Good Morning Colonel…..

Veterans Day provides the perfect opportunity to catch you up on the state of affairs in the America that you fought and bled for. Please pass my warmest regards to the other veterans in your company in the Holy Valhalla that you call home. Without yours and the others tremendous sacrifice, I would not be providing this sit-rep.

We are struggling a bit, sir. The Navy, Army and Air Force are falling dramatically short of their recruiting goals with the Marine Corps just meeting theirs, although they are falling short of officers to lead them. I could offer an indictment of the nations youth but that is a small part of the problem. We do not enjoy the service oriented society we once coveted and owned. As you know sir, the service is a little short on instant gratification, thus fails to attract folks who would rather sit back and enjoy a government that is hell bent on providing them with every need up to and including a free education.

I recall your absolute devotion to the rule of law and belief in the chain of command. You trusted your leadership and civilian oversight to provide a clear mission and the ability to carry it out. Given your concerns with the prosecution of your last war, Vietnam, you would be appalled at the feckless state of affairs now, with a commander in chief who utters “don’t” to our enemies and then lets them shell our troops at will with precious little response. Simply put, our military, still the best in the world, enjoys a timid reputation and general lack of respect from our enemies, who are banding together with an eye toward our ultimate destruction. You set the table, Colonel, our government today isn’t filling the plates.

I recall sir, seeing you actually cry when President Kennedy was shot down in Dallas, given his devotion to our military, in particular your old airborne and special ops units. Our President today has little regard for our troops and airmen, evidenced by his utter disregard for them in Afghanistan, and reluctance to engage an enemy that hurls rockets and artillery at our troops in the Middle East.

Israel is under siege. Our streets and campuses are filled with folks who think the Israelis should roll over and not respond to the butchery of a sect of folks bent on their destruction. The superb Israeli Army is on the move with small unit tactics in a hellish environment, seeking out the Hamas subhuman elements and destroying them on sight. This sir was the essence of your very being. Commanders like you, who led from the front and stopped only when the enemy was reduced to a crimson smear on the landscape are at work, but not enjoying the support of an American youth who has absolutely no concept of fighting and dying for their country.

So it is in the early winter of 2023. Your family misses you but you sir, would not enjoy the state of affairs that exists today. My prayer is that you continue to welcome the Americans who have fought, are fighting and will continue to fight for the preservation of a great nation. Rally your heavenly troops Colonel, enjoy a cup of mess hall coffee and rest assured that we still revere our veterans, perhaps more so today than when we faced an earlier segment of society that cursed our return from yours and my last war. Soon enough, I’ll join you in Valhalla, where our concerns will melt as our military brethren remember the good times and great battlefield victories. Good day, Colonel and God Bless.

Have a great week.

SR