismay at the Media attention afforded to so called a conscientious objectors who refuse to report for to Tive duty. Where were their objections As they garnered the educational and monetary benefits afforded by military service As i recall the oath of enlistment Calls for service members to a defend the Constitution and the United states of America from All enemies foreign and Domestic Quot was Atkinson asleep during her enlistment ceremony. Her unit a Reserve postal company was activated in response to the deluge of mail addressed to the 200,000 service members who perform their duties daily in support of operation desert shield. Most of us do not enjoy being Here or relish the idea of War with Iraq but Marine reservist Chi. James Corry kisses his Mother Linda a hand As his father Robert looks on in North Kingstown . Corry a College student was activated for duty in operation desert shield. We will perform our duties regardless. Included Are Many whose separation dates like hers were postponed due to iraqis aggression. A capt. Alan c. Saunders. Operation desert shield i am a Marine with the 1st Marine expeditionary Force currently on deployment on operation desert shield a a a a a there Are several thousand men and women like myself who would rather be Home right now with our loved ones but at the same time we know we have a Job to do and Complete before we can come Home. And it would probably help if these a conscientious objectors would get off their protesting platform and get Back to work so we All might be Able to accomplish this Mission a Little faster and come Home a Little sooner. We also need the support of the people in the United states and these same people to realize that it is the men and women of the armed forces who protect their rights. If it Wasny to for us they be Able to speak so freely against the military and the United states. 1 a Lance Chi. Kevin a. Karl r operation desert shield i am stationed at Langley fab va., with the 71st tac fighter so. I have recently deployed with my unit to saudi Arabia. There Are Many people Here who Are proud to serve their country and Are Over Here willingly. You should have looked up the meaning of the word a a military in the dictionary. It says of for or pertaining to armed forces soldiers affairs of War or state of War. Plain and simple. A a its women like you who make it hard Tor the Many women Over Here who Are willing to defend their Quot country and do the Job they committed themselves to. Its already hard enough that women have to prove themselves in the military but you have to go out and go around whining about the fact that someone lied to you to get out of what you chose to do with your life. A staff sgt Michelle Mccormick operation desert shield but for a member of the . Military to get up in front Ofa crowd and openly admit that she is supposed in saudi Arabia with the rest of the members of her unit but did no to want to go and then receive cheers for that a Well All i can say is that a sad. Its sad that the people,.As taxpayers,.would cheer someone who openly admits that. To Haven to yet met any soldiers Here who want to be Here either. Sit Down for a minute and think about them. A a a Quot a Quot a. A a warrant officer Doug Hahn operation desert shield. I can understand these feelings and sympathize however they should remember that this is what they entered into the armed forces for a defending Ameri can interests in support of americans foreign policy. De fending a country a integrity against armed aggressors May not be fun but each and every Soldier at operation desert shield volunteered to serve. Is it honorable to accept your country a Money under the pretext that you will defend its interests and then question Why you should be asked to a Karlsruhe Germany. To keep up enlistments Reserve recruiters Only talk about benefits and the fact that you a reservist can quit any time you want.1 the idea of the majority of reserves is that where they r a Drill Quot perform weekend duty is their real world fixed base assignments. They really never fully consider All their obligations until the balloon goes up. Then the full realization that this is not a game hits them Square Between the eyes. A a my Point is that the army does no to do a Tough Quot enough in briefing to apprise new reserves of All their obligations nor do Many of the Reserve service members think of their obligation As being More than a part time a Job. Quot a name and location withheld \ in August i had the Chance to work with our marines As they prepared to ship out As a teacher it was easy for me to recognize the High level of intelligence of these Young men and women As an air Force reservist these men and women became known to me As a my it was their intelligence and courage at that time that talked to me and made me proud of these Young americans when the Call for volunteers came in september i left my family and teaching Job one More time to care for a my marines in support of operation desert shield. To the. Erik Larsen of this world yes we do have people with College degrees a who have the interest of Young americans at heart a who will support out rave Young soldiers with actions rather than words. A staff sgt Joe Dinse operation desert note a the following writers agreed with Many of the Points in the above letters sgt. Matt j. Reardon sgt. . Rix ii 1st it. Ron Henry chief warrant officer Gerald Bynum staff sgt. Ronald Kelly sgt. Michael Payle sgt. John Barnett sgt Ralph a. Phillips sgt Edward f. Oswald sgt Myron l. No Bengall Spee. Robert t. Matula spec. Jonathan a Cassidy pfc Otis Matthews jr., pfc Denton m. Petty. Sgt. Michael to Moyer Lance Chi. Eric e. Amoson capt. David p. Stark chief warrant officer 2 Bruce c. Up Den eng All of operation desert shield Katie a Mcgill Hohenfels Germany sgt. Michael Hay Rar Lakenheath England and master sgt Rick Snyder Lindsey air station Germany. A r
