William Arkin, an NBC military analyst and WashingtonPost.com blogger defamed our troops in a Jan. 30 blog calling them mercenaries who should be “grateful” they still have the support and respect of the American public.  

 

Arkin said: “So, we pay the soldiers a decent wage, take care of their families, provide them with housing and medical care and vast social support systems and ship obscene amenities into the war zone for them, we support them in every possible way, and their attitude is that we should in addition roll over and play dead, defer to the military and the generals and let them fight their war, and give up our rights and responsibilities to speak up because they are above society?”

 

Arkin ended his rant with this challenge: “America needs to ponder what it is we really owe those in uniform.”

 

Okay, Mr. Arkin, I’ve “pondered.” Here’s goes:

 

We owe those in uniform who have died a pledge to keep their parents, children and widows in our thoughts and in our hearts. 

 

We owe those in uniform a promise we will come find them should they be taken Prisoner of War or are Missing In Action.

 

We owe those in uniform the benefits they were promised when they enlisted sixty years ago.

 

We owe those in uniform a decent wage where unit canned-food drives are no longer necessary.  

 

We owe those in uniform a properly displayed and cared for American flag, should we choose to fly one from our business or home.

 

We owe those in uniform military housing free from lead and asbestos. 

 

We owe those in uniform respite from boorish people who tell them “My tax dollars pay your way.”

 

We owe those in uniform quality medical care in state-of-the-art facilities, should they be wounded or disabled.  

 

We owe those in uniform a military funeral with a bugler, not a CD player.

 

We owe those in uniform, should they be killed in combat, assurance that their loved ones won’t have to fight the system for benefits.

 

We owe those in uniform who die on the battlefield more media attention than the Anna Nicole Smith’s of the world.

 

We owe those in uniform a promise to help them build monuments and memorials in honor of their war dead.

 

We owe those in uniform good luck and Godspeed.   

 

And finally, Mr. Arkin, you owe those in uniform an apology.