One of the fallen Logisticians from the Iraqi War is a black, female colleague of mine who under the Trump/Hesgeth regime would likely be considered a DEI hire. She was intelligent, energetic, hardworking and courageous. Unfortunately she was pigeon holed in a dead end job despite having a College degree. She applied for and accepted an Upward Mobility position that required her to downgrade from a GS-9 to GS-7 with potential to get to GS-11 in 2 years if she successfully completed her training. She was a total success and quickly rose to GS-12 then took an assignment to Iraq. She was promoted to GS-13 in Iraq and killed in a rocket attack five weeks before she was due to return home. She left a daughter and husband. We should all be thankful for Patriots like her.
Thank you for remembering not just those who are soldiers, but those who were in the actions of Peacemaking. My family lost Michael Sharp, who was killed in the Congo while working as a UN Peacekeeping investigator. My son's in-laws were part of the group held hostage in Iran and both the hostages and their families were traumatized forever. Only in the last year has any compensation been received. So many jobs take so much courage to perform. Let's stop acting as if the only way to serve your country and show courage is to be a soldier.
Dr O’Neill, thank you for your post today, Memorial Day. Yes, I think all the time about our military but haven’t about the civilians who support them and our nation. Thank you for reminding me; I’ll say prayers for them whenever I visit my husband’s grave at Arlington.
My late son served in Afghanistan, returned with PTSD and took his life in 2015, leaving behind a widow and three daughters. Thank you for remembering those crippled by trauma. I now volunteer as a Peer Mentor was TAPS.org that cares for the families of the fallen.
One of the fallen Logisticians from the Iraqi War is a black, female colleague of mine who under the Trump/Hesgeth regime would likely be considered a DEI hire. She was intelligent, energetic, hardworking and courageous. Unfortunately she was pigeon holed in a dead end job despite having a College degree. She applied for and accepted an Upward Mobility position that required her to downgrade from a GS-9 to GS-7 with potential to get to GS-11 in 2 years if she successfully completed her training. She was a total success and quickly rose to GS-12 then took an assignment to Iraq. She was promoted to GS-13 in Iraq and killed in a rocket attack five weeks before she was due to return home. She left a daughter and husband. We should all be thankful for Patriots like her.
Thank you for remembering not just those who are soldiers, but those who were in the actions of Peacemaking. My family lost Michael Sharp, who was killed in the Congo while working as a UN Peacekeeping investigator. My son's in-laws were part of the group held hostage in Iran and both the hostages and their families were traumatized forever. Only in the last year has any compensation been received. So many jobs take so much courage to perform. Let's stop acting as if the only way to serve your country and show courage is to be a soldier.
Mr. O'Neill, your commentaries are always very thoughtful, thank you.
Dr O’Neill, thank you for your post today, Memorial Day. Yes, I think all the time about our military but haven’t about the civilians who support them and our nation. Thank you for reminding me; I’ll say prayers for them whenever I visit my husband’s grave at Arlington.
My late son served in Afghanistan, returned with PTSD and took his life in 2015, leaving behind a widow and three daughters. Thank you for remembering those crippled by trauma. I now volunteer as a Peer Mentor was TAPS.org that cares for the families of the fallen.
Very beautiful. Eloquent. Truth. Thank you.
Thank you.