SEAL commander: On Veterans Day, remember those in support roles, too
By Scott Schonauer,
Rota bureau
Cmdr. John Houfek |
NAVAL STATION ROTA, Spain — Secretaries, librarians and babysitters don’t
wear uniforms, but they should be honored on Veterans Day, a Navy SEAL commander told high
school students Friday.
Speaking at a Veterans Day Assembly in Rota, Cmdr. John Houfek said those who support
military personnel deserve to be commended because they are "veterans of
support."
"I really think that there’s more to Veterans Day than just those of us who
have worn the uniform," said Houfek, commanding officer of the Rota-based Naval
Special Warfare Unit 10.
People who work at the base exchange, commissary and housing department help
servicemembers concentrate on their jobs, Houfek said. And those workers are especially
important now when the military is engaged in a war against terrorism.
"They’re all support people," he said. "So people like me that are
the people getting called to the front line in our current war don’t have to worry
about those things. We can concentrate on our jobs.
Eighth-grader Jessica
Allmen sings the National Anthem at the Veterans Day Assembly. |
"They’re not veterans of uniform, but they are veterans of conflict, and
they’re certainly veterans of support."
Special operations troops — similar to those who serve in Special Warfare Unit 10
— are a central part of the U.S. military’s campaign to flush out Saudi exile
Osama bin Laden and his band of suspected terrorists in Afghanistan. They rely on support
personnel to help take care of the families left behind when a sailor is deployed, Houfek
said.
Even babysitters are worthy of praise on Veterans Day, he added.
"We’re the ones in uniform going into harm’s way as the SEALs, sneaking
over beaches, jumping out of airplanes, Scuba diving. It all sounds very exciting.
"And the support roles people do aren’t real exciting. But we can’t do
the job without them and we can’t do our jobs without them doing it well."
He pleaded for students to thank not only veterans, but also people who support vets.
"If every single one of you in this room today, all of you standing behind me in
uniform, once a day for the next three days until the conclusion of Veterans Day said,
‘Thanks,’ it would be overwhelming to people. So, I ask that you do that."
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