One serviceman's plea to Wes Clark
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From David Montoya, aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, now on its way home:
There are many issues that face the American public today. I am a military service member known by my e-mail address and my closing signature. I am serving aboard the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN-72) in route to return home after over nine consecutive months of arduous duty in the Pacific, Arabian, and Persian seas.
As I approach home I reflect on what we have accomplished, what we have destroyed, and what is left to be constructed. As an American, and now a young veteran of a foreign war I have seen the eye of danger, the eye of fear, the stare of uncertainty. In the early stages of conflict on this ship was not fully known our opponents capabilities. What lay ahead no one knew, and if they did little supporting evidence was available for distribution. My thoughts here today arrive in one crossroad. Where is my role in this democracy? After being "victorious" in this effortless conflict where is my call of duty today?
I say my call rests in the choice of my national government. My duty as an American, and as service war veteran is to call upon my intuition and place my support. I support and stand behind the mind, heart and the character of Wesley K. Clark, who if I am correct served thirty-seven years in a United States uniform.
No man or woman can discredit his heroic tenure in his years of service. Because if anyone can discredit him that who am I to be credited in this lengthy deployment? How can conservatives rally around our troops today and neglect those who sacrificed much earlier? How many men have died for the freedom of this country? How many men like Wesley Clark will the extreme right attempt to attack and discredit?
Well I say now if you discredit him then you discredit the boys that died on the beaches of Normandy, the depths of Pearl Harbor, and the streets of worldwide conflict. I know that I serve my country with honor just as those men who died before me. They have paid their sacrifice not in speeches or text but in blood, in sweat, and in tears.
What General Clark must do now is stand before his country and destroy all those who have neglected to honor the right of the people. Who have destroyed the honor of battle, victory, and conflict. Victory is not won in the battlefield but in the spirit of good people. If you forget that then all hope is perished.
Wesley Clark must carry his vision to the American people. To ensure that my dreams along with the dreams of many others have not died in the faces of those who discredit but that they may live in the hearts of those who still hold on to that of what will never be taken away. The self-evident notion that we, as humans are endowed the free to express rights to Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Respectfully,
David J. Montoya
U.S. Navy
draftclark.com |
