Courage
RICHARD C. BARNARD, Editor in Chief
Marine Sgt. James E. Wright tells his story in the quiet, matter-of-fact
tones others might use to describe a trip to the grocery store. “You’d
be surprised,” he said, “there are not a lot of people
walking around Walter Reed all bummed out because they’re missing
an arm or a leg. They’re young. They have good attitudes and
strong minds, and they don’t see this as the end of their lives.
It’s just kind of a speed bump.”
The “speed bump” in Wright’s life looks like a pretty
high mountain to me. Ambushed almost two years ago in Iraq’s
Al Anbar province with other Marines in Bravo Company, 1st Reconnaissance
Battalion, Wright lost his hands, nearly lost a leg and spent more
than a year on the mend. He shunned the medical discharge route, at
least for now, and is a green belt instructor for a Marine school at
Quantico, Va.
Wright’s powerful story (p. 54) is about courage under fire
and the indefinable bond Marines have for each other. His chief regret
is “not being able to … be with my buddies as they go
back to Iraq and stuff like that.”
Today, Wright is thinking about moving on, looking for a new way to
make a difference about “what’s going on overseas.” Regardless
of the path he chooses, Wright will be a standout. He’s young,
with a good attitude, a strong mind, and he’s not “all
bummed out.”
Elsewhere in this issue, National President John Panneton sounds a
sharp call to action (p. 3) by Navy League councils in support of military
recruiters. Across the nation, local groups — including many
PTAs, would you believe — are doing their best to keep recruiters
off campus because of opposition to the war in Iraq.
American citizens certainly have a right to rail against the war,
if that is their choice. But some are firing at the wrong target. The
decision to go to war is made in the White House and on Capitol Hill,
not by the military. Many involved in anti-recruiter efforts see themselves
as political astute. Yet they lack the means — or the motivation — to
strike a balance between opposition to the war and long-term support
of U.S. military forces, which is in their interests.
It has been only a few seconds on the Big Calendar of Life since the
military rescued tens of thousands on the Gulf Coast and responded
to the terrorists who slaughtered thousands of innocents on 9/11. Those
who would diminish military recruiting on the nation’s campuses
could weaken our forces for years to come. If that happens, all of
us will one day regret it.
We are eager to get your feedback. Contact me at rbarnard@navyleague.org
or by mail at Seapower, 2300 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201-3308.
