My name is Kent and I am a veteran and a retired Oregon Army National Guardsman. I have been mobilized for two forest fires, one wind storm, a double hurricane, three overseas tours for which I earned six campaign stars and countless training events over a 31-year period, which today is still more than half my life.
But I am not here to talk about me.
On Veterans Day, we all want to track down a veteran and thank them for their service. Consider this instead: Track down the families of veterans and thank them. When I was mobilized, I got up in the morning and did my duty. I knew what was happening, but my family and friends could only wait and worry and wonder. I was with me the whole time and they were without, sometimes a fair trade, but mostly it was not.
Many more veterans return home with injuries than we will ever guess and, if either the mental or physical injuries results in their death, even years later, they still gave the last full measure. As did their families. Earlier this month, I attended such a funeral.
Thank the families.
I have trouble on Veterans Day. When I am thanked, how do I respond? Being able to serve is all the thanks I need. Recently, a Vietnam vet gave me an answer: “Thank you for thanking me.” Thanking a veteran is itself an act of patriotism. Something like 7 percent of us are veterans and thanking a vet for the other 93 percent is a chance to display their own patriotism.
I believe the American military has been ahead of the civilians in promoting social change. For example, President Harry Truman desegregated the military in 1948 and President Barack Obama formally allowed women into combat roles in 2016.
The soldier’s creed includes “I will never leave a fallen comrade.”
Many in the military have a broader understanding of what this means, more than caring for an injured soldier in combat. It also means to care for the whole soldier, even if they entered military service having been the victim of sexual, racial, or social violence or later suffered an injury mentally, physically, or institutionally during their service. I cannot say I was always successful in caring for my soldiers, but that was always my intent.
During my career, the Army had what are called “additional duties” and, not surprisingly, commanders at all levels selected or “voluntold” (volunteered and told) soldiers who most looked like whatever the duty was. For example, a soldier of color for Equal Opportunity Representative (EOR) or a female soldier for Unit Victim’s Advocate (UVA). This was with little or no regard to the soldier’s interest or qualifications. I felt this was wrong and I acted; I held both duties.
During my time as an EOR, I would give classes on equal opportunity, and I would tout how the Army was very serious about EO and how successful we were. Occasionally, I would notice soldiers of color shaking their heads in disagreement and I dismissed it as “giving the old Sarge a hard time,” but I have come to understand they were trying to help me out, but were not empowered to do so. I regret not empowering them.
The military is all about power imbalance. I do not see nor foresee a solution to that, but every other factor that separates us should have no place in my beloved Army, our military, our state, our country, and, if we don’t destroy it first, our world.
As I continue my public service here at DCBS, I am a member or the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Council. I encourage all of you to consider joining the council.