Letters to the Editor for Thursday, October 4, 2007

European and Mideast editions

(EDITOR’S NOTE: These are the letters that appeared in each edition of Stripes on this publication date. Click here to jump ahead to the Pacific edition letters)

Canned-air ban goes too far

As a noncommissioned officer, I feel that the need to ban air duster, a.k.a canned air, from the barracks of soldiers is farther than we should ever go (“Abuse of canned air in Iraq leads to ban,” Sept. 30).

I understand the safety role our Army’s leadership plays, however, there must be some personal accountability. We have soldiers carrying a magazine of 5.56 mm rounds and a rifle, but we can’t trust them to use canned air responsibly? This seems to indicate that we are keeping soldiers who are not only dangerous to themselves, but a danger to the members of their team.

As leaders, our job is to lead, not to hold hands. If I can’t trust one of my soldiers to avoid stupid things like huffing canned air, how am I supposed to rely on them to complete complex tasks or make important decisions?

One thing many leaders tend to forget is that all of our soldiers are adults, capable of making their own decisions, good or bad. If we mentor and lead them well, and they still choose to make poor choices, they have no place in this profession.

I have witnessed only a small time in the Army; however, I have seen some “interesting” decisions made in the name of safety. It seems that safety and handholding come first in our Army, and mission falls somewhere behind area beautification and chow hall rules. The Army is no longer a place where mission comes first.

Sgt. David Stinson
Camp Ramadi, Iraq

Using common war tactics

After reading the front-page headline (“U.S. snipers in Iraq bait, then shoot enemy”) and accompanying article (“Report: Snipers ‘baiting’ Iraqis”), my first thought was, “Great!” It is refreshing to see some U.S. soldiers effectively engaging an enemy in the open, rather than daily trying to dodge roadside-bomb blasts from a sinister, unseen enemy like the rest of us.

Why the outrage? The headline says “enemy,” not “peace-loving civilians.” Aren’t we supposed to shoot the enemy? Enticing the enemy into the open for a clear shot is a common tactic. How are coalition forces to achieve any victory if soldiers are prohibited from using effective tactics?

Warfighting is an unsavory business, not a spectator sport and not suitable family viewing for prime-time television. Killing the bad guys is a big part of winning — like it or not.

If a wolf was slaughtering your sheep, and you did not permit the shepherd to use baited traps to lure him out and kill him, don’t complain when your sheep continue to be slaughtered.

First Sgt. Jim O’Ferrell
Camp Speicher, Iraq

Flags are least of his worries

“Fix those raggedy flags” (letter, Sept. 23) bothered me greatly.

I can see that the letter writer has great patriotism, believes strongly in the values of America and is a staunch supporter of his fellow soldiers. However, there are a few things he is mistaken about, such as the flags being in ample supply. It has taken me almost five months to get a replacement for the single flag that was issued during mobilization.

The flags are made of poor-quality materials that simply fall apart when exposed to rain and elements we run into while on missions. I can see by his comments that he is in a rear area and does not go outside the wire. As a sergeant, I feel it is more important for me to make sure my soldiers have weapons that work and vehicles that will make it back from the missions than worrying if the flag has a corner that is peeling.

We can barely get vehicle parts, radios and other equipment we need to make sure our soldiers have what they need to accomplish the mission. If he can send me a box of those Velcro-backed infrared flags he has lying around, I will make sure every one of my soldiers has a new one on his uniform that same day.

Sgt. Brian D. Tobin
Camp Wright, Afghanistan

Cover DODDS athletes

I am a proud military parent deployed to Iraq and have noticed the lack of coverage that Department of Defense Dependents Schools high school sports receives. The kids involved on these teams work exceptionally hard, balancing grades, athletics, work and social lives in small military communities around Europe.

I believe Stars and Stripes owes it to the children to do a better job of covering their events, whether they are blown out, competitive or victorious, with more detail than just a score. The students would see this in print and would motivate themselves to play harder, maintain their enthusiasm and maybe pick up a newspaper and read it, which is a chore in the digital world of today.

We cover so much of the professional athletes, which is quite depressing these days, focusing on felony crimes, drug use and branded home-run balls. I think we would be much better off investing in the future of our DODDS children and giving those who are upstanding, disciplined and a real contribution to society a voice in Stars and Stripes.

