Why we serve in the armed forces

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This was penned by local veteran Mike McClendon (Ret.), Brigadier General - ASAF for a guest speaker address at Texas A&M University-Commerce this Friday during their Veterans Day ceremony. The event starts at 10 a.m.

On this celebration of Veterans Day in 2021, I would like to paint a picture of why we serve and why it’s so important for Americans to support those who have served and those who currently still serve in any of the US military armed forces.

From all branches of our military, American servicemen and servicewomen have been deeply involved in a Global War On Terrorism. Twenty years ago we coined a phrase for it – GWOT. Over 7,000 men and women have given their lives in this war over the last 20 years in Iraq and Afghanistan. Even with all the coverage of these wars, I believe the American public remains misinformed and honestly unaware of the nature of the war we are fighting. Some think it is a war against Al Qaeda or ISIS or some other named terrorist organization. Some believe it is a war for oil or even a manufactured conflict to achieve personal political goals. Nothing could be further from the truth.

There is also confusion over when this war began. Popular answers are the invasion of Iraq, in February of 2003, or with the fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan shortly after the attack on the World Trade Center. I guess most say it began with the second bombing of the World Trade Center and the attack on the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001 – “9/11”.

In fact, this current war began almost

42 years ago, with the attack on the US Embassy in Iran in 1979 and the capture of 70 hostages, of which 52 were subsequently held for 444 days. The attack was fomented by radical Islamic terrorists intent on destroying the influence of the West, characterized by the United States of America. They coined the phrase “the Great Satan” epitomizing all they saw wrong with America and our way of life.

They took exception to short skirts, public display of affection, films and music that offended, women in the workplace and women’s rights in general as well as differing styles of worship or not worshiping at all. Granted that some expressions of our freedom were excessive – but that is exactly the point. Freedom. Freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom of thought and freedom to do and be who your heart calls you to be is what you get when you have a whole country that is truly free.

Radical Islamic terrorists reached out to strike their first blow in 1979. It was followed by a second blow four years later, in 1983, when more Islamic terrorists blew up the Marine barracks in Lebanon, killing or injuring 24 US servicemen. A direct, deliberate attack against the United States of America. Five years later, in 1988, Islamic terrorists sponsored by Libya blew up PanAm’s flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. PanAm was an American flag carrier – meaning it literally had the American flag on the tail of the aircraft. A symbolic strike against the United States, indiscriminately killing 270 innocent men, women and children from 21 different countries.

One of the defining characteristics of a terrorist, vs a combatant, is who they target. Combatants wear uniforms and target the soldiers of opposing military forces. Terrorists wear civilian clothes and target civilians. Their goal is not just to kill, but to create terror by the indiscriminant, vicious, violent, destructive deaths of random, innocent victims.

The war of terror continued five years later, in 1993, with the first attack against the World Trade Center when a Pakistani detonated a truck loaded with explosives in the basement. Their intent was to bring down the building. New York’s World Trade Center was an especially appealing target as it symbolized, in the eyes of radical Islamic terrorists, all that was wrong with the United States. Materialism, commercialism, world status and leadership – located in the highest concentration of Jewish population in America.

The pace of attacks against the US quickened. Only three years later, in 1996, nineteen US servicemen died in the bombing of the Khobar Towers in a Saudi Arabia. The towers were housing US and coalition forces taking part in Operation Southern Watch, following the first Iraq war. Accelerating the pace, only two years elapsed when US embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dares Salaam, Tanzania were simultaneously bombed in 1998. Simultaneous bombings in separate countries evidenced a step up in complexity and boldness on the part of radical Islamic terrorists.

Another short two years elapsed when, in 2000, the USS Cole was bombed in port in Aden, Yemen. Although nearly sinking the US warship, only 17 sailors lost their lives, and the ship was saved. Then, one year later, in 2001, radical Islamic terrorists kicked it up several notches with simultaneous hijackings of four US flag carrying airliners and the total destruction of both World Trade Center towers in New York, an attack on the Pentagon and a thwarted attack against the US capitol. Well over 3,000 innocent, random victims lost their lives.

Do you notice the pattern of escalating terrorist attacks and decreasing intervals between attacks? Five years, five years, three years, two years, two years then one year.

But since 911, how many terrorist attacks has America suffered? None. The United States declared war on terrorists and we took the war to them. Instead of planning or conducting the next attack on US soil, radical Islamic terrorists are hiding in holes in the ground in the mountains of Afghanistan. And, because of US leadership many partner nations joined the United States to truly make it a Global War on Terror.

But this interim victory has come at a price, as does all freedom. Over 7,000 lives have perished. A little known fact, however, is that of those 7,000 lives, only 1,921 US servicemember deaths resulted from 20 yrs of war in Afghanistan. In contrast, we lost over 58,000 servicemembers in the 9 yrs of the VietNam war. And tens of thousands of our servicemen and women have returned home with visible and invisible war injuries they will carry for the rest of their lives.

To summarize my first point, America’s armed forces have successfully protected our homeland. And it’s come at the price freedom has always required – men and women who are willing to put their lives on the line.

My second point will be more brief – but more important. We are engaged in a worldwide struggle for peace. One focus is radical Islamic terrorism. Their goal is the complete and total destruction of America, of our way of life and of freedom. Make no mistake about it – radical terrorists, unlike any other foe we have faced in the history of our nation – are committed to murder and destruction on the largest possible scale they can achieve – in cluding nuclear, radiological, biological and chemical war. Even when facing the USSR during the cold war, rationalism prevailed. They had the capability, but reason prevented either side from initiating the horror and world wide destruction that can only be imagined.

Other forces requiring our attention are China and Russia. China has claimed all of the South China Sea as its own territory – ignoring international norms, world court rulings and the competing claims of every nation bordering the sea. Their premier has publicly stated they will take Taiwan – either peacefully or by force.

Russia invaded Ukraine and forcefully annexed Crimea. More recently they have moved troops to the borders of neighboring nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Russia’s leader has suppressed internal public opposition by jailing, torturing and ordering the murder of his opponents.

In a very real sense, the biggest constraint upon the evil forces working in the world are the dedicated volunteers of the United States military. Those volunteers need the support of the American public. US force structure is now stretched thin. Our equipment has aged prematurely and our troops have been in continuous combat engagements for over 31 years – longer than any war in the history of our country. Our Air Force is smaller and older than at any time in history.

Everyone needs to fully understand the depth and magnitude of the dangers we face as a nation. Radical Islamic terrorism is not content for the US just to leave the mid-east. China won’t rest until it “owns” Taiwan and the South China Sea and who knows where Russia’s adventurism will lead.

In summary, we are a nation greatly indebted to our armed forces. To answer the question “Why We Serve,” I say it’s for the greater good of this country, preserving our security and protecting the freedoms others gave their lives to secure. The global struggle for peace requires the outspoken support of the American people. I ask each of you to be a faithful advocate in your community. Carry the message. Encourage the American public not to underestimate the challenges ahead, nor the dangers of ignoring the global threats facing our country and our way of life.

Brigadier General Mike McClendon (Ret.), USAF)