HOW WE SEE IT: Saluting Our Troops Valor, Dedication

By STAFF REPORT

Posted: November 8, 2009 at 4:32 a.m.

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SPRINGDALE — Courage is when you control your fear.

Therefore, there is no courage without fear, according to Eddie Rickenbacker.

Rickenbacker was a World War I flying ace who lived to be 82 years old. A veteran of World War II asked him once if he had nightmares. “Oh yes,” the ace replied. When do they stop? Well, Rickenbacker said, his last one stopped the night.

This newspaper, among others, launched a 54-part series today saluting valor shown by our troops. It is nothing more or less than true stories of brave deeds As you read them, keep inmind every one of these heroes did what they did while coping with fear that would paralyze many of us.

Fear in combat has been compared to water, and not still waters either. The current can rage so hard that it can knock you down. The waters can run so deep you can’t find a footing. The swirl can be so confused you can’t tell which direction you’re facing.

Almost drowning is a terrible experience.

Going back into the water after you almost drowned can be even more terrifying - for you and for those who love you.

That is something else to remember. This is not the first trip into the dark water that many of these troops have taken. It will not be the last for many, either.

There is a book named “The American Way of War,” written by Russell F. Weigley and published in 1977. It details how Americans saw war as an aberration, an interruption of normal life. We tended to throw all our energy into a war as soon as it broke out. The goal was to get it over with and return to normal life. There were a few exceptions, such as the frontier wars and interventions in Latin America. Those were usually fought by small regular forces of hard-bitten professionals, though. The rest of us got on with our lives.

This time, many of our troops cannot get on with their lives. They are reserve troops. They leave their peacetime routines and their families - repeatedly.

The “greatest generation” went off, fought their war, then returned home to marry and start the Baby Boom. Very many of this generation hug their husbands or wives, kiss their babies and go off to war for the second, third, or greater time.

Their danger is not all their own.

Opinion, Pages 8 on 11/08/2009

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