First Sgt. Jody R. Heikkinen
Camp Ramadi, Iraq

Hopefully, times are changing

This is my second tour in Iraq, my first being August 2005 to August ’06. At that time, the country was looking for stability, hope, courage and, most of all, leadership. We did our best by helping create a democratic nation and put into power a leader whose ideas and intentions, we believed, were forward enough to maintain growth and freedom.

I am back now. My, how times are a-changing. This time, I will be doing 15 months instead of 12 and will be stationed at Forward Operating Base McHenry, instead of Camp Liberty, commonly known as the “Hilton in the desert.”

But most importantly is the political climate. Are we really much different now than before? I would hope so. Growth and change are inevitable factors that must be noted in the development of any organism; that is what nature teaches us. Nature also teaches us that unless a suitable medium is used, growth of any kind cannot be maintained. Saddam Hussein and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi used mediums of fear, hate, and every barbaric means necessary to try to grow a nation.

I hope my efforts toward stabilization through the use of courage, patience and love for democracy will help this nation become a beacon of light through which democracy can shine throughout this region. I do hope that times are a-changing for the best.

Sgt. Nickolas Smith
FOB McHenry, Iraq

Get school priorities straight

I am appalled by the outpouring of disgust writer after writer has demonstrated concerning the Department of Defense Dependents Schools-Europe mercy rule.

Where was this same righteous indignation when your schools’ field trips and supply budgets were slashed?

Let’s get our priorities straight. Instead of complaining about something relatively unimportant, let’s get a grass-roots movement started to have more money poured into the fine arts. Let’s work together to get those field trips back into our schools. Let’s rally together to make sure our school advisory committees have a waiting list for membership, instead of begging parents to participate. Let’s demand our DODDS leadership spend time on solving really important issues, like funding and a quality education and less time on less-important issues like whether a team lost by 39 points or 48?

After all, what is more important, the handful of athletes DODDS sends on to professional sports careers, or the tens of thousands of children we send out into the world?

Leigh Drescher
Heidelberg, Germany

Impact of raggedy flags

I recently deployed to Iraq for the second time, my third deployment in support of the war on terror. I received my Rapid Fielding Initiative equipment that included my one infrared flag (“Fix those raggedy flags,” letter, Sept. 25).

As I readied my uniform for the flight to Kuwait, I placed my flag squarely on my shoulder. When I placed my duffel bag into my friend’s car, it caught on the flag and pulled the plastic front from the cloth backing. I tried to press it back together. Unfortunately, the damage was done.

I have not asked for a replacement. Unlike others, I doubt my supply sergeant has any flag replacements. Even if he did, at $5.78 per flag, according to WebFLIS (a Defense Logistics Information Service Web site), I would wait until it is a bit more damaged before replacing it. I do not consider this disrespectful. I call it saving the taxpayers money. Disrespect would be verbally berating a soldier just attacked by a rocket-propelled grenade for having blood on his uniform.

As for comparing it to watching a terrorist burn a flag, remember we are here to protect the freedom of the Iraqi people as well as that of our fellow countrymen, including, as much as we may not like it, those that would burn our flag or wear it as underwear or bathing suits. I don’t think the infrared flag, damaged or not, will have a lasting outcome on the war.

So, as we prepare for a drawdown of forces in Iraq, I make this humble suggestion: We start by redeploying those who have nothing better to do than criticize from the protection of their base [to join] those who go out of the wire.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 David T. Woodward
Tikrit, Iraq

Flags don’t last long

With all due respect, those soldiers have a lot more important things to think about than the condition of the flag on their shoulder. Those plastic infrared flags are good for about five missions.

My unit was issued the infrared flag when we received our Rapid Fielding Initiative equipment, so our supply does not keep them on hand. The plastic version lasted about three weeks before I came up with a pretty good alternative — a subdued version of the embroidered flag. I was told to take it off by a guy in a real sharp uniform who had no grasp of the concept of snipers and didn’t venture off the base often.

So now, I go out with a big, bright red, white and blue flag on my shoulder. I have checked with my supply sergeant and, no, there is not a big box of flags available. To be honest, I hope that our supply section would have better things to be spending money on.

