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Shared experiences
Response to the news article "Troops Back From Iraq Relate To Vets "

I read with great interest about returning veterans Josh Krook and Aimee Osborne reconnecting in new ways with their fathers who had served in Viet Nam. In many cases it takes shared experiences, albiet in different arenas, a generation or so apart, for our younger veterans to comprehend the similarities and not the differences between themselves and their older counterparts. Resources are available to these young veterans through Nationally recognized Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs). Among these are the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled Veterans of America and AMVETS (American Veterans). Our returning and serving troops should not overlook these VSOs as valuable support resources. Every one of these VSOs has strong ties committing them to our current efforts and assuring access after service to the rights our veterans have earned in service to our Country. By belonging, we who have served continue to serve the service men and women and their families, both active military and veteran. Contact one of your nearest posts of these VSOs and let us extend our experience and knowledge to help. After all, that's why we're there.

Work and sacrifices
Response to Oliver North's column "Easter Reflections"

Finally, someone with first-hand knowledge, credibility and understanding has given the chaplains their due. The work and sacrifices of chaplains who readily place themselves in harm's way is one of the most undervalued and under-reported stories in military history. Thank you for helping get the story told.

Lip service
Response to Steve Buyer's column "A High Calling"

There has never been an administration so anti-veteran in word and deed. Republican veterans truly fell for the lies in the past two elections. Today, over 500,000 disabled veterans still pay for their own disability by having their VA disability payment deducted from their retirement pay on a monthly basis. Bush has a permanent veto threat against concurrent receipt legislation. Lip service and then stab veterans in the back is the Republican mantra for veteran treatment. The article by Represenative Buyer is truly a good laugh. He has proven by his previous statements and actions, after only holding his position as veteran committee chairman for a few months, that he is out to reduce veteran expenses in every way possible. Buyer is merely a Bush puppet, placed in the position of committee chairman for veterans in the House, simply because Representative Smith was a staunch veteran supporter and ally. God bless veterans in this country who are able to think and do research on the truth. Buyer, though in the reserve, does not have any understanding of veteran issues. He does however understand how to progress in the Republican power elite, by placing himself at the service of Bush to serve his agenda, rather than having any true concern for veterans in this country.

Vietnam is still unfree
Response to Joe Gallway's column "Today, Vietnam Is Different from When the War Started and Ended"

Vietnam remains one of the world's most "unfree" places, with virtually no political or civil liberties. I also note that Christians are regularly singled out for oppression and torture in Vietnam, as they view Christianity to be a threat to Communism -- just like other Communist countries. With your personal historical knowledge of Vietnam, I would hope that you would work to draw attention to the continuing struggle for freedom and human rights in that country.

Angry and Appalled

I am angry and appalled at the fact that the Palatka, FL school board has cut the JROTC program in order to balance the budget. I wish this board would think past today and see what is going to happen to the kids that will be dropped. Before some of these kids became involved with this program they were interested in one thing -- doing nothing. My son is one example. Sarge took an overweight 250 lb., angry, depressed young man and with God's help turned him into a confident, physically fit 190 lb. man that is a pleasure to be around. He makes good grades and gives me very little trouble. Some of these cadets have never been taught to be proud of themselves or anything else. These kids are our future. Please write my county school at: info@putnamschools.org and encourage this board to find another way of balancing the budget rather than cutting this program.

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