My Grandfather Horace Swickard served on the border following the Pancho Villa raid and went directly to France with General Pershing. I have his memorabilia from World War I, The Great War, The War to end all War, etc. My father's burial flag is proudly displayed in my home. He is buried with my mother at Fort Bliss National Cemetery.
As to the Bataan Death March, my father has a cousin William Swickard. Read his story: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/68527-world-war-ii-survivor-william-swickards-recollection/
The military and its honor is important to me. While the "Date that will live in infamy" still burns in my heart it is a date mostly forgotten by citizens of our country. Last Sunday some media did cover Pearl Harbor Day while other media had more important things to do.
My local daily newspaper did something odd, it presented December 7, 1941 from the viewpoint of the Japanese. What were their motivations and what do the Japanese think about the second world war? There was more but I shredded the newspaper and threw it in the trash.
Seems those in charge of that newspaper did not serve in the military. It was a slap in the face of veterans, especially those who served in World War II. I lived three years in Japan and also have studied their culture. The article about how the Japanese view that conflict might have been interesting on the anniversary of V-J day which is the day Japan formally surrendered. But there was nothing else in the paper commemorating that Sunday morning 73 years earlier.
I still know veterans who do not buy Japanese cars or watches. The hatred between the Marines and Japanese combat soldiers was the most intense in all of our history. And when the war ended America took great pains to lift the Japanese citizens back up onto their feet much like we lifted the Germans up. Most Americans have left that hatred in the past. But if you watched your buddy get butchered, time will not heal that wound.
Worse, it seems our society is at war with our military and the veterans. They give lip-service to loving our military but every financial cut is upon the military. Combat personnel are getting their pink-slips while in a theatre of war. Washington is cutting benefits for veterans while taking on more financial expense from people who come to our country without legal status.
My buddy Charlie says that America is not at war: the military is at war, America is at the Mall. There is truth to that saying. We are reading that public schools are banning parents in military garb from dropping off or picking up students like something is wrong with being in the military.
One Supreme Court Justice before being appointed banned the military from her college's campus. We hear about public high schools who do not want recruiters on campus. There is the notion that service to our country is somehow less than going to college.
When elections come the far-flung men and women serving often do not get to vote because they tend to vote Republican. So they will give their life for our country but as quickly as possible our country turn its back on them. There have been a number of incidents where doubt is cast on this society's commitment to our servicemen.
Serving in the military is both interesting and an honor. These volunteers are being dishonored by poor treatment even while serving. Then there is the Veteran's Administration that would rather keep very ill patients waiting while this country literally blows several trillion dollars on political actions.
Some of the leadership is at war with our military and veterans. I know which side I am on. Time to elect a new batch of politicians who appreciate our military and throw those other bums out. We must have the military's back.
Dr. Michael Swickard is co-host of radio talk show News New Mexico 6 to 9 a.m. Monday - Friday on a number of New Mexico radio stations and through streaming. Email: michael@swickard.com