Yes, all of those patrols are in the public eye, but dirty uniforms and unserviceable items on it are a part of combat. I have served in Iraq for a couple of tours now, and it seems like there are quite a few people in Iraq who don’t really have anything better to do than worry about uniforms.

Yes, we should all respect the flag and maintain a uniform; however, when I see a guy whose uniform is dirty and disheveled because he was doing the dangerous stuff, my knee-jerk impulse isn’t to fix it. I usually take my hat off to him or her.

My respect for a tattered flag only grows when I see it on the shoulder of a guy who hangs his [backside] in the breeze for a living.

Staff Sgt. Gary Curran
Camp Victory, Iraq

Symbolism of raggedy flag

I found the letter writer’s comments about how poorly the U.S. flag is displayed on soldiers’ uniforms woefully misinformed and ill-placed.

First, there is a supply issue. Those subdued flags were issued as part of the Rapid Fielding Initiative — only one per soldier. There are a lot of things that must filter through the supply system and cost money. If the author’s supply sergeant has boxes of them, please pass him my address. This, however, is a distant second to my real counterpoint.

The shoulder flag, as we all know, is displayed to portray the forward movement of our national colors. Imagine that flag as every soldier’s guidon. Tattered, soiled, torn, but still moving forward.

The greatest historical images that have rallied our nation are images such as Washington crossing the Delaware River under a tattered and raggedy flag. That same image is what inspired our national anthem — steadfast and ever-waving in the face of any adversity.

When the soldier gets home with that tattered flag, it should be placed in a sacred place of honor. The letter writer should be inspired by the worn appearance, not angered.

As for his comment about what the Iraqis think: No nation is grown without sacrifice, and the rips, tears and tatters attest to that and the sacrifice of our soldiers on their behalf.

The young nation of Iraq should also be inspired by the raggedy flag we wear. Think about that, master sergeant, and you may not be so eager to tear those flags off and issue new ones.

Maj. Tim Hunt
Camp Taji, Iraq

Sorry for raggedy flags

I’m sure everyone has seen people wearing infrared flags that are falling apart. I have, too; it’s pretty common.

The infrared flag is only glued to the Velcro. In the intense heat, the glue will fail. That results in the flag separating. It can happen in a month. That’s if you spend most of your time outside in the sun.

I’m in an infantry platoon; we need our flags to be in good condition. Not only does it look unprofessional when they are falling apart, but it’s a risk to our lives. When we are dismounted, they are the main way our air support can separate us from insurgents.

We don’t want to wear bad flags, but sometimes we don’t have a choice. Months ago, I gave out the two extras I brought here. A few of us have had an extra flag mailed to us. They just fall apart too fast.

I’m sorry we look unprofessional to [the letter writer] the one day a week we come into the base. I promise we’ll replace our worn out flags as soon as we can.

Sgt. John Hebard
Camp Guerro, Iraq

Flags are tough to replace

I am the truckmaster in a base support battalion in eastern Baghdad, and I see these raggedy flags often. Many of the plastic flags are ripped or not worn properly.

As for the letter writer’s confidence that every supply sergeant has a “box full of those Velcro-backed flags ready to give out,” I would like to know where his supply sergeant is getting them and how he has so many. We have been unable to obtain these flags as easily. We were issued two prior to leaving the U.S. and another about halfway through our original 12-month tour. Now that we have been extended, we are all trying to figure out ways to keep ours “in regs” (including having our spouses purchase them at home for $20 apiece). We have stapled them, sewed them, super-glued them and even taped them.

There is not one noncommissioned officer in our company who has not looked for a way to fix this issue. I believe soldiers are facing a double-edged sword. Because they are not allowed to wear the subdued cloth flag on base, they are forced to set aside one serviceable infrared flag for base wear in order to avoid butt-chewings while visiting the post exchange and dining facility.

My suggestion is that the subdued cloth flag be allowed to be worn on base and only the soldiers leaving the base get the infrared flag in order to allow them enough to replace unserviceable ones. I am not sure how things are run on other bases, but we haven’t had any incidents of fratricide on this one, and I find the infrared flags are useless on base.

Staff Sgt. Eric K. Cerda
Rustamiyah, Iraq