Below is an excerpt of an article from our local newspaper. No plagiarism intended and full credit to the author is given.
Before I post the story, let me add a bit of background and a few comments.
I have served this country in the capacity of a US Marine for four years, 1964 - 1968. During my tenure as a Marine, I served in Viet-Nam '65 - '66 as an Infantry man, military occupational specialty, Flamethrower! Hoo-aah!!!! Honorably discharged in 1968. Let me address the Viet-Nam experience quickly. Upon our, all Viet-Nam vets, return from 'Nam, we were greeted with banners and crowds welcoming us home. However, not the welcome one would expect. Rather we were greeted with signs and banners and banter from the crowds that labeled us as killers, baby killers to be specific. Here we were, most of us under the age of 20, returning to our home land and being slandered as killers. Isn't that what war is all about? Someone is going to die. I'd like to quote a line from one General Patton's speeches; "You don't win a war by dying for your country. You win a war by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his."
My point here is 58,228 United States military members were killed in action. 153,452 wounded and 1,740 missing in action. Included in all these numbers are 19 US civilians killed and 34 missing.
Yet the soldiers (all services) returning home were labeled as baby killers. Let me say this for my record. I came home, sane, I'm sure some would question my sanity, and in one piece. Oh by the way I was 18 years old when I went to war. Death was a daily occurrence. Tell ya what, bullets flying around surely makes you aware of how quickly life can end.
After my USMC stint of service, I took a break. Didn't think I really needed to head back to Viet-Nam. In 1975 I joined the US Army, and served until 1995. Hey some folks are born to be bankers, firemen and law enforcement officers. My calling was the military, Infantry to be specific. Served an additional 20 years with the US Army Infantry. Served with the first Mechanized Infantry unit deployed to Panama during Noriega's reign of terror. Trained and readied to deploy to Iraq the first go round. And of course numerous other assignments overseas. Finally retired after 24 years of honorable service to this great country.
To those that oppose the 2nd Amendment's right to bear arms I say, my family is and always will be protected. And I shall never go down without a fight. The below newspaper article is but one of the daily occurrences in our state of innocent people being mugged, raped and or killed. Why? Who knows. These occurrences are reason enough for me to be armed and ready to protect my family and those around me.
Excerpt from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, June 2, 2009
Gunman fires on soldiers
He kills one, injures one at LR center
BY JACOB QUINN SANDERS
LITTLE ROCK — CORRECTION: William Long of Conway was 23. The following story misstated his age.
A Tennessee man who converted to Islam and opposes American military actions overseas is charged with shooting two United States Army privates outside a west Little Rock recruiting center, killing one and seriously wounding the other Monday morning, police said.
Armed with two rifles and a handgun, Abdul-Hakim Mujahid Muhammad, 23, who was born Carlos Bledsoe, specifically targeted the Army-Navy Career Center in the Ashley Square shopping center at 9112 N. Rodney Parham Road, police said.
From behind the wheel of a black Ford Sport Trac, police said, Muhammad fired at least 10 rounds from an SKS 7.62mm rifle. Seven recruiters were inside the office. None was injured.
The two soldiers were taking a smoke break outside the recruiting office at 10:19 a.m. when the gunman arrived in the dark-colored truck.
William Long, 25, of Conway suffered at least three gunshot wounds and died at Baptist Health Medical Center less than an hour after the shooting, police said.
My heartfelt sympathy to all the family members.
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